Asked on Jun 17, 2015
Advice on prep and patch work for painting rough plywood
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I have some very rough plywood walls in my studio/workshop that I have previously painted. However, the nail holes were never caulked, and the plywood has several spots that have deep dips. I want to make them as smooth as possible before I paint them to make a pretty room to work in. I have planned on sanding then wood putty and sheet rock mud prep, then sand, then kilz oil based primer and then paint. Which would you use? Have you actually done it? How did it turn out? Pictures please. :-) Thanks!!
This shows where I patched the dips with some sheet rock mud.
These are the deep nail holes, sometimes takes two applications of wood putty.
This is how all the seams are covered. Ugh! lol
14 answers
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WALPAPER. MUCH EASIER
![D mac]()
D mac
on Jun 17, 2015
- See 1 previous
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You can still have pretty but ristic, You can go with a chalk paint.
![Mary Rose Van Kesteren]()
Mary Rose Van Kesteren
on Jun 17, 2015
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Take sheet rock mud and rub onto the walls thick then put you hand into some water then pat the walls with your wet hands let dry and paint looks a lot like adobe
![Little Tree]()
Little Tree
on Jun 17, 2015
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Use a heavy textured wall paper to cover up al the sins. It comes in may different designs, like stucco, Victorian etc.. Just make sure you use a wallpaper primer first.
![Heliane Ripley]()
Heliane Ripley
on Jun 18, 2015
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Cover it all with Luan! Liquid nails, air nailer, and paint. Good to go in one day!
![Hope Williams]()
Hope Williams
on Jun 18, 2015
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I like to do repairs like this as simple as possible and afterward, work with -- not against -- the texture to keep time, energy & cost down. What you propose is a lot of work for you, I think. I would fill holes and other SMALL imperfections with wood putty using 2 popsicle sticks (more centered than a putty knife, less messy, less waste): one to fill, one to smooth. Then you can sand over if you want & wallpaper as suggested by others which hides a multiple of sins. You could do no repairs and cover with grasscloth which might b a little pricey depending on your budget OR you could cover the whole wall with inexpensive matchstick blinds OR you could rag roll the wall which also hides the rough texture. If you've never done it, rag rolling, and other painting techniques using glaze, goes so quick you wouldn't believe it. Just paint the wall with latex paint; choose companion paint a shade or 2 darker with added glaze & begin! Presto change-o, u have a whole new look in no time flat, and it's fun. Any of these methods would work, wallpaper being the most expensive, tedius, time consuming & messy. I've done it all. It depends on your budget, your time, and your general decor as it is now. Good luck and enjoy creating!!
![Mary Heery]()
Mary Heery
on Jun 18, 2015
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Try a search for "textured wallpaper" on Amazon.com. Some absolutely amazing stuff!
![Susan E]()
Susan E
on Jun 18, 2015
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fill holes sand prime with zinzzer 123 paint wih a matt paint not satin or gloss shows every little imperfection u job done
![Ger Leahy]()
Ger Leahy
on Jun 18, 2015
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You could try rolling on a textured paint. It comes in different "grains". It will cover a multitude of problems. If you wallpaper, you may find it harder to disguise the holes, if you plan on hanging things on the wall, and changing them around. I have used the texture paint, and it is so easy to use!
![9530106]()
9530106
on Jun 18, 2015
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textured wallpaper OR wallpaper liner
![Jeani Miller Miner]()
Jeani Miller Miner
on Jun 18, 2015
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Textured paint is a great way to cover bad walls but is the greatest dust and dirt collector on the planet
![Ger Leahy]()
Ger Leahy
on Jun 20, 2015
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Martha Stewart paintable beadboard wallpaper is great for covering damaged walls. I used it in a room that I thought I was going to have to replace the sheetrock. Two walls were done with the wallpaper, floor to ceiling, 2 walls wainscoting height, with shelves on the upper walls.
![Marcia]()
Marcia
on Jun 20, 2015
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Have you seen the pics of luan?it ended up under Ger Leahy post.
![Hope Williams]()
Hope Williams
on Jun 22, 2015
- See 2 previous
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My go to for filling all manner of problems is Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty. It's a powder that you mix to whatever consistency you want. You can trowel it on, brush it on or form globs to pus into holes. It dries fast, so once you've finish, you can sand it smooth. It's cheap in the US! Used for indoor use mostly; I would use a top primer, but select a water base unless you have some reason with you subsequent applications
![Duv310660]()
Duv310660
on Jun 22, 2015
D mac
on Jun 17, 2015
Mary Rose Van Kesteren
on Jun 17, 2015
Little Tree
on Jun 17, 2015
Heliane Ripley
on Jun 18, 2015
Mary Heery
on Jun 18, 2015
Susan E
on Jun 18, 2015
Ger Leahy
on Jun 18, 2015
9530106
on Jun 18, 2015
Jeani Miller Miner
on Jun 18, 2015
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