How to Level Plaster Walls

Plaster walls are the norm in modern construction. When done well, plaster walls can create a clean and stylish wall, but when improperly done or as they age, some plaster walls can become bumpy and rippled. Fortunately, you can level plaster walls with a few simple steps, a few pieces of inexpensive equipment and a little elbow grease.

Things You'll Need

• Level
• Sandpaper
• Electric sander
• Plaster
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Run your hands over your plaster wall. This will allow you to quickly identify areas that are not level. With a pencil circle the areas that are bumpy, that have ripples or that are damaged. If the level of your plaster wall is not apparent, run a level over the wall and spot check for level. Mark any areas that are not level.

2. Sand down obvious bumps and ripples to make them level with the rest of the wall. If you have water damage, you will most likely need to cut out the affected dry wall, patch it, give it a skim coat using your trowel and thin set plaster and then sand it down to level.

3. Use your level to check the wall after you sand down the obvious problem spots. Spot sand areas that you find are still not level. If an entire wall has ripples and is obviously damaged, it is better to simply remove that section of dry wall and install a new panel. Once installed, you can give it a skim coat and sand the joints down so that they are level with the adjoining walls.

4. Add a skim coat of plaster to your project wall to create a seamless wall texture.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a mask and safety glasses when sanding down your plaster walls to prevent irritation to your lungs and eyes.