04-06-2023
 

How to Smooth Walls (Without Plastering)

Renovating homes is expensive work. Between repairing damage, remedying old DIY trends, and fitting in with your style, the costs can add up.

One of the biggest costs can be plastering your walls and ceilings. Old plaster and years-old wallpaper paste remnants can mean your walls look in poor condition, which paint alone won’t solve.

It is one of the hardest jobs for the most experienced DIYers, too. It is very easy to go wrong, resulting in bumpy walls or messy floors.

Luckily, if you’re trying to save some money, there are some things you can try first, before calling in the professionals. This could give you more time, in the long run, to save for plastering, or you could find the result is good enough for you if it will be your home.

All DIY equipment you need can be hired from Speedy, saving you even more money and giving you access to professional-grade tools. Create an account to start hiring today:

 

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Skimming or Plastering?

Plastering will be needed if the damage is deep and whole chunks of plaster are falling away. The plaster is the material on top of the brick or stone in your home.

Skimming, however, is applying a thin layer of plaster to existing plaster to smooth the texture and repair low-level damage, such as small cracks and uneven surfaces.

So, the below ideas can be done instead of a skim coat. If your walls need a complete replaster because the existing plaster is in very poor condition, you can try the below, but you may be best off getting a professional.

Plaster in really bad condition can cause damage and injury if it eventually falls away, so it is something to budget for when renovating. Then, you can give all the other DIY jobs a go yourself!

 

5 Ways to Smooth Walls Without Plastering

When doing any DIY work, you need to wear PPE. Eye protection, breathing protection, and gloves are all essential for the below tasks.

 

  1. Sand

If your plaster is in relatively good condition, and it is just a few bumps and hairline cracks which are causing issues, sanding first is a good option to try.

It will work with minor imperfections and give your entire wall a good smooth surface ready for painting.

You will need:

Try using a drywall sander to do the job, first. These are specially made for sanding down walls and have a really long neck which minimises the need for using ladders.

They’re designed to get surfaces ready for plastering or painting and can be used with sanding discs which have a Velcro attachment.

SPEEDY TOP TIP: Always start with 120 grit sandpaper when sanding walls, then work your way down if you need some additional sanding power.

Any smaller patches can be sanded using a small handheld orbital sander. Then, use sandpaper or a sanding block for the edges near the skirting boards. Ideally, you may want to remove your skirting board before sanding, though.

 

  1. Fill in holes and cracks

After sanding, you may spot holes or larger cracks which need repair.

A joint compound or filler can work here. Fill them in to sit flush with your wall. Don’t worry about putting too much filler on; you’ll be sanding it down once dried.

You can also purchase skim repair fillers which you roll on with a roller, which could work for larger areas. They’ll give you a smooth finish as well as repairing cracks.

Then, as mentioned, allow to fully dry (ideally overnight) before sanding using an orbital sander.

 

  1. Add wall panelling

Wall panelling is very in fashion at the moment. And it can be applied to walls to hide defects.

There are so many styles, from full-wall tongue and groove/beadboard panelling which looks great in utility and boot rooms to wainscoting which could suit an older property really well.

Use an adhesive such as No More Nails to attach your panelling, rather than a nail gun, to minimise plaster damage.

SPEEDY TOP TIP: If the plaster is in good condition, a 2nd Fix Nailer can be used to panel a wall, as it will leave less of an impression on the wood. This will be quicker than an adhesive.

Bear in mind that when you remove the panelling, you likely will then need to replaster. But it can grant you a few years to save up to get the job done properly.

Read our blog on how to panel a wall if you want to try it.

 

  1. Use lining paper

We know what you’re saying.

“We have just removed years’ worth of wallpaper, and you’re telling me to add it back onto the walls?!”

The lining paper is designed not to look obvious. It can come in many thicknesses, so you can buy the style you need to cover the issues on your wall. And you can apply the adhesive to the wall so it is easy to stick on.

While not always ideal, it gives you a smooth surface to paint on. And is undetectable.

 

  1. Paint them as they are

If your walls are in pretty good shape, minus a few cracks and holes, you could always just paint them as they are.

The paint could hide the smaller hairline cracks, and then you can go around filling any majorly detectable issues afterwards if you want.

A few layers of colour will leave the issues virtually undetectable, and only you will know they’re there.

 

 

READY FOR MORE DIY TIPS?

If you feel that lining paper is the best way forward, read our blog on how to hang wallpaper for some tips.

And when you need to paint the walls, read our guide on how to use a paint sprayer. A paint sprayer will speed up the painting process, and give you a smooth, thin coat of paint which you can build on.

You’ll find all the other power tools and hire equipment you need right here. Why not start planning your next DIY project and open a Speedy account online or visit us in-store for all your tool hire needs?

 

Speedy has more than 200 local service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery. It has never been easier to hire the tools and equipment you need.

 

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