Painting blueboard.....

I have gotten mixed opinions on painting blueboard. Some say it needs a skimcoat, some say just use a good primer. When I was buying sheetrock at Home Depot, the guy asked where I was going to use it, and I told him in the basement, and he said then "you need this" and brought me to the blueboard. I really had no intention of buying this, but the guy really recommended it. I have just one sheet hung at this point. I am not sure if I want to hang the rest now.

 

Is it blue or purple?

Blue board is veneer plaster base. It's made to be plastered over. I don't think it has any special properties that would make it preferable in a basement.

There is, however, mold resistant rock which has a deeper color than blueboard and I would call it more purple that is mold resistant and might have some other desirable qualities for a basement.

Seems to me that if one has to worry about moisture and mold in a basement that a cement based material would be preferred.

 

I am pretty sure it is this stuff. Gold Bond 1/2 In. x 4 Ft. x 8 Ft. Plaster Base Regular Gypsum Board Tapered Edge - GB22800800 at The Home Depot
When I bought it, I was about to buy the "regular" stuff, and the guy said for basements, use this. My basement room was ruined when water came in the basement, due to the 14" of rain we got in March. I didn't even ask for anything moisture resistant, in fact, I didn't even ask for help. The guy came over and asked what I wanted it for, then sold me that. I called Home Depot, and the guy on the phone at first said that it is made to use with a skim coat, then I explained the whole story, and he said, "well, um, well, you can paint it if you want and it will be ok...." then he transfered me over to the "pro desk", and the "pro" wasn't there.
I feel like I was ill advised AGAIN by this store. A few months ago, their mistakes made a mess of my dining room paint project. I have to learn to stay away from Home Depot.

 

Nothing wrong with buying stuff at HD....but you can't trust all the advise given there..thats for sure.

 

You're right. The advice is what keeps making me not want to shop there.

 

Yes, this is made for plastering over. It has a high affinity for plaster. It is made so plaster will bond to it. I think this works because the paper is more porous than regular. I would think it would paint without being skimmed but I have never done it.

If you want something special for a basement that is prone to getting wet this is not your solution. You either want something that can stand moisture or water or you want something easy to remove and replace when it gets wet. Drywall is not the answer to either of these.

 

I don't know that I've ever painted blue board without a plaster veneer but it should be paintable. It may require the proper primer in order for the paint job to look good...... but I assume you paid more per board - is it feasible to take it back?

This is a dry basement, right?

 

it was actually 6.33 per sheet, same as the regular stuff.
they will take it back if i want, just a matter of borrowing a truck and hauling it back out of the basement. not sure what i should do.

 

Paint a little of the one you have up and see how it behaves. You can't return it even if you take it down so prime, paint, look at it feel it and see what you think.

What I think will happen is that it will soak up more primer because of the porousness of the paper. Once it is sealed then it should be like normal drywall.

 

Ya, I was thinking along the lines of applying USG First Coat after the drywall is finished, sanding lightly when dry and then apply a coat of primer like SWP's promar 200 wall primer. I have no doubt that would get the walls in great shape for any top coat.