Finishing Wall After Wallpaper Removal
I spent all weekend removing wallpaper from a couple of rooms in my rehab. The walls aren't in great shape underneath. I also think some of the paint in the bathroom maybe oil based, which I do not want to do again. How can I clean up these walls and even them out? I have heard people use the term skim coating a wall, but I'm not sure what this means or if it's a good cheap option. I want to paint and not put up new wall covering. Any thoughts?
[addsig]
2 easiest solutions -
1) texture the wall
2) fill in the holes and re wall paper with a wall paper that is forgiving. (pattern and material will decide)
Bit harder -
Buy some dry wall mud and fill in the big holes and cracks, let dry, use wet sponge to wet sand, repeat until you decide to got to last solution or first one stated above.
Last solution - recover walls with 1/4 inch drywall, deal with any electrical plugs and molding that will need to be adjusted.
I love texture!!!!!!!!!!!!
Skim coating refers to spreading a thin coat of plaster on the walls.
You can also hit every crack or hole with joint compound, but this can get tedious if the walls are as bad as you say. And usually you have to hit each area a few times to get it looking good. Then when you think you've got it looking decent, nothing exposes your sins like a coat of primer and paint. When I JC a wall, I usually have to hit certain areas time and time again between coats.
My point with all this is your time can be better spent with other projects than something as time consuming as JCing and sanding walls repeatedly. I go for the skim coat everytime. It may cost more than JCing it myself, but it's one less thing I have to dick aroung with. Plus, the walls come out looking like a sheet of glass. You'll never get a bad horsehair plaster wall looking that good with JC and elbow grease.
Obviously, you should hire a professional plasterer to do this. Believe me, plastering is not something you want to do yourself.
Call around and get estimates. If your in a pinch and need something done fast, I'd recommend visiting the neighborhood firehouse. Almost every fireman/police officer I know does some sort of laboring on the side (ie, masonry, dry wall, roofing, general contracting, etc.). I've used this resource a number of times with good success. In fact, just last month I was rehabbing a multi and wanted a bathroom tiled in two days and I didn't have the time. I found a fireman/tiler to do it the next day for pretty cheap.
Good luck.
[addsig]