Yes you can paint open stud walls. A wall with no drywall will have open stud bays that are the structure of the house. The surface you would be painting is the inside wall of the sheathing and all of the framing wood that are visible. Paint will readily adhere to framing lumber and sheathing but may take more coats of paint than normal to get the surface completely painted.
Does painted stud walls look good?
Looking good is subjective but I think it looks pretty good. It’s sort of cool to see the structure of the house as a design feature. It has a minimalist look to it that makes you feel the structure is much older than it is and has a soul. I prefer a less is more design approach. For me efficiency of materials is an impressive feat in a building, so seeing that this structure requires less is satisfying.
How much does it cost to paint open stud walls
| Paint | Caulk | Texture | Drywall Sheets | Drywall Tape | Total | Cost for $1000 | |
| Paint Open Stud Walls | .12/sqft | .04/sqft | .02/sqft | 0 | 0 | .18/sqft | $180 |
| Regular Drywall | .08/sqft | .02/sqft | .02/sqft | .31/sqft | .01/sqft | .44/sqft | $440 |
Can you paint unfinished garage walls?
Yes a garage is another great place to paint open stud walls. Often times the garage is uninsulated leaving the open stud bays and it doesn’t make sense to put in drywall. The only thing to consider is to use more moisture resistant materials so mold doesn’t develop. Garage walls will be exposed to the outside without any insulation so condensation can develop depending on your climate type. High satin paints are mold resistant. You can also use a water based sealer coat on lower satin paints.
How to paint open stud walls
The process for painting open stud bays is very similar to painting regular drywall. The prep work may be even less with painting stud bays because no there is no drywall involved.
Step 1:
Use wood filler and caulk to fill any parts of the sheathing and framing studs that need attention. You may need also to fill in holes that have been drilled through the sheathing and gaps between sheathing panels. This is a good time to check there are no holes in the building envelope and everything is air tight. If the gap is big enough an expanding spray foam is a good choice to fill the air leak.
Step 2:
Tape off and cover windows, fixtures and outlets that will need to be protected from sprayed paint and texture.
Step 3:
Spray or apply texture to the sheathing and studs. Or don’t. This one is really up to personal preference. The sheathing of the house is typically oriented strand board which has a chippy stranded texture which I don’t think looks very good when painted. You can cover this up by spraying texture or applying with a putty knife. You can texture the sheathing only and not the studs or add texture to both. I’d recommend using a fine to medium level of texture rather than a chunkier spray texture.
Step 4:
Spray two coat of primer. Using a sprayer system is the best approach with painting stud walls. It is very difficult to roll paint on stud bays because the surface is not flat. You can paint by hand but it will be very long process. It is best to complete the painting process prior to adding flooring. Spray painting is very messy process.
Step 5:
Spray 1-2 coats of paint over the primed paint. Take off the painters tape. Touch up any spots that need attention.
What do I do about outlets, light switches and pipes?
Since your studbays will be open you will need to make the mechanicals look nice. Usually electrical and plumbing would be hidden behind the drywall. I reccomend electric wires that are covered by metal flex conduit. The metal conduit wires look good with metal junctuon boxes and metal face plates for outlets and switches. All electric and plumbing should be installed after painting.
For plumbing it really is up to you. I personally have the red and blue pex out in the open in the stud bay. I have red and blue paint elements in the rest of the house so it works. You could also use some drywall or plywood and box out the part of the studbay that has the plumbing. Usually plumbing is behind a cabinet so its not that visible.
Why you should consider to paint open stud walls
Drywall has been the standard for walls for many years in modern construction. I think its important to look at alternatives especially when you want your house to stand out in appearance. Painted stud bays harken back to a time to when houses lacked insulation. While we have come a long way improving our homes by insulting, new approaches like external insulating make painted stud bays an option again. You can still get the classic look with modern performance.
Structural design
Painted stud bays make you appreciate the structure of the house. The framing becomes a centerpiece of the decoration of the house. I appreciate the intricate architecture of the studs as they show how the house is holding its shape. Its a literal barebones approach. Minimalism as a style has grown in popularity in recent years and is more that just a fad. It is the style of a the philosophy on having only the essential ingredients. The vibe of a room distilled down to a few elements. A decluttered lifestyle, a decluttered look.
Save money
Deciding to paint open stud walls will also save you money as well. Going without drywall sheets, drywall tape and joint compound will reduce cost. In my experience drywalling is a very tough skill to master. Most people will end up hiring out the drywall, tape and float, which can get expensive. With open stud bays you are reducing labor cost and material cost.
Conclusion:
Deciding to paint open stud walls is a great option in a house that has external insulation of in an uninsulated space.
More resources: https://jojotastic.com/2021/02/08/how-to-use-a-paint-sprayer/