Use sandpaper or a sanding block to dull any uneven surfaces, wipe away dust with a damp cloth and let dry thoroughly. Smoothing walls before painting is necessary for surfaces previously painted with a gloss or high-gloss paint. For previously painted water-based paint, sand with a fine-grit sandpaper.
Sanding is probably the easiest way to do it. You could skim coat the walls but that'll take forever and isn't exactly easy. You could also use spackle or joint compound to skim over the imperfections then sand to blend it into the walls. They won't be perfectly flat but the imperfections won't be as noticeable.
You can't make it smooth with paint. You would have to skim coat the walls with joint compound or topping mud and sand. It would take at least two coats of this, after that they will be smooth and ready to paint.
The best way to prep a wall for painting includes cleaning, repairing, and priming. Start by removing dust and cobwebs using a duster or vacuum. Wash the walls with a mild soap solution or a vinegar-water mixture to eliminate dirt and grease. Repair cracks and holes with spackling paste, then sand smooth.
In addition to smoothing out walls, painters may also do a bit of cleaning, remove stains, tape over trims in the room, and remove outlet covers. These steps can take a good chunk of time to complete but is especially important for ensuring the paint job isn't for nothing.
How Do I Paint Over Painted Walls? If the wall is in good condition and the paints are chemically the same (both latex, for instance), you have a few options when the new paint is the opposite shade of the old paint. You can use a primer to thoroughly cover the old color, then apply 1 or 2 coats of the new paint.
The best primer for smooth or textured Interior surfaces, is a Latex-based primer, such as the Sherwin Williams, “Premium Wood and Wall” Primer/Sealer. For textured surfaces, popcorn ceilings, an oil-based primer, like the KILZ Original Multi-Surface Stain Blocking Interior Oil-Based Primer, works best.
Best Paint Choices for Textured Walls
The best option is a latex- or oil-based paint with a low-maintenance sheen that has a satin or semi-gloss sheen rather than a flat matte finish and is reflective enough to draw attention to the finer features of the wall texture.
If you're cleaning paneling and textured walls, opt for a vacuum with a bristle brush that gently agitates the surface and simultaneously collects dust. Like with drywall, work from the top downward, focusing on corners, but work horizontally to capture dust along the full length of the wall as you descend.
Rough, textured surfaces such as stucco or brickwork require a stiffer, more durable brush, such as a Purdy Pro-Extra® or Chinex® Elite™.
Do Professional Painters Wash Walls Before Painting? In most cases, professional painters don't wash walls with a detergent solution to avoid damaging the drywall or trim. Instead, most professional painters lightly sand or “scuff” the walls with a pole sander using fine-grit sandpaper.
Sanding is often a crucial step for ensuring that your surface is ready to be painted. If you don't have a properly sanded surface, paint may not adhere to certain items properly. You can oversand, undersand and often people underestimate its importance. But, you don't have to be a pro to sand a surface.
Know how to smooth walls before painting, especially holes left from nails and picture hangers, as well as any dings and dents. You can take care of them easily with DAP Fast Dry Premium Spackling and DAP Alex Plus Spackling.
Wall condition: If your walls are in good condition, you may only need one or two coats of paint to achieve a smooth, even finish. However, if your walls are rough or damaged, you may need to apply additional coats to cover up imperfections.
⬆️ Higher gloss paint will HIGHLIGHT the texture on your walls ⬇️ Lower gloss paint will HIDE the texture on your walls I made the mistake of using two different paint sheens (satin + eggshell) in this room, and while you wouldn't think they are that different, this video shows just how much it affects the way light ...
Customers say the Kilz PVA primer is an effective and affordable solution for priming new drywall, often providing excellent coverage with just one coat. Many users appreciate its smooth application and quick drying time, which allows for efficient project completion.
Before painting, it is common to repair or patch the walls with some spackle or joint compound. If these repairs are small, you do not need to purchase a primer but apply a light coat of your regular paint on those areas once the spackle or joint compound is dry.
Oil-based primers are also great at sealing out moisture, which can be a major problem for old plaster walls. Perhaps most useful are oil primer's ability to fill and seal the surface of the plaster. Kilz brand primers are known for their stain-blocking capabilities and are available at many home improvement centers.
If you don't remove the paint that is currently on the wall then the finished look of your decorating project won't be professional. More often than not, when painting over layers of old paint, the new top layer of paint will be bumpy.
If you have various stains, shellac Bonding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic.