Why Use Water-Resistant Putty for Wall Finishing?
Release Time:
2020-08-10
Source:
Why Use Water-Resistant Putty for Wall Finishing?
When it comes to home interior wall decoration, choosing the right putty is crucial. If the wall putty is of poor quality, problems such as mold growth, peeling, cracking, hollowing, and even detachment are likely to occur. These issues not only severely compromise the overall aesthetic of the walls but also pose potential health risks to family members. Why use a durable… Water-based putty, rather than conventional putty—let’s take a look at the key differences between these two product categories.
1) Water resistance
Standard putty is water-sensitive; it dissolves upon contact with water and exhibits very poor water resistance. In high-humidity environments, walls finished with standard putty will quickly develop looseness, chalking, and flaking.
Due to the use of hydrated lime in the formulation of this water-resistant putty, it reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide during the later curing stage to form crystalline calcium carbonate, thereby significantly enhancing its water resistance. The Eco-Home Wall Primer (water-resistant putty powder) has undergone numerous field trials across the country, and putty samples subjected to 72 hours of immersion in water showed no powdering or sloughing. Abnormal.
2) Whiteness and Fineness
The powder used in ordinary putty has a whiteness of only about 85 and a fineness of only about 300 mesh, with relatively coarse particles. Even when sanded with the finest-grade sandpaper, the surface cannot be polished to a very fine and smooth finish.
After application, water-resistant putty delivers a smooth, fine surface; when properly troweled to a high gloss, it feels silky to the touch and provides an aesthetic finish, making it suitable as a decorative coating. For example, the raw materials used in Eco-Home Wall Primer (water-resistant putty powder) are subject to stringent procurement specifications: particle fineness must exceed 400 mesh, and whiteness must be at least 90.
3) Paint consumption
As mentioned earlier, the powder used in standard putty has a fineness of only about 300 mesh, meaning the particles are relatively coarse. Consequently, walls finished with this type of putty exhibit larger pores, which not only result in poor leveling when applying latex paint—leading to an uneven, less refined paint film and compromising the aesthetic appeal—but also increase paint consumption, ultimately costing homeowners more.
Tests have demonstrated that, for wall surfaces of the same area, using a water-resistant putty—such as the Eco-Home Wall Primer (a water-resistant putty powder with a fineness of over 400 mesh and a whiteness of 90 or higher)—can reduce paint consumption by 25% to 30% compared with using conventional putty.
4) Bonding Strength
Standard JG/298-2010 “Putty for Interior Use in Buildings” sets clear requirements for putty strength: the bond strength of ordinary putty under standard conditions shall be greater than 0.25 MPa, with no specific requirement for bond strength after immersion in water; in contrast, water-resistant putty is required to achieve a bond strength of at least 0.50 MPa under standard conditions and a bond strength greater than 0.30 MPa after immersion in water. 。
As evidenced by the relevant standards, water-resistant putty exhibits significantly higher strength than conventional interior wall putty; therefore, using water-resistant putty can substantially reduce the risk of hollowing and spalling in walls.
5) Total Cost
Ordinary putty has poor water resistance; therefore, during any future renovations, the existing coating must be completely removed and the surface thoroughly cleaned before applying a new layer of putty. The waste material removed in the process is difficult to recycle, leading to environmental pollution. In addition to wasting resources for the nation and society, this also increases renovation costs for homeowners (material expenses , labor costs) will be increased.
In contrast, wall finishes using water-resistant putty can last as long as 15 years—or even longer. Even after several years, when a second, third, or subsequent renovation becomes necessary, there’s no need to scrape off the durable water-resistant putty layer; simply sand the surface, make any localized repairs, and proceed with the next stage of work.
While the unit price of water-resistant putty may be one to two times that of standard putty, the decorative finish it delivers is far beyond what standard putty can achieve. Moreover, when factoring in paint consumption as well as the costs of putty and labor for any future renovations, using water-resistant putty ultimately proves more cost-effective.
