Line on new drywall paint

My house flooded and I had the first 4 feet of drywall replaced. It was taped/floated and texturized. Once the paint started going on, I noticed a faint dark line in the middle. It doesn't seem to be the tape itself and I'm thinking it may be the mud. The paint used was BEHR's with primer and paint in one.

The contractor sanded down the area to re-texturize as the texture was not blended well to match but one some of the walls the line seems to reappear. From what I am reading, this could be because I need a coat of true primer on the wall and the line could be the absorption of the mud being different than the rest of the wall.

I've also read where skim coating the walls may help with this.

I have attached a picture but it may not show up. I am concerned about it because it is very visibly noticeable when you walk in a room and its in a few of them.

Anyone familiar with this, know what can cause this and how to properly remediate?



Thanks in advance!

 

It doesn't show up in the picture too well. If it's exactly 6" wide, it's probably an under filled joint. Pretty common for that to happen if the taper isn't all that good. Some guys think that texture can hide a poor job of finishing. All it does is make it that much harder to fix.

It can be because of not being primed, but that is usually a sheen problem... and that is usually easily fixed with another coat of paint.

I'd suggest you take a bright light to it. Place the light at the floor shining up. If its an under filled joint you should be able to see the shadow or depression where the joint is not full.

 

Good tip on the light. It doesn't seem recessed. It looks like its 6" wide but there's a 2" top band, 2" middle band and 2" bottom band and the top and bottom are different than the middle. I'm almost wondering if its a texture issue and the drywall needed to be primed first so the texture adhered evenly. Some of those "bands" seem slightly discolored from far but up close they seem to match and probably why they don't show up in the picture.

 

The 2" middle band is the tape. The only way you would see that is if the joint is underfilled. I am leaning toward that. Only solution is to get the drywall finisher back and have him do it right.

 

Yes, In a situation like this you will be better off skim coating the entire wall and retexturing. Skim coating will let the paint absorb at the same rate.
I would use a separate PVC primer and top coat.

Also, some say it is better to prime the wall before applying texture, but the pro guy I use doesn't prime first and the walls still come out perfect.
I think it's a matter of the same consistency all around.

 

IMO the only advantage to priming before texture is the texture will dry at a more consistent rate. I always wait to prime after the texture is dry, no sense in priming twice. It's always better to use a dedicated primer before applying finish paint!

I agree it's likely a finishing issue. Using both a bright light and viewing from an angle along with placing a straightedge over the joint should make it easier to tell.