Design trends come and go, and some are more timeless than others. In years past, textured walls were all the rage - but they aren’t something that’s at the forefront of design trends for 2020. If you want to give your Jacksonville, FL home a facelift, you may find yourself faced with the task of removing textured walls. While it may be a tricky and messy process, it’s definitely not impossible to do on your own. And once you’ve taken care of your textured wall situation, you’ll be able to finish your walls with a new coat of paint. We’ve talked in the past about paint design color trends, and you’ll be ready to take the next step - once those pesky textured walls have been addressed. Here are some tips and tricks to help you through the DIY process of removing the textured walls in your home so you can apply a clean, smooth coat of paint.
What is a textured wall?
Textured walls have been a design choice for a while - but they may not be exactly what you want in your home. Wall textures have been commonly used to finish interior walls surfaces and to hide imperfections in the drywall. In many cases, this was likely done as a cost-saving option. Textured walls with “orange peel,” popcorn, or swirl patterns may have been popular in the 1970s - but today it’s a pretty obvious sign that something was done cheaply and quickly in order to hide imperfections and errors.
In fact, this is often why you’ll see textured walls in many commercial buildings. It’s cost-effective - oftentimes at the cost of real visual appeal. We will give them this, though… textured walls are durable and can be less affected by normal minor wear and tear.
If you love your Jacksonville, FL home, but don’t love your textured walls. What should you do? It may depend on how the wall was created in the first place. Typically, wall texture is sprayed on. Other times, patterns and texture are added with soft brushes, combs, rags, or sponges. The steps below walk you through a few things to do and look for when removing textured walls from your home.
Tips for removing textured wall finish
- You need to ensure that you’re keeping your home clean during this process - but there are some things you should avoid. Plastic drop cloths can become very slippery under wet drywall compound. Instead, tape off baseboards, window trim, and door trim with painter’s tape. Be sure to also wear protective goggles and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty - it can be difficult to stay clean during this process.
- Start the process by spraying warm water onto one square foot of your textured drywall. Let the area soak for about five minutes. Once that’s done, you’ll need to use a drywall knife to gently scrape the surface and see whether or not the texture peels, chips, or breaks away from the wall at all. If it does, then you’ll simply continue the process over the rest of the textured wall. This will work if the wall was textured with a joint compound. If it was textured with plaster, you’ll need to continue on to the next step.
- Whether you have been able to soak the wall or not, your next step is to gently sand the surface with sandpaper. If you were able to scrape some of the texturization off, this will be a bit easier than if you were unable to do so. For this step, you should use sandpaper that is between 120 and 150 grit. This ensures proper surface abrasion while maintaining the integrity of the drywall.
- If the texture is too deep for complete removal, you can level the walls with drywall compound. After the initial coat has dried, apply a second coat to ensure proper leveling of the surface. Once the second coat has dried completely, use 120 to 150 grit sandpaper to achieve a smooth, flat surface.
Other options for treating textured walls
- A skim coat may be an option, as well. Skim coating involves applying a thin layer of mud over the entire wall surface. Effectively, this evens out the texture and leaves you with a smoother surface. This process can be messy and time-consuming; and may not be the easiest thing to tackle as a DIY project. If the above steps don’t work, though, it might be your only option for getting the smooth walls you want.
- You can also just replace the drywall altogether. This will likely be less expensive than skim coating an entire room - and it is likely your best choice if the wall texture is particularly heavy.
- If you’re in the mood for something completely different, you can cover the walls with another material. Wood paneling is gaining popularity these days, and this can be perfect if you’re into a more industrial look. It’s certainly a more time-intensive job than painting your interior walls, but it can produce some cool results.
Once you have the smooth walls you want in your Jacksonville, FL home, you’ll be prepared to paint those interior surfaces. With smooth walls and a new coat of paint, you just might feel like you’re living in a brand new house!
Popcorn Removal Jax, FL
When you need Popcorn Removal Jax FL consider A New Leaf Painting. With an experienced team of expert house painters, drywall repair, carpenters, and field managers, A New Leaf Painting is ready to take on your home improvement project. Call us today at 904-615-6599 to get a popcorn ceiling removal estimate.