Paint recommendation for drywalled garage?

[dogzbody1]

Hi all

I am moving into a house next week and while it is vacant I want to prepare and paint the interior garage walls which are drywalled and pained but fairly well scuffed and marked up.

I'll TSP or clean the walls and then paint them white to spread the current lighting out as much as I can. What is the current thinking on best paint types for a garage, interior latex, satin or semi-gloss for cleanup? I'm more of a wrencher than painter so any tips are welcome and appreciated!

Best wishes
Steve

 

[PelicanPines]

I just mixed the left over "Ceiling White" and "Satin Cream color" they used to paint the inside walls. Sprayed the whole garage.

Semi gloss is nice but it shows all the sins of the wall. Satin hides them.

Solution for cleanup--- paint roller with left over paint.

 

[foodie]

I used Sherwin Williams Super Paint Exterior latex satin white. It was thick when it went on and covered very well. This was older drywall also. But my garage walls look like new now.
You want to use an exterior paint according to my painter friend.

 

[ddawg16]

Me?
After you clean it well....a good coat of primer on the walls and ceiling.

Semi-gloss bright white on the ceiling (good light reflection)

And if you decide you want different colors on the walls...do that. As a rule of thumb (Thumb had a lot of rules)...darker colors towards the bottom...you typically have a lot of **** down low so the color is not going to be an issue for light reflection.

I'd use semi-gloss exterior paint. The semi-glass is easier to clean and does not hold dust as much. High gloss is going so show up more imperfections....

 

[dogzbody1]

Thanks guys, all very helpful.
Paint first, then lights, then flooring and wall storage, bit by bit!
I'm going from a good sized 2.5 car in WI to a tiny 2 car in WI, this thing was built for the fist generation Honda Civics I think but I'm going to make the most of it.
Thanks again
Steve

 

[PelicanPines]

Hey... I was where you are... I wish I added additional outlets THEN instead of NOW when my garage is FULL.

 

[dogzbody1]

I need to add that to the list!
Maybe an air line system too someday.
And I made a type before its WI to NY (Long Island).

 

[kaymccampbell]

I've got Valspar Signature, high hiding satin, in antique white. It still reflects well, but takes the edge off LED or fluorescent lighting. It covered in one coat, except for a few spots where I marked with sharpie. Those areas took a second coat while the first was still pretty wet.

 

[finn]

A cheap five gallon bucket of PVA primer from Menards followed by Antique White eggshell paint, probably a house brand, also from Menards, has held up fine for me.

My shop lower walls have a glossier finish on osb and I think it looks cheesy. If I ever get around to repainting, I would go with the antique white eggshell like the garage.

 

[JRC3]

Yep, exterior paint


Also keep in mind that the finish on garage walls is pretty crappy and the glossier the sheen will accentuate that. Agreed, eggshell if available.

 

[nadogail]

I use Eggshell or Semi-Gloss over primer for new drywall or wood (including OSB & Plywood).

I have found Cheap Paint is not a bargain, it does not cover well and has no hiding power.

 

[JRC3]

I have found Cheap Paint is not a bargain, it does not cover well and has no hiding power.

Yep. And it smells.

Cheap paint, and cheap brushes and rollers are a total mistake. ****** outcome that takes twice as long to accomplish.

 

[yeldogt]

Don't use exterior paint ... it's not "better"

Exterior paint ,,,, guess what .. is for outside (what a shock)

Exterior paint has additives not need or wanted inside -- some have chemicals to control mold. Exterior paint is self cleaning .. chalk -- also not wanted inside. UV inhibitors -- not needed. Finally -- exterior paint is designed to be soft to move with the subsurface .. so it;'s not as tough.

Use a quality interior paint -- with at least a satin/ eggshell finish. If moisture is an issue or you want a tougher paint ... get the bathroom grade.

I always use a primer .... but, it's a garage. if the old wall looks uniform you should be good to go -- if it's spotty .. a product like "first coat" is nice

 

[Shiftless]

Remember that anything other than flat paint accentuates the irregularities in the surface. But eggshell or satin or semigloss is much easier to clean. I have started to use a Benjamin Moore product that is scrubbable and remarkably tough. Scuff-X
It’s expensive though.

For ceilings that in all honesty for 99% of us never get cleaned, I would recommend a flat or even an ultra flat paint. For side walls, go with something else.

 

[ddawg16]

Don't use exterior paint ... it's not "better"

Exterior paint ,,,, guess what .. is for outside (what a shock)

Exterior paint has additives not need or wanted inside -- some have chemicals to control mold. Exterior paint is self cleaning .. chalk -- also not wanted inside. UV inhibitors -- not needed. Finally -- exterior paint is designed to be soft to move with the subsurface .. so it;'s not as tough.

Use a quality interior paint -- with at least a satin/ eggshell finish. If moisture is an issue or you want a tougher paint ... get the bathroom grade.

I always use a primer .... but, it's a garage. if the old wall looks uniform you should be good to go -- if it's spotty .. a product like "first coat" is nice

Any citations to support those statements?

