Need trendy {smooth} wall texture in your house? Observe this DIY tutorial to discover ways to skim coat a textured wall to get a ravishing {smooth} end and eliminate that ugly bumpy wall texture!

You may additionally be thinking about our Final Information to Wainscoting and our picks for 40 Beautiful Wall Panels and 50 Beautiful Wallpapers.

Smoothing Corner Edge To Feather Drywall Mud For Smooth Wall Texture, Remodelaholic

Skim Coat for Clean Wall Texture

Wall texture is a type of house options that you simply would possibly not likely discover… till you REALLY discover. (I’m you, 1970’s!)

Since we want a pleasant trendy {smooth} wall texture, we’ve eliminated wall texture and smoothed out textured partitions a couple of occasions in our completely different houses in a course of known as skim coating.

We’ve performed this many occasions in our transformed houses and it’s a simple DIY — simply takes some apply and persistence.

Get the hyperlink to all of the supplies and browse extra on the weblog right here: https://www.remodelaholic.com/how-to-skim-coat-smooth-wall-texture-over-textured-walls/” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”true”]

I’ve shared a bit bit about how we skim coat to attain our {smooth} wall texture once we constructed our lavatory built-ins and once we added a layer of soundproofing drywall to our main bedroom.

added soundproofing drywall with skim coat smooth texture

At this time I’m sharing all the small print for prepping and skim coating a wall to offer it a {smooth} end.

What’s skim coating?

Skim coating is a course of for re-texturing a wall with a {smooth} end. To skim coat means to use a number of skinny layers of drywall mud (joint compound) to cowl up drywall tape or earlier texture and create a {smooth} wall texture.

This put up and video contains all the small print about how one can {smooth} textured partitions for a ravishing flat trying wall.

Are there different methods to take away wall texture?

Positive! For those who don’t wish to skim coat your wall like we present you might attempt to:

We like our skim-coating method as a result of it offers us nice outcomes, even on our 50+ 12 months previous partitions.

Can I {smooth} the feel on an present wall?

Sure, you’ll be able to skim coat drywall like this on an present textured wall, or on new drywall that has been taped and mudded alongside the seams.

We utilized this skim coat to {smooth} out the knockdown texture on our partitions (proven beneath), however this method will work for orange peel texture or any wall texture (even popcorn partitions!).

Before How To Skim Coat Textured Walls To Make Them Smooth, Remodelaholic

Can I skim coat over broken drywall?

Broken drywall from eradicating wallpaper or a backsplash? Until the harm is in depth, you’ll be able to nonetheless use this skim coating method to {smooth} and repair the drywall!

If the drywall paper is ripped, you’ll possible wish to begin with a peel cease primer/sealer to offer the joint compound an excellent base.

See how we put in drywall in our basement lavatory.

How do I get a {smooth} texture on new drywall?

To create a {smooth} wall texture on a naked new drywall wall, set up the drywall and tape and dust the drywall seams like regular.

Then you definitely’ll choose up the skim coating course of after the prep step beneath. I did this once we retrofitted with soundproofing drywall and it labored nice!

Earlier than we get began, we have to reply one vital query:

What’s the distinction between joint compound and drywall mud? 

Reply: These are simply two phrases for a similar factor! Joint compound is the official time period and what you’ll see printed on the bucket. Drywall mud is the unofficial time period for a similar product (which we additionally usually name plaster). We use these phrases interchangeably within the put up and video.

This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. Study extra and browse our full disclosure coverage right here. 

Skim Coat to Take away Texture from Partitions

The skim coating course of is fairly simple — simply time consuming and a bit bit messy! And it will get simpler with apply.

Here’s a full video tutorial of how I created the sleek wall end. (Make sure to subscribe to the Remodelaholic channel to see the opposite tasks we’re engaged on!)

To make textured partitions {smooth}, you’ll 

  1. Prep and clear the partitions
  2. Apply a primary tough coat of joint compound.
  3. Apply a second coat of joint compound.
  4. Apply a 3rd and closing smoother coat of  topping compound.
  5. Sand the wall texture to a pleasant even {smooth} end.

Supplies & Instruments Wanted to Skim Coat for Clean Wall Texture

To {smooth} your textured partitions, you’ll simply want a pair buckets of every joint compound (drywall mud) per room.

This quantity of joint compound lined our partitions which have been 15′ by 12′ at 8′ tall.  A complete of about 1395 sqft of wall floor with out the door and home windows.

You’ll additionally want

An vital word about your drywall joint knife: The blade of a drywall knife (aka plaster knife) is barely curved to assist apply plaster or mud evenly with out leaving strains alongside the appropriate and left edges of the blade. As you apply the mud with the knife, you should definitely preserve that curved edge towards the wall.

Earlier than the Skim Coat: Getting ready Partitions for Clean Texture

As with every portray or ending challenge, preparation is so vital.

Start by protecting your flooring with drop cloths or plastic. It will get messy!

