Apt. 1 Kitchen Wall Repair Vol.2: Primer and Top Coat Painting

2026 Update from DIY Dad: Kitchen Wall Repair and Water Leak Response

During the 1st-floor kitchen wall repair, we discovered a water leak u2014 an unexpected accident. A real look back at a landlord DIY job.

What Makes Kitchen Wall Repair Different

Kitchen walls differ from ordinary rooms:

• Water and grease: stubborn grease soaks into walls near the stove
• Humidity: steam from cooking deteriorates wall materials easily
• Fixtures: gas stove, ventilation fan, water supply pipes are all built into the walls
• Tiled walls: if wallpapering over tiles, grout joints need treatment first

Surface Preparation Around Oily Stove Areas

• Remove as much grease as possible with silicone-off or baking soda
• Apply a stain-blocking sealer/primer
• After drying, use putty/filler to level the surface
• Choose kitchen-grade, stain-resistant wallpaper

Water Leak Found During Construction

Older apartments can hide leaks behind walls. Steps when found:

• Locate the entry point
• Visually check on a rainy day
• Determine source: roof, exterior wall, or window frames
• Waterproof-repair the source
• Inspect for rot and mold u2192 treat and replace as needed
• Confirm dry, then proceed with finishing

As a Landlord: Catch Leaks Early

Neglecting a water leak leads to wood decay, mold, electrical issues, and repair costs that multiply quickly. Finding leaks during DIY is an unexpected benefit. Regular inspections protect your asset.

Hi, it’s DIY Dad.
Continuing the kitchen wall repair.
I actually painted the ceiling first, but I don’t have photos u2014 so we’ll just say the ceiling is magically done and move on to the walls.
The wall finish will be paint, same as the 1st-floor Japanese room.
This room’s sandy plaster walls were fairly solid, so we’re going with a paint finish.
One area has a different surface and some added framing u2014 that section will get wallpaper.
We start with the paint finish.
I used Miracle Sealer as the primer.
Technique: normally you brush the edges first, then roll the large surfaces. But this time I’m trying spray painting with an air compressor, so I’m doing the big surfaces first with a rough roller coat.
Similar process to the 1st-floor Japanese room, so moving quickly.

u2191 Sealer/primer application
(The toilet is on the other side of this wall.)

u2191 Sealer/primer application
The kitchen appliances are still in place.

u2191 Sealer/primer application

u2191 Sealer/primer application
(The staircase is on the other side.)

u2191 Sealer/primer application
The sandy plaster here soaks up paint just like in the Japanese room u2014 no matter how much you apply, it just disappears. I think I put on 2 or 3 coats.
After sufficient sealing, moving to the top coat u2014 white paint. I used Ecoflat 60.

u2191 Top coat painting
Moved the kitchen around a bit (rotated 90u00b0) to visualize the final layout. So that’s what the back of the kitchen looks like u2014 pretty grimy. And no tile u2014 how do I finish that off?
A bit uncertain…

u2191 Top coat painting
Looks like a counter kitchen almost!

u2191 Top coat painting

u2191 Top coat painting
Apparently the wall between the toilet and kitchen has been knocked through at some point (demolished?)!

u2191 Top coat painting
Similar process, so lots of photos u2014 moving right along!
That’s it for today u2014 see you next time!

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