Skip The Scraping With A Fail Proof Trick To Get Rid Of Textured Walls

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There was a time when textured ceilings and walls were right on trend. They added visual interest to plain walls, and they were also great at hiding imperfections. Popcorn texture was often chosen to help reduce noise. Today, many homeowners prefer a clean, unblemished look. Unfortunately, achieving smooth walls can involve a lot of scraping and filing before you're ready to repaint.

It's something DIYers and decorators have been wrestling with for some time, and fortunately, there are numerous ways to cover dated popcorn ceilings and walls without the hassle of scraping. One great trick that's effective, relatively inexpensive, and beginner-friendly involves using just a few tools and a tub of universal joint compound that can be bought at any hardware store. This product is applied to walls to fill the irregularities in the existing texture, thus leaving a smooth surface for your preferred wall treatment, whether that be paint, wallpaper, or something else.

Universal joint compound is quite thick, so you can mix in a little water to make it easier to spread. Be aware that care is needed to not make it too thin, or it won't adhere to the wall, so you might want to experiment with a small amount first. Use a drywall knife to apply the universal joint compound to the wall, and then, when it's dry, sand it smooth. You can do this with a tool such as the Volsive Drywall Sander, which you can get at Amazon for under $20. It offers good reach, and unlike powered sanders, it isn't too aggressive.

It's important to note that this isn't a one-and-done process. As the universal joint compound dries, it does shrink a little, so it's likely to take two or three applications to cover the texture completely. Each coat will need to be left to dry for 24 hours before sanding and applying the next layer. There will be quite a lot of dust, so don't forget to wear a mask for your protection, and remove furnishings from the room beforehand to minimize cleanup.

So it's not super-fast, but it is a straightforward, relatively inexpensive, and fail-proof trick for removing texture from your walls for a smoother look if you don't want the hassle of all that scraping. It creates the perfect surface for however you want to redecorate. Perhaps try one of these trendy paint patterns to make your walls less boring.