Just installed a new shower in bathroom. Shower is surrounded by NEW Densarmor Plus (DAP) moisture and mold resistant "sheetrock". DAP has 3 coats setting mud and 1 coat (may be 2) of skim coat regular mud.

The rest of the bathroom walls are existing sheet rock with an off-white latex paint. Not a bad sheetrock job and paint appears to adhere well but it looks like it was a 1-coat paint job.

After putting a drywall primer on the new DAP "sheetrock" the entire room will be painted with an off-white latex based semi-gloss paint.

1) Any suggestions on a primer for the new DAP? Lowes has and "Olympic" brand PVA, a more expensive "American Heritage" brand as well as Killz 2. I have yet to find a place that sells "First Coat" which gets a lot of discussion.

and the big question,

2) Can I just prime the new DAP "sheetrock" and then paint the latex semi-gloss over over the old paint and the new DAP and expect good results - an even finish? I have a spot where I can do a test.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

You will find both better primer and better finish paint at a paint store [like SWP or B.Moore] than you will at a big box store.

USG first coat is better sprayed than rolled. I think it only comes in 5's and IMO it really should have a primer over it to make for a great job. I doubt there would be any benifit from using it on a small job.

Providing both the new and old rock have a similiar finish/texture you should be able to prime the new and then enamel the entire room with no noticable difference between old and new. It may require 2 coats of enamel for it to blend. A keen eye should be able to pick up any finishing/texture discrepencies while the primer is wet - fix when dry and spot prime any repairs.

 

"1) Any suggestions on a primer for the new DAP? Lowes has and "Olympic" brand PVA, a more expensive "American Heritage" brand as well as Killz 2."

I have not used the Olympic PVA
My experience with other Olympic products would lead me to not consider it as an option
I have used AH, and I can not recommend it
The Kilz2 is worse
It has a very high failure rate

Like marksr says, any of the premium primers from Ben Moore, Sherwin Williams, Pittsburgh, or Zinsser would be a much better product to use

They often have different types for specific applications, so ask the sales persons at the paint store which one is right for your project (BM would be Fresh Start, Zinsser would be 123, etc.)

You will get better product, tools, and advice from a Paint Store, rather than a paint dept.


"2) Can I just prime the new DAP "sheetrock" and then paint the latex semi-gloss over over the old paint and the new DAP and expect good results - an even finish? I have a spot where I can do a test."

You should be OK to do so, provided there is not a big color difference
The gloss will require two coats anyway

Oh hey, how's the weather out there?
A little dry maybe?

 

For a primer I picked up a gallon of Zinsser Bulls Eye Water-Base Primer and Sealer. Apparently it is a relatively new product from Zinsser and is a "general purpose" high-hiding. no-sanding interior primer.

I don't have any experience with other Zinsser products to compare with (or other drywall primers for that matter) but I really liked it. It flowed on smoothly with brush or roller and drys fast (repaint/sand in 1 hour - but I gave it 2 for good measure). I did not have any bold colors to really test its high-hiding aspect but it covered what I had easily in 1 coat.

And Lowes does carry it.

Because the new colors were so closely match to the old and the Bulls-eye primer worked so well on the new DAP "drywall" the finish coats came out very well with no visible transition effects. The interior decorator is very pleased with the results.

Dry down here? Well for a while there walking across the yard produced an audible "crunch-crunch" sound. Fortunately for the last week or two we were blessed with some good soaking thundershowers and the grass refreshingly need mowing!

Thanks for the tips!

 

Thanks for the update
I forgot Lowes has some Zinsser products
They are excellent products

I'm glad it worked out


...with a member name like Maud Dib I assumed you lived on a desert planet
Lol
Glad to hear about the thunderstorms

 

Ahhhh... you were referring to my previous life.... remember...

The spice must flow!!!