ᐅ Is it advisable to use painting fleece or mesh for drywall when applying silicate paint?

Hello everyone,

I want to paint my new drywall partitions (12.5 mm (0.5 inch) plasterboard on both sides, installed indoors) with white silicate paint.

A friend recommended the following procedure:

1. Primer: STO Prim Plex
2. Painter’s fleece: STO TAP PRO 100 P (pigmented)
3. Top coat: Silicate paint: "STOColor Sil Comfort"

I have the following questions:
1. Is it really necessary to use painter’s fleece?
2. This method requires three coats in total. Nowadays, there are other options with a primer (e.g., Sto Prim Sil Color) that apparently save one painting step. What is actually more effective?

Best regards

ZwuselSepp schrieb:

1. Should painting fleece actually be used?

Yes, it’s worth it. It helps prevent potential cracking later on. I know this from experience because we skipped the painting fleece in our first house. That was a bad decision.

ZwuselSepp schrieb:

2. In this case, a total of 3 coats would be required. Nowadays, there are other options with primer (e.g., Sto Prim Sil Color), which apparently save you one coat. What is actually more practical?

When it comes to preventing cracking, the number of coats doesn’t really matter.

ZwuselSepp schrieb:

I want to paint my new drywall partitions (12.5 mm (1/2 inch) plasterboard, double-sided, installed indoors) with white silicate paint.

Why? It offers no advantages.

Painter’s fleece, on the other hand, is a good idea. If (though not necessarily) cracking occurs, you could mask it with that.

nordanney schrieb:

If cracking occurs (which is not certain, but possible), you would be covering it up with that.

In three rooms, the fleece tore right along with it. Invisible repairs are practically impossible. I’m frustrated about the expensive fleece and, in hindsight, I would have preferred to invest the money in Q4 finishing.

Fuchur schrieb:

In three rooms, the fleece tore along with it. Invisible repair is practically impossible. I’m annoyed about the expensive fleece and in hindsight would have preferred to invest the money in Q4.

Thanks for the note. What exactly does Q4 refer to?

The surface quality of the plaster. Q4 ultimately means smooth walls achieved through filling and sanding, which can be painted directly. If cracks appear later, they can simply be re-filled and repainted. The standard quality for general contractor new builds is basically Q2, which can be improved to Q3 through filling. Q4 is usually achieved by full-surface filling and sanding of the wall.

The torn fleece is fraying and would need to be sanded extensively and re-papered.