Professional Lawrenceville, GA on Jun 06, 2012

DIY fix to hide damaged walls or paneling

If you don't want to invest in new drywall/sheetrock and having paneling, here is a straight forward DIY option if you dont mind a textured wall. Also a good option if you have a heavily damaged wall.

These photos are from our cottage on the lake .... I removed all of the molding that covered the seams of the wall board. Then with a bucket of ready made drywall mud and a 6" knife I applied it all over the walls. No need to be perfect and you can apply it as heavy as you want. I did fill the seams of the wall board first, then just started applying throughout the whole room - getting as close to the trim as possible to give a natural look. Give 24 hours to dry completely before painting!

Then paint (see staged photos). Then I applied a translucent glaze that I purchased at Lowe's. Finished product is kind of tuscan looking stucco! Affordable and easy .. and its a pretty good workout for your upper body! :)

61 Comments Displaying 25 of 61 comments | See Previous

Kathy W Fairview, TN

Here's another one.
on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 3
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

Love the rich color !

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

WOW!!! Looks like rich gooey, yummy peanut brittle color - THAT'S a good thing, just incase!!
So Kathy - now it's your turn for endless questions!! LOL Did you just use paint and glaze or did you also do the drywall mud like Becky?? Your color has soooo much depth to it and looks very textural as well. This color is ocre??? (sp) This is so awesome in it's own right - think about posting this by itself and include alllll the details from a-z!! It's gorgeous!!!

on Jun 11, 2012 · Like 1
Kathy W Fairview, TN

I used joint compound (wall mud), applied with a plastic trowel. After it dried for a couple of days, I painted it with the golden yellow. I'll have to find the paint lid to tell you what the color name is. After that dried well, I applied a dark glaze. I applied the glaze by pouring it onto a lint free cloth (an old cotton diaper) and rubbing it onto the wall. I'll have to look that brand and color up too. Sorry, I'm not at home where I can run out to the garage. After the glaze ...»
dried well, I applied a clear finish coat. It was a pretty long process, but I love the way it looks.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 2
Kathy W Fairview, TN

Oh and Susan S - thank you. I appreciate the positive comments!!

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 2
Karla D Memphis, TN

thanks ladies....think I might try this...

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

@Kathy - You're very welcome! I'm always simply facinated & intrigued by the special effects created by paints, glazes, adding texture & dimension w/drywall mud etc. etc. Basically, I've learned what I know by trial & error. Sometimes a goof up turns out to be a really good thing - just causes mild panic at the time. When you do get a chance, if you locate your paint can I really would like to know about the color, mfgr. etc.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 1
Kathy W Fairview, TN

I'll check when I get home and post tomorrow. Like you, I've learned by trial and error. I first started doing DIY home decor when I was 19. That was in 1976 - guess that reveals the age secret! But I've hung wall paper and drywall, put up chair rails, crown molding, base boards, installed all kinds of flooring, etc., etc., etc. You name it, I've probably attempted it at least once! Love it. Wish I could have made a living doing it.

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 2
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

@Kathy W .. may I ask why you did a clear finish coat?

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 1
Connie K Kennesaw, GA

Kathy W, Great color match to the tone in the wood on the ceiling. That's not always easy to do. I have Becky Sue's same question about the clear coat. Depending upon the products you used to complete the finish it may have been a step you don't need anymore. (I'm all for saving energy, especially my own). Most newer products don't really need a clear coat except in special circumstances. Was it because of location and to make it easier to clean?

on Jun 12, 2012 · Like 2
Kathy W Fairview, TN

Sorry, I didn't get out to the garage to check the color and brand of the paint and glaze. Promise I will tonight. I used the clear coat because I think it was suggested on the glaze, to protect it from rubbing off. Surely I wouldn't have taken on extra work for myself if it wasn't necessary ;) Probably necessary in the bathroom, due to the moisture, but may not have been necessary in the bedroom?! @Connie-the ceiling match was just a happy accident. I think the ceiling has actually ...»
yellowed a bit since it was originally installed. @BeckySue - Sorry, I didn't mean to take over your post! You did a beautiful job on your project. I don't think I'd said that to you.

on Jun 13, 2012 · Like 0
Kathy W Fairview, TN

I wanted to add that I'm pretty sure it all came from Lowe's because, at one time I owed them more than I owe on my mortgage!

on Jun 13, 2012 · Like 1
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

No apology needed .. its great to compare techniques!

on Jun 13, 2012 · Like 0
L. Ann Mccomb, MS

Pam D (Alexandria, LA):
Did you use the premixed joint compound to add to your paint or the powder?

