How to Remove Heavy Texture from Walls

Texture serves its purpose and drywall texture helps take boring walls from plain old same ole and transforms them into a unique look. It is not hard to get textured walls, but it takes a little skill.

The drawback to having them is that the look can get old, they are hard to paint and clean. If you like plain walls, then the best thing to do is remove the texture without damaging the drywall.

To do that, all you have to do is continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about. Once you have read it you should be able to remove texture like a pro.

How Do You Remove Texture from Painted Walls

There are two good ways to handle this task. Both ways will require floor and trim protection so get those materials when you assemble your supplies.

1. Apply a Coat of Drywall Mud

This is fast and fairly easy to do. Just make sure you apply the coat evenly. Here are the steps to do this method:

• Cover the Floor – Remove items on the wall, remove or cover the trim and move the furniture away to the center of the room.
• Sand the Walls – This will remove the paint sheen and reduce the size of the texture. That way you can put less mud on the wall.
• Wipe the Wall – This is to get rid of the dust you created by sanding.
• Apply the Compound – You can mix it if you want but there is a ready-mix compound that will make the job go by faster.
• Let the Compound Dry – It will take an hour or so depending on how thick you applied the coat. Once it is dry, sand and wipe again before adding a second coat
• Let Dry Again – After the second coat has dried, simply sand again to get a smooth wall finish.

2. Soak and Scrape Method

This is just as messy if not messier than method one but it is a good option if you do not want to add more compound to your walls.

• Same First Step – Remove items from the walls, move the furniture and you can cover or remove the trim if you want and cover the floor.
• Add Water – You can either use a water-soaked sponge or a spray bottle. The key is to get enough but not too much water on the texture.
• Let the Water Soak – Give the water about 15 minutes to soak into the texture and you may want to add more water at this time if you think it is necessary.
• Start Scraping – After that time period is over, take a wide metal putty knife and start scraping the texture off.
• Sand – Let the wall dry after you have finished scraping and then sand it down to get that smooth surface.
• Touch Up – In case of any holes accidentally formed as you worked, use a joint compound to fill in those holes and smooth out the wall’s surface.

How Do You Remove Stipple from Walls

If you are not sure what stipple is when it comes to drywall, it is a similar finish to popcorn ceilings. The removal of this finish is the same as it is for popcorn ceilings.

1. Clear the Room – Remove items from the walls, move the furniture and cover the floor and trim. Cover everything you can’t get out of the room.
2. Mist the walls – You can use a spray bottle or a garden sprayer, but you need to only mist the walls with water and let the water soak in for a few minutes.
3. Scrape – There are different tools you can use but a wide metal or plastic putty knife gives you better control over this process.
4. For Tough Spots – When it gets hard to scrape off, spray those sections with a little bit more water.
5. Clean the Walls – Take a damp sponge and wipe the walls down, scrape any remaining stipples that didn’t come off the first time, and let them dry.
6. Patch Any Holes – Take some joint compound and go over where you scraped. Fill in holes that formed as you worked
7. Paint – For the final step, use any color you want but sand the walls to make sure they are smooth before you paint.

How Much Does It Cost to Smooth Textured Walls

The cost to do this job varies from city to city and drywaller to drywaller. The exact amount you will pay will depend on the size of the room if the ceiling is involved and how much the contractor charges for labor.

A ballpark figure would be between $200 to $500, and you may expect the job to last about 4 hours approx.

It is possible to save a lot of money and do it yourself. The key would be to take your time as it is not a job that can be rushed. Too many mistakes and holes can be made when you go too fast or are too careless.

Hiring the pros to do it will cost you some money, but the job will be done just right.