FYI....it's getting now to where most paints are listed interior/exterior.

Garages tend to be open...exposed somewhat to the elements....typically higher humidity than inside the house.

Just saying............

 

[Whitworth]

Glidden Speedwall.

 

[GeeTeeOhh]

I used Home DepoD Baer paint...mistake, took two coats after primer...I'd go to Sherwin Williams first, after that IDK.

 

[lolaetype]

I did mine with white exterior semi-gloss. Same for the ceiling. The back wall is a light grey, just because I thought it'd would look good that way. The shade of grey is is kind of like the background of my avatar.

 

[428PI]

Exterior paint makes sense when the garage isn't heated and cooled. Sheetrock doesn't tend to hold up well either in those conditions.

 

[yeldogt]

Exterior paint makes sense when the garage isn't heated and cooled. Sheetrock doesn't tend to hold up well either in those conditions.

Why .... endless drywalled unconditioned garages in the world.

 

[yeldogt]

Any citations to support those statements?

FYI....it's getting now to where most paints are listed interior/exterior.

Garages tend to be open...exposed somewhat to the elements....typically higher humidity than inside the house.

Just saying............

do a few searches ... it comes up.

That's why you use the bathroom formula if high humidity.

Inside/ outside is like the no primer paint ... use when it does not matter.

 

[BillK]

Not sure why anyone would suggest exterior paint ???? Exterior paint is designed to self clean over the years by chalking away.

I used a white interior semigloss at my shop and it has held up well for 20 years now. I would go to a local paint store of your choice and ask them. They know the product and what will work best. I used Benjamin Moore. When I say paint store I don't mean Lowes or Home Depot either.

 

[lolaetype]

Why .... endless drywalled unconditioned garages in the world.

I used exterior paint because I believe it's more resistant to moisture and can thus be more easily cleaned without damaging the paint or sheetrock.

 

[yeldogt]

I used exterior paint because I believe it's more resistant to moisture and can thus be more easily cleaned without damaging the paint or sheetrock.

But .... it's not.

A good exterior paint will breathe -- that's how it deals with trapped moisture ... cheap will come off.

exterior paint will flex due to temp changes .... it's not as strong ..or washable.


Interior paint can be made to be a vapor barrier ? It protects drywall .. it can also be hard to wipe off.

 

[dogzbody1]

I ended up grabbing some Valspar Signature High Hiding Ultra White. I TSPs the surfaces, let it dry and took a roller to it. The dry wall had been painted at some point in its life but many years ago, it really soaked up the paint, it was like painting a sponge. It will tale a second coat but I think that would have been the case with any brand. I'll grab another gallon tomorrow and keep you posted.

 

[The Cobbler]

You can sure tell this is GJ... most garages aren't even painted, or at least if they are it's not such a dilemma!

 

[Yankeefarmer]

I used Home DepoD Baer paint...mistake, took two coats after primer...I'd go to Sherwin Williams first, after that IDK.

Which grade of Behr did you use? I am painting my new build now with the Behr Ultra in a light gray color, and it’s covering the primer beautifully in one coat. I have also used some of an older, lower grade Behr in a different color that isn’t covering worth a darn.

 

[GeeTeeOhh]

Which grade of Behr did you use? I am painting my new build now with the Behr Ultra in a light gray color, and it’s covering the primer beautifully in one coat. I have also used some of an older, lower grade Behr in a different color that isn’t covering worth a darn.

It was not the Ultra, but a mid grade.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Negen]

I used an 100% acrylic paint in mine. Got a smaller garage and the 5 gallon from the "oops" section was fine with me.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[DrewFSD]

I have gloss white exterior on the ceiling and then just a good white primer for the walls, the white primer is cheap and i just roll more on once it starts to get a little dingy.

 

[itb45]

I just dry walled mine and painted.

Did the same on the walls and ceiling, didn't want to deal with where the two meet and being careful.

1 coat primer
2 coats semi-gloss

straight white out of the can, no need for matching colors later.

made it nice and bright !

 

[TriumphFan]

A lot of the garages around here are painted with a cheap, builder grade flat paint. Pretty soon you are inundated with mold, dirt and spiders. Semi-gloss really helps in that regard. I still get spiders but not nearly as bad and the mold is gone.

 

[88crx]

Just finished painting ours after doing way too much research....

- We did the final drywall touch ups our selves so its not perfect, so we used eggshell finish on the walls. And we did the ceilings in Benjamin Moore Ultra Matte ceilings. The gloss and semi-gloss shows way too many drywall imperfections for my liking.
- Speaking of Benjamin Moore paint its expensive compared to the cheap **** but its way more durable and goes on so much nicer then the cheap paint. It can also be touched up and hides the touch ups so much better. Highly recommended!
- All white everything is boring so we did the walls in a medium gray and it turned out amazing.

Also unless you're painted an old leaky barn there is no reason to use exterior grade paint inside your garage.