To make sure your paint roller doesn't leave any marks on the wall, you should use a thin layer of paint and roll in one direction only. This is because it gives you the smoothest finish and can be done quickly. According to Baldicana, ‘one of the most popular methods is to use a paint roller. Or a good coat of paint can act to smooth minor imperfections. Using sandpaper wrapped round blocks of wood for a level surface is one. There are many ways to smooth a wall without a sander. How can I smooth a wall without a sander?

For example, drywall is often cheaper than plaster but it does not provide insulation.’ If you have the budget for it, plastering is generally better, even if it comes down to calling in a professional. Baldicana explains that ‘while each of these materials has its own benefits and drawbacks, the decision ultimately comes down to your needs. There are many alternatives to plaster, such as drywall, wood, and metal. Just paint your walls as they areīerres admits this is ‘not always ideal’, but in some cases, ‘If you cannot sand your walls for your desired effect, you may just want to either paint a wall or apply wallpaper for a smoother finish.’ Only you have seen the state of your walls, and ‘if your walls are in pretty good shape to begin with’, you may just get away with painting or wallpapering over what’s already there. In old homes you can pass this off as patina! What is a good alternative to plaster? Add wall panelingįor a whole new look, why not consider wall paneling? There are so many wall paneling ideas and while it is often thought of as a more traditional finish there are striking modern looks that can be achieved too.īe it beadboard or wainscoting, it can be applied over old walls to cover a multitude of sins. It won’t be perfect, but it’s much better than leaving holes and cracks in your walls. Just dab on the plaster in a thin layer where it’s needed, smoothing it out with a putty knife or scraping tool as you go along. (opens in new tab) recommends this technique as an alternative to full-wall plastering. Try the dabbing and dotting techniqueĬorey Morgan, a painting expert at Home Painting Co. Once the lining paper is dry, you can begin painting or wallpapering your wall. You can either apply adhesive directly to the paper, or, to make it even easier, apply it to the wall and stick the lining paper on top. You will still need to use adhesive to apply it, but thankfully you don’t have to get the skimming action perfect because the lining paper will mask any imperfections. It is basically the same as hanging wallpaper. Wall lining paper (opens in new tab), or insulation paper as it’s sometimes called, can be a great solution if you’re not comfortable skimming your walls. If you have any areas with larger holes or cracks, you should fill those with a filler, before sanding them down to sit flush with your wall. He cautions, though, that this method is only going to work ‘If the paint was applied with proper coating’ and if you are getting rid of minor imperfections. Rick Berres, Owner of remodeling company Honey-Doers (opens in new tab), recommends using 100-120 grit sandpaper (opens in new tab) for this purpose.

Yes, sandpaper can be effective for smoothing old walls if you don’t want to mess around with plaster or any adhesives whatsoever.

Repeat these steps until you're satisfied with your work.

Allow it to dry for about an hour before sanding it down with sandpaper.

Use a putty knife or trowel to spread the compound evenly across the wall.

Apply a thin layer of joint compound to the wall.

Baldicana recommends the following process: Working with a joint compound is easier than with plaster, although it isn’t thick and gives a similar finish. Mike Baldicana, a home improvement specialist at Trekroofing (opens in new tab), advises using a joint compound (available from Amazon) (opens in new tab) and applying it with a trowel or putty knife instead of skimming.

They require varying DIY skills but are all great for hiding cracks and imperfections, ready for painting. Ways to smooth walls without plasteringīelow are a number of DIY methods that will fix uneven walls. In this article, we refer to ‘skim coat’ and ‘plaster’ interchangeably, because we’re only talking about that thin layer of plaster used on old walls. There are other techniques and forms of plastering, some of them only used in new home construction.

Alternatives to skim coating walls