When it comes to maintaining a beautiful home in the Chicagoland suburbs, the foundation of a great interior starts with what’s beneath the paint. Whether you live in a historic Victorian in Geneva or a modern estate in Naperville, understanding the difference between drywall and plaster is essential for a long-lasting, professional finish.
At Blackhawk Painting Inc., we specialize in navigating the unique challenges posed by Midwest architecture and our ever-changing climate. From Arlington Heights to Glen Ellyn, here is what you need to know about preparing your walls and ceilings for a fresh look.
The Tale of Two Substrates: Drywall vs. Plaster
In the Midwest, we see a wide variety of home ages. This means our team often works with two very different types of surfaces:
- Drywall (Sheetrock): Common in newer builds in areas like Campton Hills and Wheaton, drywall is known for its smooth surface and uniform appearance. However, it is prone to nail pops and seam cracks as a home settles.
- Plaster: Found in many of the charming, older homes in Batavia, St. Charles, and Prospect Heights, plaster is much harder and more durable than drywall but is susceptible to hairline cracks and crumbling over time.
The Importance of Professional Preparation
A beautiful paint job is 90% preparation. In our region, the high humidity of summer followed by the dry heat of winter causes homes to expand and contract, which inevitably leads to surface damage. Our process ensures these issues are addressed before the first drop of paint is applied:
- Property Protection: We believe your home and personal items must be carefully respected and protected. Our process includes taping out trim work like baseboards to protect stained woodwork from paint splatter and create nice straight paint lines, using plastic sheeting to cover furniture, cabinets, and countertops, and laying drop cloths on all floors.
- Substrate-Specific Repair and Patching: We meticulously inspect all work areas, applying techniques tailored to the substrate.
- Drywall Repair: We address the common issues of nail pops and seam cracks by re-securing loose areas, setting nails, and using professional-grade joint compound and seam tape to ensure a perfectly flat, seamless surface.
- Plaster Repair: Because plaster is brittle and susceptible to hairline cracks, repairs are more delicate. We use specialized, flexible patching compounds or setting-type joint compound with fiberglass mesh tape to stabilize loose plaster and bridge cracks, which helps accommodate minor future movement.
- Priming for Success: We apply appropriate primers to bare drywall, mud, or stained surfaces to ensure the finish coat adheres perfectly and provides a uniform finish.
- Dust-Free Sanding: All repaired areas are sanded smooth to ensure the texture of the patch matches the rest of the wall.
Choosing the Right Finish for Your Space
Once the repairs are complete, we typically recommend a two-coat finish for maximum durability and color depth. While the final color is always the homeowner’s choice, we often use high-quality products like Sherwin Williams Super Paint or Benjamin Moore Ben line to withstand the wear and tear of a busy suburban household.
Selecting the correct paint finish is crucial for both aesthetics and durability across diverse substrates like drywall or plaster walls. For areas with low activity —specifically Bedrooms, Offices, Low-Traffic Hallways, Family Rooms, and Living Rooms—we recommend an Eggshell or Flat finish on either drywall or plaster. Flat finishes excel at absorbing light and concealing minor wall imperfections inherent in older plaster, while Eggshell provides a subtle sheen that is slightly more washable for minor scuffs. Conversely, areas prone to moisture and cleaning require a tougher barrier. In Kitchens, we recommend an Eggshell or Satin finish on drywall or plaster, as the higher sheen offers enhanced durability and easy cleanability to manage cooking splatters. Similarly, bathrooms benefit from Eggshell, Satin, or Semi-gloss, with Semi-gloss offering the superior moisture resistance necessary to protect the underlying drywall or plaster from the high humidity common during Midwest summers. For High-Traffic Halls, durability is paramount; therefore, a durable Satin finish or a high-performance, washable Duration Flat (typically on drywall) is suggested to withstand repeated scrubbing and wear. Finally, when refreshing the Historic Dining Rooms of older St. Charles or Prospect Heights homes, a Flat or Matte finish on the Plaster substrate is ideal, as this traditional, low-sheen look helps to preserve the historic character and minimize the visibility of surface inconsistencies.
