Do I Really Need to Skim Coat Before Painting My Textured Walls?
Asked by CuriousCat99
I've got a kids' bedroom where the previous homeowners added a lite popcorn texture to the drywall over 25 years ago. Now that I'm finally looking to smooth it out before painting, I've come across a few videos showing people skim coating and then sanding. However, those results look different from my walls. I'm curious if skimming is really necessary, especially since some videos skip that step altogether. Skimming sounds like a lot of extra work too, so any advice would be great!
Answers
Honestly, most people find it way easier to skim coat than to just sand. Skimming makes the surface more even, while sanding textured walls can be a real hassle, especially if they've been painted over. Trust me, if you go straight to sanding, you'll likely face a lot of frustrations trying to get all that texture down. Skimming is just a more efficient route!
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If that texture has been painted, prepare for a tough time sanding! It’s definitely true that sanding can be a pain when you're dealing with old, painted textures. Skimming first could really save you a lot of trouble later—and probably give you a nicer finish, too!
CuriousCat99: Thanks for the info! I just found out it has been painted over, so it looks like skimming might be the way to go.
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WallWizard88: I get that skimming sounds like extra work, but the end result is usually worth it. You'll save yourself a ton of effort in the long run if the walls are super smooth for painting!