Things You'll Need:
- A really good bevelled edge trowel.
- Large double china bristled brushes
- Sandpaper and a sanding pole (220 grit, and finer papers to finish the job)
- Drop Cloths
- Painter' s tape
- Vinegar and Water Solution and a sponge
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Step 1
As with any project, prep is where you make all the difference in the outcome. Do not skimp on the prep because you are excited about the project. Take your time and do it right. Use a Vinegar and Water solution to clean the walls. Years of dust and other environmental contaminates are on the wall surface and will affect the treatment you want to apply. Be careful for splinters and use sand paper to smooth out as many rough edges as you can during this phase.
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Step 2
With clean surfaces, apply painter' s tape to the edges to keep your project area defined. This will help you get nice crisp edges. Use a plastic scraper to make sure the tape is fully adhered to the surface. Put down the drop cloths and let's prime the walls. You can use a product like Kilz but I prefer to use a paint made especially for Faux Finishes called SetCoat by a company called Faux Effects. I don't sell this product so you will have to find a retailer on your own. The product is amazing, a little pricey but worth every penny. Apply one to two coats and be sure to get in to the seams of the paneling. I use a lot of black even when I am doing a Tuscan finish because it gives great dimention to the final finish. Play around with it.
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Step 3
Using a plaster product like Faux Effects PlasterTex™ , I apply an initial layer to the wall surface being sure to fill in the seams as much as possible and apply the layer with smooth, even motions of my trowel to prevent lines from showing. This layer should be thin with the exception of the seam areas and you should see the base coat through the plaster. Go for about 85% coverage. This is only the first layer. When you complete the entire wall, sand the surface with a pole sander to see how smooth you have managed to get it in only one coat. This product is great at filling in and smoothing. Other products available at retail stores will take more time and I have not found one yet that gives me the same finish. Apply a second coat of PlasterTex™ after the first coat is completely sanded. Notice that if you used black as the base coat, you will easily see where the first layer was thin and you can level on the second application. Sand as before and allow to dry. I typically wait 24 hours after the plaster is applied to move on to the next steps.
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Step 4
Using a really fine sand paper, go over the surface one last time. Then use a damp rag to remove all dust from the walls. Vacuum to keep the work area as dust free as possible. Now your options are wide open. I like to use colorants to apply color rather than a flat paint so that my finish has dimension. However, after years of paneling, anything is better and you can change your mind again and again. The plaster is durable and forgiving. Have fun with it.
Comments
Panda229 said
on 7/6/2009 Great Article! 5*!
lygunn44 said
on 6/18/2009 This is great I will keep this in mind while fixing my basement up. I gave you 5 Stars and RR on your some of your articles.
Lashawnda
msmabry said
on 5/20/2009 Great idea on how to use a plaster product to say goodbye to panel walls. 5*
guesswhat said
on 4/17/2009 Great article ....keep up the good work...I gave you 5 Stars and RR on 5 of your articles,very informational...ty ...Please return the favor..Al