on Jun 14, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

@L. Ann - If I'm understanding your question correctly, I don't believe Kathy or Becky mixed the joint compound with anything at all. The dry wall mud - or joint compound was applied first and allowed to thoroughly dry or cure. Then they did their painting techniques and tinted glaze. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if joint compound and drywall mud are the same thing or not! Well, I reviewed and Becky Sue said specifically dry wall mud but then Kathy said joint compound and in ...»
parentheses (wall mud) so I guess it's all the same thing.

on Jun 16, 2012 · Like 0
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

laymen's terms ... they are same Susan :) I did 2 rooms, so I bought a bucket of pre-mixed drywall joint compound (aka mud :). The powder is cheaper but you have to mix it with water to get the right consistency - I need to conserve my energy for putting it on the wall, it is a tough workout!

on Jun 16, 2012 · Like 2
L. Ann Mccomb, MS

In reply to comment of Pam D (Alexandria, LA) on 6/6/12:
Did you use the premixed joint compound to add to your paint or the powder?

on Jun 16, 2012 · Like 0
Kathy W Fairview, TN

Finally! The glaze was American Tradition's Traslucent Color Glaze in Mocha. I couldn't find the paint, but if I remember correctly it was what I would call an antique gold. Yes, I used the premixed joint compound. It took about 1 5 gal. container for the bed room. I did NOT mix the paint or glaze with the joint compound.

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 2
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Thank you Kathy - I really appreciate all the trouble you've gone to. I never would have thought the glaze was Mocha - like I've said before, I'm always intrigued by the effects created when adding tints, glazes etc.
I'm not sure what L. An of La. is talking about exactly, or perhaps I'm the one who is confused about what all can be mixed together. I think maybe I have heard of tinting the joint compound ...»
or am I mixing up my terms?? I did not get the impression that any of you had mixed any other product w/the joint compound aka drywall mud but it was a 3 part process. Joint compound troweled on wall, paint, tinted glaze and 4th - a sealer if you want!! Is that pretty much the gist of it??? NOTHING mixed in the joint compound as far as tint or colorant???

on Jun 17, 2012 · Like 1
Kathy W Fairview, TN

Susan S - No problem. Glad to help a fellow diyer! Just sorry it took me so long to get the information - life gets a little crazy at my house sometimes. I think you CAN mix the paint with the joint compound/drywall mud, but I'm not sure what the outcome, colorwise would be because I've never done it. Mine was just - mud, paint, glaze, sealer, in that order.

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 2
Karen V Kennesaw, GA

I always thin my mud with a little water for a skim coat, I made the mistake of using some quick set "powder" the other day, trash in my mud, what a waste. I had to throw every bit of it out. I couldn't find a piece of screen to strain it with. Boy was I upset. Big pieces of dried chunks of mud. It compares to bleed through in my book, I can not emphasize the importance of using Primer and fresh dry wall mud, always remember to scrape down the sides of your mud pans and buckets while it's ...»
still wet. Freshly coated walls should look like a nicely iced cake with out the crumbs. Plaster is a whole different ball game, the older the structure the more blemishes, that adds Charm. Like stretch marks and Grey hair. LOL the little imperfections give us character....

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 3
Karen V Kennesaw, GA

Being an artist I have also used tint in mud to create Fresco's. I had a grotto in an old house I filled in many years ago and it was so much fun adding color to mud and playing with the different textures, I made a fairy land for my daughter inside of an old closed up window. She loved the castle. It added a three dimensional look to the picture.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 3
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

@Karen, Becky Sue & Kathy W: How come we all have to live so far apart?? I would give a body part (well . . . almost) to have a workshop w/some of you so we wannabees could play with all these different methods (under the direction of YOU that actually know whatcher doin lol) I used to try different faux paint techniques on poster board to get a feel for the outcome. Yeah, FINALLY figured THAT out after deciding the real wall was not the best place for trial & error!! Is poster board ...»
too flimsy to try out some of the joint/drywall/mud ideas or should I try to scrounge up some old drywall somewhere???

on Jun 23, 2012 · Like 3
Sharron W Memphis, TN

This is just an AWESOME transformation! What a great job you did!

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 3
Flora Floral City, FL

Hi ladies.. loved reading all your comments.. we have purchased an older single wide mobile on it's own land.. has good "bones" and is on a reat lot.... sound roof, underpinned, etc but the inside is another matter.. It is going be be completely stripped, planning to move a couple of walls and then drywall the entire place and then add new flooring.. then will come paint, paper, etc... I am hoping to take pics as we go along to show the progress... thank you all for your interest and ...»
suggestions.. I will keep yo updated.. will probably a slow process.. (doing it on a budget) I love reading all the comments on here and seeing all the talent.. you are awesome...

on Jan 31, 2013 · Like 0