How to Paint Over a Textured Wall

Putting a layer of paint upon a textured wall can be an intimidating job. Textured walls often are created using wallpaper, and this can give the wall the appearance of a pebbledash. Painting these walls often involves small-brush work, and lots of detailed painting. You may not feel like doing this yourself, and consider getting in a tradesman to complete the job, but this can be very expensive, and the results might not be all that you hoped for. Rather than having someone else do your work, this is a simple project to undertake, and you will feel the benefits of doing it yourself. Getting this job done doesn’t need the assistance of a professional if you have some basic home improvement skills. All you have to do is follow a few simple guidelines to get the job done quickly and easily.

Step 1 – Prepare the Wall

Examine the surface carefully for signs of holes, or cracks in the wall. If your wall is covered in textured wallpaper, then you need to check that there is no loose paper, that it is not peeling, and that there are no large air bubbles under the surface. If you spot any holes, or cracks in the edges, apply some spackle. When this is dry, caulk around the edges, and along any joins in the wall. Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Step 2 – Start Painting

Add some painter's tape along the ceiling, and any wood or plastic trim on skirting boards or door and window frames. If you have something such as a chair rail, then you will also need to cover this. The first paint should be the primer. If you are doing this on wallpaper, it is vital that your primer should be oil, rather than water, based.

Step 3 – Add the Matte Paint

Once that is completed, you will be able to add the matte paint. Take a large roller paintbrush, and use a paint try to place in enough paint for one coat. Paint using the roller, and then cover over any large gaps in the paint using a smaller, hand brush. Take care not to leave too many spaces around the edges of bumps or dips in the wall. Leave to dry, and then consider adding a second layer of paint. Repeat the process for this second coat, taking care to cover over any gaps, as before.

Step 4 – Finishing

Before you finish the project you should use your hand brush to go around the edge of the wall and ensure that it is completely covered by the tape. You will then have to leave the paint to dry for around 4 hours, in order to make it dry enough to remove the painter's tape without leaving marks on the paint itself. At the same time, replace any wall furniture that you removed prior to painting, and then leave the wall to dry completely before using the room for a long period.