How to Cover Wallboard

Wallboard, sheetrock or plasterboard are names of materials used to cover over the studs of a foundation wall. The wallboard gives structure and definition of shape to the walls. If you want to cover the wallboard in a room with paint, wallpaper or other decorative treatments, you will need to first prepare it properly. Once the prep work is done, you can continue on with your decoration projects.

• 1

  Remove any of the surface dust from the wallboard using a shop vacuum with a brush extension. Go over the walls more than once if you have to get the dust cleared away.

• 2

  Wrap a tack cloth around the head of an extension pole and rub down all of the wallboard you want to cover. The cloth will remove the finest fibers of dirt and dust that remain.

• 3

  Tape off any areas that you want to protect with masking tape to keep the primer away. Lay plastic sheeting on the floor to protect it from drips.

• 4

  Fill a rolling tray with water-based wallboard primer and set the paint roller into it. Run the roller back and forth over the tray to remove excess primer.

• 5

  Apply the primer to the wallboard with the roller by making large 'M" shapes. Make each new "M" overlap the previous one to cover all of the wallboard.

• 6

  Leave the primer to dry completely before applying your final wallboard covering. You can spread regular paint over the primer or attach wallpaper using standard papering methods.