Top 10 Interior Painting Q&A for Chicagoland Homeowners
Based on common search queries in the local area, here are the top questions our neighbors are asking about painting walls and ceilings:
- Q: How often should I repaint the interior of my home in the Chicago suburbs, especially considering the seasonal changes?
- A: For most low-traffic areas like bedrooms and living rooms in communities such as Wheaton or Glen Ellyn, a fresh coat of paint typically lasts 7 to 10 years. High-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms may need attention sooner.
- Q: What is the most common wall issue found in older homes in the Fox Valley area like Batavia and St. Charles?
- In historic homes in Batavia and St. Charles that feature original plaster, the most common issue is hairline cracking and loose plaster, caused by years of settlement and seasonal expansion/contraction. This requires specialized, flexible patching.
- Q: Why do my drywall seams keep cracking after being repaired in my newer Naperville home?
- Persistent drywall cracks, often seen in newer construction in areas like Naperville and Campton Hills, are usually a sign of structural movement or foundation settling. Professional repair involves re-securing the drywall to the framing before patching with high-quality joint compound and proper tape.
- Q: Is it necessary to prime a wall before painting if I am only going from one light color to another?
- Two-part answer to this question: as far as the color change is concerned, most modern wall paints these days have been modified for excellent coverage. Meaning that two coats of a mid-grade to premium finish paint with no separate primer application will get the job done regarding coverage for a color change.
However, priming is crucial regarding patched areas, bare drywall mud, or high-gloss paint. A quality primer ensures excellent adhesion and a uniform final color, preventing a blotchy look that would be noticeable in bright, open spaces common in Arlington Heights homes.
- Q: What type of ceiling paint should I use to hide imperfections on an older plaster ceiling?
- A flat or ultra-matte ceiling paint is highly recommended to absorb light and minimize the visibility of surface imperfections, which are common on older plaster ceilings throughout communities like Prospect Heights. I usually use
a product like Benjamin Moore’s Muresco Classic Ceiling white.
- Q: Should I use flat or eggshell paint in a family room with kids?
- While flat paint provides the richest color and best coverage for light reflection, eggshell is generally recommended for family rooms in busy homes. Its slight sheen offers greater durability and makes wiping away everyday scuffs easier for families in high-traffic suburban areas.
- Q: What is the difference between a drywall patch and a plaster repair?
- Drywall patching, often done for small dents or nail pops, uses a gypsum-based joint compound. Plaster repair, required for the hard, brittle walls in historic Geneva homes, demands a more setting-type compound along with mesh tape to prevent the crack from immediately reappearing.
- Q: How important is ceiling preparation, or can I just paint over the old paint?
- Ceiling preparation is just as vital as wall prep. Before painting the ceiling in your Wheaton home, cleaning any dust or grease and addressing any water stains with a stain-blocking primer ensures the new paint adheres correctly and prevents bleed-through.
- Q: Is semi-gloss paint ever recommended for walls outside of a bathroom or kitchen?
- Semi-gloss is rarely used on walls as its high sheen highlights imperfections. However, it is an excellent choice for trim, baseboards, and interior doors in areas like a high-traffic mudroom in Glen Ellyn, as it is extremely durable and easy to clean.
- Q: When painting a home with extensive stained wood trim, how do professionals protect the woodwork?
- Professionals, such as those working on detailed homes in Arlington Heights or St. Charles, meticulously tape off all stained woodwork, including baseboards and some casing. This prevents paint splatter and ensures a razor-sharp, clean line between the paint and the stain, demonstrating respect for the existing finishes.
Serving Our Neighbors
We take pride in serving the communities that make the Chicago suburbs such a wonderful place to live. Whether you are refreshing a single room in Batavia or undertaking a full-home restoration in Naperville, our commitment to quality remains the same.