Used right before paint on drywall?

• A. Skim coat
• B. Primer
• C. Caulk
• D. Sanding

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how to prepare drywall so paint goes on smoothly and evenly. A skim coat is a thin layer of joint compound spread over the entire drywall surface to fill small imperfections, seams, and screw holes, creating a uniform, nearly perfect surface. This step is done before priming and painting, because a smooth background helps primer and paint adhere better and avoids showing texture or patches through the finish. After the skim coat dries, you sand it lightly, then apply primer to seal the surface and improve adhesion, followed by the final paint.

Caulk is used to seal gaps and cracks around trim or between surfaces, not to level the wall texture. Sanding is a preparation step to smooth surfaces and between coats, but by itself it doesn’t produce the finished, uniform surface that a skim coat provides. Primer is applied after smoothing to seal and prime the surface for paint, but it doesn’t correct surface imperfections the way a skim coat does.