How Much Do You Know About Putty?

Wall decoration is like makeup on a woman's face; good makeup depends on a good foundation, and a good wall depends on good putty. There are various types of putty on the market. How do you choose a high-quality putty that suits you among so many options? We need to understand a few key points about putty.

1. What is Putty

Putty (filler) is a decorative material used to smooth wall surfaces. It is a thick paste coating and an essential product before painting. It is applied before primer or directly onto the object to eliminate surface unevenness. The main fillers are calcium carbonate, talcum powder, etc.

2. Types of Putty

1. By form: Putty powder, Putty paste
Putty powder: A white powder product composed of cementitious materials, fillers, cellulose, and additives. It is currently a commonly used material for wall leveling. Users can mix it with water as needed to adjust the consistency; it has a long shelf life and is easy to store.
Putty paste: A white paste product made of synthetic resin emulsion, cellulose, and fillers. It can be used directly without mixing with water, making construction convenient; its shelf life is shorter than putty powder and is not easy to store, suitable for small area leveling.

2. By usage scenario: Interior putty, Exterior putty
As the name suggests, interior putty is used for leveling indoor walls, while exterior putty is used for leveling building facades. Exterior putty can also be used as interior putty, but you must check whether the indicators in the test report meet the interior standards to avoid indoor decoration pollution.

3. By performance: Ordinary putty, Water-resistant putty
We can decide which type of putty to use during decoration according to the construction environment. Ordinary putty is easy to sand and affordable, but not suitable for high-humidity environments and has certain limitations in blocking cement base efflorescence. It is suitable for general indoor wall and ceiling treatment. Water-resistant putty performs better in waterproof and alkali resistance, suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, or wall and ceiling treatment in humid environments such as southern regions.

3. Application of Putty

1. Base treatment
Whether it is a new or old wall, base treatment is required: no oil stains, dust, hollowing, or cracks. Wall holes and corners should be handled, and uneven areas are recommended to be leveled with Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® formaldehyde-free leveling gypsum, with a moisture content not exceeding 10%.

2. Mixing with water
According to the ratio of one bag of Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® formaldehyde-free putty powder + 6~8 kg of water, mix evenly with a mixer, let it stand for 2-3 minutes, then stir again before use.

3. Putty application amount:
1.5-2.0kg/㎡, at least two coats: the first coat should be less than 2mm thick, the second coat less than 1mm thick. The overall order is ceiling first, then walls. After the first base coat is completely dry and sanded smooth, and dust is removed, the second surface coat can be applied. When the surface coat is 60-70% dry, use a rubber scraper to polish and finish to ensure a smooth, straight, and even surface.

4. Finished product protection
During application, measures should be taken to protect other finished products, such as covering finished floors, taping door and window frames, and strictly avoiding cross-contamination. All corners must be smoothed with a sharp corner trowel during surface application, and lines should be pulled for all door and window corners to keep geometric dimensions consistent.

5. Putty sanding
After the putty is dry, use 240-360 grit sandpaper for fine sanding; mixed putty must be used up at once.
Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® formaldehyde-free neutral putty and waterproof putty have slightly different construction steps. This article takes neutral putty as an example. Specific construction steps should be handled according to different putty types; see the product packaging instructions for details.

4. Putty Consumption

First, let's understand a few terms:
1. Application area: The area to be applied, excluding doors, windows, holes, etc.

2. Recommended consumption: The reference amount per square meter per coat provided by the putty manufacturer based on their experiments. For example, Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® putty recommends 1.5-2.0kg/㎡/coat.

3. Number of coats: Usually 2 coats for new houses; 3 coats for renovated houses.

4. Application coefficient: About 2.5-3.

5. Product specification: Used to calculate how many bags are needed. Most putty on the market is bagged, 20kg/bag.
After understanding these terms, we can use a fixed formula to calculate the amount needed:
General formula:
Putty consumption = Building area × 2.5 coefficient × (2-3) coats × standard consumption / specification     For example, for a 120㎡ house using Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® putty:
　　　　=120*2.5*2*1.5/20
　　　　=45 bags

All the above data are calculated based on the recommended consumption of Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® putty product at 1.5kg/㎡/coat, applied twice. Actual consumption may vary greatly from the reference value due to wall flatness. It is recommended to confirm with the construction party.

3. Wanhua Ecological Lingquan Formaldehyde-Free Waterproof/Neutral Putty

WHBM3201 Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® Formaldehyde-Free Waterproof Putty uses Wanhua Ecological formaldehyde-free technology. Its main components are high molecular polymer, inorganic powder, and formaldehyde-free additives. It has strong adhesion, is waterproof and moisture-proof, and is suitable for indoor wall and ceiling treatment.

Product Features
Safe and environmentally friendly, free of formaldehyde and benzene for greater peace of mind.
Good adhesion, easy to sand.
Moisture-proof and not afraid of water, does not blister or powder after 24 hours of soaking.
Smooth surface, good flexibility.

WHBM3203 Wanhua Ecological Lingquan® Formaldehyde-Free Neutral Putty uses Wanhua Ecological formaldehyde-free technology. Its main components are high-quality high molecular polymer, fine calcium powder, and efficient formaldehyde-free additives. It has strong adhesion, is easy to apply, has a delicate texture, and is suitable for indoor wall and ceiling treatment.

Product Features
Safe and environmentally friendly, free of formaldehyde and benzene.
Delicate texture, strong adhesion.
Good workability, easy to apply.