How to Cover Raised Stencils in Walls

Raised stencils give a design an embossed look when placed onto a wall. The look can be very appealing; however, once the design is outdated, removing the raised surface may be difficult. A variety of solutions can disguise or cover the design. No one will know the stencil still exists when properly covered. Use plaster, glaze and a little creativity to create a new wall finish. When finished, the stencil will be completely hidden from view.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloths
• Plastic sheets
• Sandpaper
• Rag
• Vacuum cleaner
• Painter's tape
• Mini roller
• Lightweight joint compound
• Drywall trowel
• Five-gallon bucket
• Sanding sponge
• Latex paint (satin sheen)
• Large roller frame
• Roller cover (long nap)
• Latex paint
• Glaze
• Rags, plastic bags, paint brushes or other glazing tools

Instructions

1. Remove all furniture and accessories from the room. Place plastic sheeting on the floor and cover with drop cloths. Sand down the finish as much as possible using medium- to rough-grit sandpaper. Realize some plasters are harder than others; no matter how much sanding is done, the plaster may not grind away. Wipe the surface with a wet cloth and remove any excess dust and debris. Vacuum up any dust that may have fallen to the floor to avoid tracking it through additional rooms. Always sand the raised stencil, even if the stencil is less than a centimeter thick.

2. Tape off the wall using painter's tape. Add tape to all opposite walls, baseboards, trim and ceiling surfaces that are touching the wall with the raised stencil. Use one-inch tape or larger.

3. Dip a damp mini roller into lightweight joint compound, and roll onto the wall. Roll the plaster in a vertical pattern, with the last movement of the roller moving upward. Work small sections at a time, about 4 ft. x 4 ft. Use a drywall trowel and smooth out the "tips" or peaks formed by rolling the plaster. Move the trowel in a vertical motion, always smoothing downward. Keep a large five-gallon bucket in the work area to occasionally clean plaster off of the trowel.

4. Add a slightly heavier amount to the stencil areas; still, the plaster should be no more than ¼ inch thick. Allow plaster to dry. Check to see if the stencil is visible. Add patches of heavier plaster as needed to aid in covering the stencil. Allow plaster to fully dry before moving on to the next step.

5. Sand the plaster very lightly using a sanding sponge. Wipe away any loose plaster and dust using a damp rag.

6. Paint the area using a large, heavy nap roller. Use latex paint in a satin finish. Ensure all crevices and cracks of the plaster are painted. Use a trim brush and paint the perimeter areas around the wall the roller cannot reach.

7. Add glaze to the wall if desired. Mix paint and glaze in a 1:4 part ratio. Always make a sample board of the plaster finish with glaze applied before glazing the actual wall. Roll glaze onto the wall in small sections using a mini roller. Start at the top left corner of the wall and paint a 2 ft x 2 ft section. Take a rag, plastic bag or paint brush and manipulate the glaze to achieve a desired effect. Try pouncing, dabbing and brushing the tools through the wet glaze for different looks. Paint sections vertically down to the baseboard. Return to the top of the wall for the next section until the entire wall is complete. Remember the entire wall must be painted before stopping---prominent dark dry lines will occur if the glaze dries before the project is finished. Do not go back into a section that has been glazed to adjust or manipulate; glaze has a very short open time it can be worked. Going back and manipulating glaze that has started to set may cause a halo effect that cannot be fixed unless the entire wall is repeated.

8. Allow glaze to dry between 24 hours and 48 hours. Remove all tape. Return all furniture and accessories to the room.

Tips & Warnings

• One gallon of plaster will cover 50 square feet.

• One gallon of latex paint will cover 400 square feet (basecoat).

• Glaze mixture often covers 400 to 800 square feet. Always mix enough glaze for the entire project.

Resources

• Murals Plus