How to Paint a Wall After Wallpaper Removal
- 1). Sand surface to be painted with 80-grit drywall sandpaper to remove any loose paper or glue residue.
- 2). Wash wall from bottom to top with no-rinse trisodium phosphate solution. Be sure to use gloves and do not over-wet the wall. If you have difficulty finding the no-rinse solution, you can use the regular strength solution--but you'll have to rinse the wall several times before proceeding to the next step.
- 3). Allow wall to dry thoroughly.
- 4). Shine the clip light at a shallow angle across the wall surface (as opposed to directly at the wall) and look for raised spots and depressions in the wall. Scrape or sand any high spots.
- 5). Using the drywall compound to patch any depressions you find and skim-coat the wall. Make sure to use the six-inch putty knife to apply the skim coat. Allow to dry.
- 6). Sand the wall smooth with the 100-grit drywall sandpaper. Repeat patching and sanding as necessary to create a smooth finish. Allow the drywall compound to dry thoroughly before proceeding.
- 7). Prime the wall and paint, allowing sufficient time for each coat to dry.
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