If there are any main dents that require restore, repair these first utilizing spackle or joint compound.

Minor scratches and dents (lower than ~1/4″ deep) will likely be simply lined by the skim coating, however that gap the place your sofa leg practically punctured the drywall (oops!) can be higher crammed earlier than starting.

Then, comply with these 3 steps to organize partitions for a {smooth} texture:

  1. Take away change and outlet covers and any {hardware} from curtains or blinds, decor, and so forth.
  2. Wash the wall with a small quantity of gentle detergent added to a bucket of water.
  3. Dry the wall completely with previous towels or rags, ensuring they’re as lint-free as potential.
First Thin Coat Of Drywall Mud Joint Compound To Skim Coat Smooth Texture Walls, Remodelaholic

making use of the primary skinny coat of joint compound

Layer 1: Tough Skim Coat

This primary skinny layer of joint compound is a tough coat, meant to cowl all the present wall texture.

Make sure to stir the joint compound properly earlier than starting so the feel and consistency is uniform all through! I like to recommend utilizing a mixing paddle attachment for a drill.

Apply a skinny coat of all-purpose joint compound to the whole wall utilizing a large drywall knife (10″ or 12″).

You need this primary coat of mud to fill within the “pockets” of the earlier texture. Don’t stress an excessive amount of about this layer being completely {smooth}. Simply cowl the wall texture after which come again for the corners later (see beneath).

Enable the mud to dry 8-10 hours (following the producer directions).

Contact Up Corners

After the primary layer of joint compound has dried, the corners will want some work, as you’ll be able to see within the video.

Apply a skinny layer of mud to the corners, and use the nook software to {smooth} it out.

Using Corner Tool To Skim Coat Walls For Smooth Texture, Remodelaholic

Then, use a large drywall knife to feather out the sting of this recent mud, making use of slight strain to the sting *away* from the recent mud to stage it out with out making a line within the mud.

Smoothing Corner Edge To Feather Drywall Mud For Smooth Wall Texture, Remodelaholic

Layer 2: Skim Coat to Fill Holes

This second layer of drywall mud is one other skim coat utilizing the all-purpose joint compound.

Calmly sand the wall utilizing both a hand sanding block or, like I did, a humid sponge to maintain the mud down.

Pay particular consideration to protecting any holes from the primary layer. Contact up corners as wanted on this layer as properly.

 

Layer 3: Ultimate Clean Skim Coat

This closing skim coat is the place the magic begins to occur!

Relying in your earlier partitions, it’s possible you’ll want extra layers of the all-purpose joint compound earlier than you’re prepared for the ultimate {smooth} skim coat.

For those who see bubbles like this, don’t despair!

Holes And Bubbles From Skim Coating Over Existing Painted Walls, Remodelaholic

This occurs typically on partitions like ours which have been painted many occasions over the past 50+ years. If bubbles or holes like this seem in your partitions, skim coat with extra layer(s) of drywall mud.

As soon as your basis layers of joint compound are dry and bubble-free, you’re prepared to complete with the ultimate {smooth} coat.

Calmly sand the partitions once more — I used the vacuum sander for a fast mild sanding job.

Apply a skinny {smooth} layer of high coat joint compound utilizing a big plaster knife. It’s possible you’ll wish to add some water to get a texture you’re pleased working with.

Enable to dry.

Applying Last Layer Skim Coating Smooth Texture, Remodelaholic

making use of the ultimate topping skim coat layer

End Sanding for a Clean Wall Texture

That is the messiest but additionally most magical step to smoothing textured partitions.

Make sure to put on correct security gear when sanding drywall mud! A particulate respirator masks at a minimal, and security glasses are useful as properly. I additionally advocate utilizing plastic sheeting to dam off the doorway to comprise the mud to the room you’re working in.

Because you’ve performed an superior job smoothing out the partitions already, the final step is to flippantly sand the partitions to complete.

Sanding Smooth Wall Texture Skim Coat, Remodelaholic

I extremely advocate utilizing a vacuum sander attachment to maintain the mud down for the preliminary sanding.

Then, use a spongy sanding block handy sand and {smooth} out the final of the feel remaining on the partitions. Take note of any imperfections or scratches and {smooth} these out.

Use a store field mild on the backside of the wall and from varied angles to assist see any uneven spots of texture.

 

What Subsequent: Paint a Clean Textured Wall

We’ll be portray this wall with a layer of drywall paint to behave as a primer for the drywall mud. This helps seals the joint compound in order that the common wall paint will go over the wall easily with out soaking in and permit it so stick higher and have higher shade uniformity.

What in regards to the ceiling?

It’s also possible to skim-coat the ceiling in the identical course of as skim coating the partitions, if you’d like.

With this room, nevertheless, we put in a whitewashed pine plank ceiling and we find it irresistible!

DIY Whitewashed Wood Plank Ceiling in a Basement

 

You’ll additionally like studying extra about:

How To Smooth Wall Texture With An Easy DIY Skim Coat

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