How to Remove Sand Textured Paint
Sand-textured paints are meant to hide minor imperfections and add a suedelike look to walls. This sounds like a great idea, but in the hands of people unfamiliar with these products, the result can often be a wall that looks patchy and feels harsh on the hands.
There are several options available for removing these paints. Some are extreme, such as completely removing the Sheetrock, but others are less expensive. All involve patience and a dust mask.
Things You Will Need
- Drop cloths
- Sheets of plastic
- Masking tape
- Sandpaper in various grits
- Sandpaper pole
- Electric sandpaper
- Dust mask
- Drywall mud
- 6-inch or larger drywall knife
Tip
If your goal is to achieve a different texture over the sand paint, simple prime it and then use drywall mud or Venetian plaster with a trowel to achieve an Old World texture over the sand paint.
Warning
Leave the room occasionally to allow yourself to breath dust-free air.
Don't forget to cover the heating and cooling vents to prevent the dust from getting into your furnace system.
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Prepare your room by removing all furniture, if possible. Cover anything that remains with drop cloths. Protect your floors with drop cloths, and tape plastic over windows and doors. Push plastic underneath doors to seal the room off completely.
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Find an inconspicuous spot on your wall or perhaps in a closet. Use the 6-inch knife to attempt to scrape off the sand paint. Scrape off large sand particles.
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Put on your dust mask and work on the same spot, using heavy grit sandpaper and poles or an electric sander. This test area will determine how heavy your sandpaper needs to be for the rest of the room.
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Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the rest of the walls, starting with heavier sandpaper and finishing with lighter sandpaper.
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Use drywall mud to lightly skim over areas where the wall may have small bubbles left from the sandpaper grit. Sand when dry with a fine sandpaper.
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Prime the walls with two coats of a quality primer/sealer product. When dry, paint the walls.
The Drip Cap
- Sand-textured paints are meant to hide minor imperfections and add a suedelike look to walls.
- Scrape off large sand particles.
- Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the rest of the walls, starting with heavier sandpaper and finishing with lighter sandpaper.
- Use drywall mud to lightly skim over areas where the wall may have small bubbles left from the sandpaper grit.
References
- American Painting Contractor
- Decorative Painting and Faux Finishes; Sharon Ross and Elise Kinkead; 2004
Writer Bio
Clare Bills is a writer, speaker and artist living in Ames, Iowa. She holds three Bachelor of Arts degrees, as well as a Master of Science in journalism/public relations. Bills worked in public relations for more than 15 years and now writes for several magazines and online sites. She is also the author of a foodblog: Nana Clare's Kitchen.
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