New House Series - Media Room Pt 1 - Walls FINALE
Hey Reader,
I know we have been talking walls punctuated by mediocre crafts for a few months now. I have to admit, skim coating has proved to be a very worthy adversary in my quest for smooth walls. I have been sanding and reapplying Spackle for what seems like years. Everything in the house is covered in an inch of white dust, it looks like the home of a stock trader before the internet bubble burst (thats a cocaine joke... did it make sense... whatever moving on).
Last we checked in on the walls project, it was a huge struggle and I had made a major error in priming the walls too early. I hate to admit this to you, reader, but I was pretty defeated by the walls. I actually got a contractor to come in and look at the walls and give me an estimate for their services. I had found a website called home advisor that had connected me to some people. Can we talk about that for just a second? I signed up (unintentionally since I thought I was going to get some estimates) and immediately started getting emails and calls from people.
I felt really excited, the website said that the average cost of skim coating at $1.12 per square foot. That was certainly not a small sum when considering the whole house, but it was doable. The first contractor came and quoted me a price of around $10,000! That is significantly more than the $1.12 number! The next contractor quoted me $2.75 per square foot.
I can't swing something like that, but I also can't live in this house with is filthy textured walls glaring at me, as if to say, "you can't smooth me! Mwahaha." Yes, my walls are Bond villains. I started digging around online for something else I could do, and I stumbled upon a conversation on a home improvement board where they were discussing using concrete paint for the interior walls. The conversation made it sound like the thicker paint gave concrete blocks a smooth finish. My walls are certainly less course than a concrete block!
I took a trip to my local paint store and explained my situation, and they recommended me this paint. It is a primer that dries clear. It is essentially just a bucket of glue and I am decoupaging my walls. Reader, I have read literally hundreds of articles about skim coating. I have watched hours of tutorials from home DIYers and professional painter/drywallers and you know what no one ever mentioned, that the paint you use after skim coating can hide imperfections.
Now, maybe that is obvious to any DIYers who have painted before. I knew that there were different thicknesses of paint, but it never occurred to me to apply that logic to my post skim coating activities. I am absolutely amazed at the way this product works.
It looks white in the can, but dries this kind of opaque brownish color. It isn't pretty by any means, but it fills in minor imperfections and left me with a perfectly smooth wall.
I have learned so much from this project. First, never believe anyone who says you can't do something! I have had so many people tell me that this project is just too big to take on as a DIYer. I took it on and the walls are finally smooth!
Second, Always be researching! If I had stopped looking for new tricks and hints, I would never have discovered this paint existed. I can't believe how many videos I watched where they stood with a light at a sharp angle and circled all the problem areas to patch it up. I suspect that this paint would either completely eliminate that step, or greatly reduce it. I am so thankful that I found it!
Third, don't trust estimates online! Fourth, I dunno, something about Bond villains.
Anyway, I promise no more discussion of smoothing walls for a while, especially now that I have this paint. It is a little pricey, but you know what, it is cheaper than ten grand!
Keep making cool stuff,
Until next time,
JoshPrime
I know we have been talking walls punctuated by mediocre crafts for a few months now. I have to admit, skim coating has proved to be a very worthy adversary in my quest for smooth walls. I have been sanding and reapplying Spackle for what seems like years. Everything in the house is covered in an inch of white dust, it looks like the home of a stock trader before the internet bubble burst (thats a cocaine joke... did it make sense... whatever moving on).
Last we checked in on the walls project, it was a huge struggle and I had made a major error in priming the walls too early. I hate to admit this to you, reader, but I was pretty defeated by the walls. I actually got a contractor to come in and look at the walls and give me an estimate for their services. I had found a website called home advisor that had connected me to some people. Can we talk about that for just a second? I signed up (unintentionally since I thought I was going to get some estimates) and immediately started getting emails and calls from people.
I felt really excited, the website said that the average cost of skim coating at $1.12 per square foot. That was certainly not a small sum when considering the whole house, but it was doable. The first contractor came and quoted me a price of around $10,000! That is significantly more than the $1.12 number! The next contractor quoted me $2.75 per square foot.
I can't swing something like that, but I also can't live in this house with is filthy textured walls glaring at me, as if to say, "you can't smooth me! Mwahaha." Yes, my walls are Bond villains. I started digging around online for something else I could do, and I stumbled upon a conversation on a home improvement board where they were discussing using concrete paint for the interior walls. The conversation made it sound like the thicker paint gave concrete blocks a smooth finish. My walls are certainly less course than a concrete block!
I took a trip to my local paint store and explained my situation, and they recommended me this paint. It is a primer that dries clear. It is essentially just a bucket of glue and I am decoupaging my walls. Reader, I have read literally hundreds of articles about skim coating. I have watched hours of tutorials from home DIYers and professional painter/drywallers and you know what no one ever mentioned, that the paint you use after skim coating can hide imperfections.
Now, maybe that is obvious to any DIYers who have painted before. I knew that there were different thicknesses of paint, but it never occurred to me to apply that logic to my post skim coating activities. I am absolutely amazed at the way this product works. It looks white in the can, but dries this kind of opaque brownish color. It isn't pretty by any means, but it fills in minor imperfections and left me with a perfectly smooth wall.
I have learned so much from this project. First, never believe anyone who says you can't do something! I have had so many people tell me that this project is just too big to take on as a DIYer. I took it on and the walls are finally smooth!
Second, Always be researching! If I had stopped looking for new tricks and hints, I would never have discovered this paint existed. I can't believe how many videos I watched where they stood with a light at a sharp angle and circled all the problem areas to patch it up. I suspect that this paint would either completely eliminate that step, or greatly reduce it. I am so thankful that I found it!
Third, don't trust estimates online! Fourth, I dunno, something about Bond villains.
Anyway, I promise no more discussion of smoothing walls for a while, especially now that I have this paint. It is a little pricey, but you know what, it is cheaper than ten grand!
Keep making cool stuff,
Until next time,
JoshPrime
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