I've recently removed the chair rail moulding from my large room and skim coated the indentation left behind. I've lived in this house for quite a while, and I never really liked the chair rail, so I decided to take it off. I filled the nail holes and skim coated once, but I've learned I probably put on too thick of a layer. I plan on doing one more skim coat to feather it out above and below and to fill in some gouges left from where my putty knife scraped the area. Right now, I can't feel any transition between the wall and where the chair rail was, but I know I need to sand it down and skim again where I got a bit messy. I'm wondering if skimming super thin might make any sharp lines visible. Will feathering help cover that?
3 Answers
I’ve thought about doing the same thing. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I suggest feathering out at least 12 inches on each side and making sure it's all perfectly smooth. Remember, paint will enhance any imperfections! Using eggshell paint will also help hide some of those transitions.
A good tip is to use a bright light held at a shallow angle against the wall. It really reveals any defects like dimples or inclusions. Give it a go from different angles. If it looks and feels good under the light, you're likely ready for the primer. Also, if you notice any defects after your first coat of paint, you can always touch them up with mud, just not if they're raised; that can make things messy.