In the construction industry, building strong and durable walls is a top requirement for builders and homeowners. For this, wall putty has become an ideal solution as it can help achieve smooth, strong and flawless finish on wall surfaces.
This product is commonly used in construction projects that require aesthetically pleasing yet robust walls. It is considered to be one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-apply solutions for homes, offices and residential buildings alike.
In this blog, we will find everything on how wall putty is an affordable solution for building strong, long-lasting walls. We will also learn about the advantages of using putty, its limitations, method to maximize its benefits, and future prospects in the construction industry.
Table of Contents
What is Wall Putty?
Wall putty is a fine, white-colored powdery substance. It is usually made of limestone, calcium carbonate, gypsum, etc. it forms a fine paste when mixed with water which makes it easier to apply as a smooth coat over surfaces, such as walls and ceilings. The putty is mostly used to form a base for applying paint, plastering or installing wallpapers on the walls.
Putty is also used as a repairing and finishing product that can fill small cracks, minor gaps, and smooth out uneven surfaces. It basically forms a strong foundation to which paint and other finishing products can be easily applied.
There are various types of wall putties available in the market today, such as those made for plaster, cement and concrete walls. As the putty can significantly improve the structural strength of the wall surfaces and make them aesthetically appealing, it is being widely used in the global construction industry. in fact, putty is commonly used for both – renovating old buildings and for newly-constructed buildings.
Advantages of Wall Putty for Stronger Walls
Wall putty is popular in the construction industry for several reasons today. Its ability to building durable and stronger walls is highly valued by builders and homeowners alike.
Let’s explore some of the main advantages of using wall putty to create stronger walls:
Eco-friendly Surface Solution
Putty, in today’s environmentally-conscious industry, is made using eco-friendly ingredients. These elements have zero to low levels VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). These VOCs are substances usually included in conventional construction chemicals. The VOCs are known pollutants and impact the overall quality of air indoors.
As the construction industry is focusing more on eco-friendly alternatives and sustainable solutions, the demand for green alternative for putty have grown substantially in the past years.
Improved Surface Adhesion
Applying putty over walls effectively helps to improve its surface adhesion, which allows paint and other finishes fix strongly to the wall surface. The putty also makes the walls smoother, which results in ensuring durability of paints and other finishing products.
Walls with uneven and porous surfaces normally cause the paint to crack and peel faster. However, applying putty on the wall first can help the paint adhere for longer time, and also provide a visually-appealing finish to the wall surfaces.
Stronger Moisture Resistance
Buildings of any kind tend to face damage from moisture and water most commonly. Moisture-damage causes the paint to peel, the wall to develop cracks and even propagate growth of mold and mildew. All these issues adversely affect the durability and aesthetics of wall surfaces.
However, wall putty acts as a firm barrier against moisture and protects the walls effectively. This quality of the putty is highly beneficial for buildings in regions with higher humidity, heavy rainfall, and colder temperatures.
Budget-friendly Solution
Wall putty is a significantly better solution than other types of finishing products to improve the overall quality of walls. It is remarkably inexpensive and can be bought in bulk at a low cost, which makes it the top choice for wall surfacing in the modern construction industry. The cost-effectiveness of the material also makes it ideal for use in huge commercial projects, and smaller residential construction too.
As the putty prevents structural damage, such as peeling, cracks, and is moisture-resistant, it helps homeowners save significant money in the future, in terms of cost of repairs and maintenance.
Enhanced Durability
Putty becomes forms a uniform protective layer on the surface which makes the walls stronger, and also prevents damage from environmental factors.
For instance, putty is highly resistant to moisture and prevents it from seeping into the wall’s structure. This helps to avoid structural damage resulting from mildew or mold growth, efflorescence, etc. This quality of the putty is highly advantageous for buildings situated in areas with heavy rainfall, low temperatures, and high humidity.
Smoother Surface Finish
Wall putty is mainly popular for its ability to create smooth and uniform surfaces. This is extremely important for walls with imperfections, such as cracks, uneven surface textures, etc. The putty provides the essential smooth base for paint and other finishing products to adhere to the wall surfaces more strongly and completely.
