Before you consider painting your drywall, you have to remember that this is a fairly specialized task. However, if you have the proper equipments or tools and do the necessary preparations, you will find that it can be achieved by nearly everyone.
When painting drywall, you have to know about the step-by-step process in doing it properly. If you neglect to do at least one of the processes, you will end up with a painting job that looks quite amateurish.
The first step in painting drywalls is by making sure that the weather is not too humid and it should be fairly warm. You also have to make sure that the surface or the drywall you are planning to pain is dry, free from oil and grease, and that it is completely clean.
You also have to apply 3 coats of joint compound on the drywall and the joints between the panels should be taped with fiberglass or paper mesh tape or drywall tape. By doing this, you will ensure that the joint gets surfaced over. You also have to make sure that you fill in any cracks or marks using the same method.
You also have to clean the walls and ceilings that you intend on painting by wiping off the dust. Do this before priming. After the prime coat has dried, the next step is to sand the surface lightly with a fine grit sandpaper. This will enable you to smooth any imperfections, and raised fibers as well as rough chips. Always keep in mind that you need to wear goggles and mask as the gypsum dust produced when sanding drywalls can be very irritating to the eyes and is known to cause breathing problems.
You should also take care in removing dust from the top of your doorway as well as in the window trims. You also have to use drop cloths in order to protect finished flooring as well as doors, windows, and other fixtures. It is highly recommended that you use a painters plastic to do this.
You need to keep in mind that after you taped the drywall and sanded it, you shouldnt allow the drywall to sit too long. The sunlight can cause the drywall to yellow and fade. In fact, it can look uneven even after painting it. Use a good quality latex stain-killing paint before you prime it in order to fight the yellowing process.
Two coats of paint should be enough. On the first coat, use a low sheen, latex flat wall paint. This should be tinted to match the color of the top coat. For the top coat, use two coatings of gloss paint, which includes eggshell and satin paint. This will leave you with a finish that is easy to wash and one that is not prone to smudges and marks. For the roof, flat paint is a good option.
Always remember that with the proper equipments and preparation, you will be able to have a professional looking finish when painting your drywall.