Skim coat, sand or replace textured walls?
letstrydiy
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
Related Discussions
No skim coat on my 1920 plaster walls... d'oh!
Comments (6)We too had bad wallpaper covering plaster in our entire house. In one room, the wallpaper was a "pre-pasted" removable kind and came off easily. It would have been dumb to paint over this paper because it was so easy to remove. However, in all the other rooms, the wallpaper was VERY difficult to remove because it was the old variety that came off only in one inch strips. We got several quotes from professionals who refused to touch the wallpaper. At least one professional recommended that we paint the wallpaper. We then tried three different solutions. First, my husband removed the flocked wallpaper in one room. It was very difficult to remove because it was not "removeable" wallpaper but older, heavily pasted paper. He tried every tool for removal, including steaming, scoring, etc. The only tool that worked was a 4 inch razor blade scraper (not 3 in or 5 in according to him!). That was a long process and the walls were in such poor shape that we had to wallpaper over the plaster when we were done. Second Approach: In two other rooms we painted over the wallpaper. In one room, a bedroom, the paint looked great. The painted wallpaper has held up fine for 20 years. Just last year we painted it again with no problems. The second room where we painted over wallpaper was the bathroom. It bothered me to paint the wallpaper in this room because it was poorly wallpapered in the first place. There were several corners where the wallpaper was not flush with the corners, but "wrinkled", for lack of a better term. Because every inch of the room, including the ceiling, was covered with wallpaper, we just painted it. It too has lasted 20 years, but it does not look as good. The paint made the wrinkles more obvious to me. Also, we must have had a leak, because the wallpaper on the ceiling is beginning to bulge. It will have to be redone soon. I am not sure any outsider would have noticed the flaws in this room, but I did. It was a second floor bath, though, so I just lived with it. Third approach: In our dining room, I think we again stripped the wallpaper, but then my husband attempted to plaster the walls himself. BAD IDEA. Although he is very handy, this was a job that he could never get to look good, no matter how many coats he used and how many times he sanded it. (By the way, the sanding made the entire house a mess!) After weeks of trying , he finally gave up. Instead of hiring a professional plasterer, he applied a special wallpaper that was meant to be painted. This wallpaper was like canvas and smoothed out any irregularities and made the wall ready for paint. It still looks great. My advice to you would be to look into the cost of hiring a professional to either plaster or apply the coat of the substance named above and sand it. I am not sure if we ever got a quote for plastering and sanding. If it is cost prohibitive, get the wallpaper that is intended to be used on plaster walls and then paint it....See MoreNew drywall finish question. Skim coat=plaster coat=?
Comments (21)We did veneer plaster for a couple of reasons. In our regional area, no one does it. We had to go to a specialty supplier and order it in. We found someone who trained in Maine to install it and the only reason it was a bit more expensive than drywall is because our original framing was uneven and we ordered 5/8" thick sheets. I had a pretty strong aversion to drywall after the adventures with mold. Veener plaster is freakin' gorgeous, perfectly smooth and we would do it again in a heartbeat. The feel of it perfectly matches the rest of the house - which is all 1920's plaster. Here, people call the supposedly water resistant drywall "blueboard", so I was surprised by what it looked like (gray, gray and more gray) and that it was made up of two slightly different layers and that it is much harder and denser than drywall. It works pretty well as a sound deadener too! @casey Wow, that is really nice!...See MoreSkim coat and then texture question
Comments (3)The use/non-use of texture is often regional. When I lived in Texas all houses had textured walls, and it would have been difficult to get a contractor to use a smooth finish. However, I now live in Northern Virginia where smooth walls are the standard for both plaster and drywall Only some of the cheaper spec houses use textured walls here. Bruce...See MoreShould I remove texture and skim coat to a lvl 5 finish or just paint?
Comments (3)Yep, if you dont like it now, it will be bugging you later. You dont necessarily need a level 5, but thats your call. And gray is right, if you’re going to do it, now is the time....See Moreletstrydiy
4 years agofunctionthenlook
4 years agorwiegand
4 years ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESTextured Walls: Inspiration Beyond Paint and Wallpaper
See what happens when you cover a wall with glass, metal, leather, upholstery, or a mass of living green
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDES11 Reasons to Love Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Again
Is it time to kick the hard stuff? Your feet, wallet and downstairs neighbors may be nodding
Full StoryWHITEWhat to Know Before You Paint Your Walls White
A coat of white paint can do wonders in one room and wreak havoc in another. Here are tips for using the popular hue
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESTry Slatted Wood Walls to Define Spaces and Add Privacy
Use these stylish, beautiful structures to define a hallway, replace a banister or hide a room
Full StoryWALL TREATMENTSUnderstated Texture: Grasscloth in the Home
Amp Up a Room's Mood With the Organic Look of Woven Wallcoverings
Full StoryECLECTIC HOMESMy Houzz: Color and Texture Fill an Eclectic Pittsburgh Row House
Moroccan touches join exposed brick, salvaged materials and scads of books in this home for a creative couple
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESFrom the Pros: How to Paint Interior Walls
A slapdash approach can lower a room's entire look, so open your eyes to this wise advice before you open a single paint can
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSWhat to Know About Adding a Reclaimed-Wood Wall
Here’s advice on where to put it, how to find and select wood, what it might cost and how to get it done
Full StoryBEDROOMSHouzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your Bedroom Walls?
Cool and soothing, or warm and spicy? Answer these questions and learn what hue is right for you
Full StoryWALL TREATMENTSRugs Find Their Place on the Wall
Some rugs are so striking or rare, you want to treat them like works of art. Here are ways to show them off at eye level
Full Story
Patricia Colwell Consulting