This even surface finish results in creating flawlessly smooth walls and improves the durability of paint, wallpapers, etc.
Limitations of Wall Putty
Although it has various advantages and benefits, wall putty also has some drawbacks or limitations to its use. Knowing these limitations can ensure that you apply the putty properly and get the best end-results.
Here are some of the limitations of wall putty you should know:
Need for Surface Preparation
The surface of the wall needs to be carefully prepared to ensure that wall putty works perfectly after it is applied. To do this, you need to ensure that the wall surface is completely clean, and devoid of oil, dust, and other contaminants.
If the wall is not completely clean of contaminants, then the putty will not adhere strongly with the surface. This can cause the dried putty to form cracks or peel off of the surface completely. As a result, you will end with an unsatisfied finish to the wall surface.
Unsuitable for Big Repairs
Wall putty is made for smoothing out uneven surfaces by covering minor irregularities, such as small cracks and gaps. However, the putty is not designed to repair major structural issues. Applying wall putty on structurally weak walls will not help solve the underlying problem.
For this, you may need to properly repair the wall surface and remove any large cracks or gaps before you can apply the putty for best results.
Restricted Adaptability
Wall putty is not as flexible as some of the other finishing materials, hence it may not be suitable for walls that frequently undergo shifts and movements.
For example, structures that are situated in regions with frequent temperature fluctuations or unsuitable soil at the foundation are prone to develop cracks in the putty layer. Hence, if the structure of the building suffers from frequent shifting and movements, it is advisable to apply a finishing product which is more flexible than putty.
Frequent Maintenance
Though wall putty can enhance the durability of walls, it cannot do so indefinitely. With time, the layer of putty tends to develop damage with wear-and-tear. This happens especially faster in buildings with frequent physical stress, and areas of heavy moisture. As a result, you may see the surface become uneven and the putty layer may even develop cracks.
To remedy this, it usually requires re-applying the putty layer more frequently.
Related Post: What is Wall Putty & How to Make the Best Use of it?
How to Maximize the Benefits of Wall Putty?
Despite its limitations, there are ways you can maximize the benefits of wall putty.
According to construction experts, below are some of the tips that can help extend the advantages of putty for walls:
Good product quality
Choosing high-quality putty can create a longer-lasting finish, make the wall surface more durable, and enhance adhesion of the surface for paints and wallpapers.
Though there are cheaper alternative available in the market, construction experts recommend buying wall putty from renowned manufacturers, such as Sakshi Chem Sciences, for best results.
Sanding process
Construction experts also suggest smoothing every coat of putty as soon as it dries on the wall surface. You can use a fine-grade sandpaper to give the putty layer a uniform finish. This way, you can not only remove any minor flaws, but also make the perfect base for paints, wallpapers, and other finishing products.
Apply multiple coats
According to professional builders, applying thin multiple layers of putty to the wall is remarkably more advantageous than applying a single thick coat. This way, each layer gets ample time to cure properly and form a strong, durable surface. Make sure to let the coat of putty dry, then sand it smoother, before applying the next layer.
Future of Wall Putty in Building Practices
Globally, construction industries are focusing on innovation that is sustainable. Hence, wall putty is also expected to evolve, in terms of ingredients, manufacturing process and effectiveness. In the near future, industry experts expect to create wall putty which overcomes its limitations. For instance, the wall putty in the coming years will give better performance in extreme conditions, have more eco-friendly components, and even become faster to apply.
Conclusion
If you want to create strong and durable walls that have incredibly smooth surfaces, then it is highly recommended to use top-quality wall putty. The putty gives walls a smoother finish and also improves adhesion of paints and other finishing products. Besides this, good-quality putty is also resistant to moisture and safeguards your walls from damage.
According to experts from the construction industry, it is strongly advised to buy the best-quality wall putty from renowned manufacturers, such as Sakshi Chem Sciences, for best results.