Hey everyone! We're currently in the contingency period for a house that has popcorn ceilings and some textured walls. We're okay with the ceilings, but the walls have some bulging untextured patches and a bunch of holes from the tenants' pictures. We need to figure out the best way to fix these issues after we close on the house. I'm trying to understand what methods are typically used—will it need a skim coat, sanding, or something else? I found a wide range of costs online, ranging from $2K to $30K, which is pretty overwhelming. The space is around 800 sq ft (not including the garage). We're located in Whittier, California, and I want to know what a realistic price for this work would be, considering our budget is already pretty tight. Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
It’s tough to say without seeing the texture. In my case, I had very aggressive texturing on my walls. If you're up for it, you can wet sand the walls to prepare them for skim plaster and priming. It’s a bit labor-intensive, but it won’t break the bank if you do it yourself. Just keep in mind it can be boring and tiring! If you’re willing to put in the work this weekend, it's totally manageable to DIY.
The cost can really depend on the texture type. If it’s popcorn, that’s relatively easy to handle—and cheap! For my place, it was about $300 to remove the popcorn from our bedroom ceilings. But if all the walls have more complex textures like knockdown, that's where costs can climb. I spent roughly $4,000 on a living room (500 sq ft) for a skim coat and paint, but the vaulted ceiling made it pricier.
So it sounds like it can really add up if the walls are heavily textured. I’ll need to assess the walls more closely to figure out what I’m dealing with.
Would this be doable for someone who's not great at DIY projects? I’d love to give it a shot, but I’m worried about halfway doing it and then needing to call in a pro.