This is topic I'm fixing cracks in the walls in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Yes indeedy! I got the wall mud (joint compound) and crack tape, and I'm going to town. Had a friend over to show me how it's done. Very simple, actually. And the repairs come out looking so nice. And the cracks are supposedly NEVER coming back. Well...we'll see about that.

But anyway, I'm just having a blast.
 
Posted by Jalapenoman (Member # 6575) on :
 
Hanging sheet rock, taping, mudding, and texturing have got to be the worst job in the world. I once had to do it to half of a house and hated every minute.

You have my condolences.

Continue trying to convince yourself that you are really having fun, and you just might.....hate it a little bit less.
 
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
I've hung & mudded my own sheetrock on the ceilings and walls of two very odd shaped rooms now, and I gotta say I agree with Bob. It's fun. The only sucky part is the sanding. I hate sanding. And when you're doing it from scratch instead of just repairing cracks, you have to do 3 - 4 layers, and sand them all. Blech.

I'm buying one of the sandy things that hooks up to your shop vac before I do downstairs, and hoping it's not just a gimmack.

Have fun Bob!
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
ElJay,

I was sort of dreading this job until I heard how much work you'd tackled in your house. I got no sympathy at all from dkw over this. She just kept saying "Oh, 'ElJay' did way more than that..."

I haven't gotten to the sanding part yet. The part I'm actually worried about is getting the wall texture to match, but I have at least 3 methods that supposedly will work for these walls. I'm going to try the roller method first as that seems the easiest.

I have this weird textured surface. It's like strings & drips. But it does look like it went on with a roller so that'll probably work for me.

Then I get to paint!!!

I love painting, but this is a big @ss house to paint.

Most of the house is kind of a cream/yellow. Should I go with that or go all white or just have different rooms of different colors?

Normally, I would go all white, but then again, I don't want to make the place seem too bland and colorless.

Hmm...
 
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
 
Texturing is the most fun ever. [Smile] I helped my dad replace part (almost half) of the ceiling in one of the bathrooms in their house. It had the standard "knock-down" texturing. He had bought a little magic sprayer widget for applying it, but it was worthless. In the end I decided that the best method was coating my hands with the texturizing compound (basically a slightly watered-down version of plaster/joint compound) and then flicking it onto the ceiling. Needless to say, by the time we were done, I was a total mess, but since we were in the bathroom anyway, I just hopped in the shower clothes and all and washed it all off me (and the walls and the tub and the floor and the mirror and....) [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
 
I must say that would have been interesting to see, Ludosti... [Big Grin]
 
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
Pfft. If you're gonna texture, why bother sanding?

If you're using a neutral color, then I think all the rooms should be the same. If you're not using neutrals, paint 'em any color you want.
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
Bob,

All white will make your house look cold and empty. You either need a lot of accents, rugs, art, etc, or you could try an off-white. Since you love painting, you might want to try a few accent walls. You paint just the one wall something bright or dark and the space looks bigger. Plus it's more fun.

My step-dad is a painter. Can you tell?
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
That ceiling texture stuff...they make this really cool stuff in a tub that works best. You just roll it on. It's a bit thicker than paint, and it has little styrofoam pieces in it.

For this wall, I'll just have to thin out some of the joint compound and goop it on.

ElJay, good point about not sanding. I was thinking I had to get it smooth first and then put a coat of the texture on. But maybe I'll just texture it.

I have two spots left to tape up, they were too deep to just put tape on first. Everything else is ready for its second coat and some texture.

[Big Grin]

Actually looks pretty darn good.

[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
Bob - be sure to wear a face mask when sanding. That dust can be dangerous.

And if you like painting so much, I'm sure we can find some work for you in Virginia. [Smile] The house we looked at today had paisley wall paper. Paisley!

Dagonee
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Could be worse. Could be Toile.

Those little people leave the wallpaper at night and attack you.

[ June 12, 2004, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: Bob_Scopatz ]
 
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
Not smooth sanding, but you do need to remove the worst of the troweling lines and overly thick plaster. Otherwise, you end up with highly visible seams; which won't necessarily be apparent until you put on the final coat of paint, especially if you use a glossier ie more reflective paint.

[ June 12, 2004, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
 
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
 
i love accent walls!

my mother got manic andi helped her redo our whole house. in our living room we did the side walls a very neutral marsh-grass green that you couldn't tell was green unless you held a white piece of paper up to it.
then the wall surrounding the fireplace was a nice dark rich raspberry sherbet color. it was BEAUTIFUL.
tied in nicely with the drapes.
 
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
 
Did anyone else hear an old Beatle song in their head when they saw this thread?

[ June 12, 2004, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: ak ]
 
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
ak,

no, but I shoulda? which one?

fallow
 
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
 
"I'm fixing a hole
where the rain gets in
and stops my mind
from wandering..."
 
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
[Cool]
 
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
 
Yes, that's the only reason I entered the thread.

(Pretending I hadn't noticed the post)

Bob, is your mind wandering?

BTW I just finished re-sheetrocking my kitchen/dining room ceiling and the outside wall of my dining room, to add insulation. I love sheetrocking too, but if you haven't done it before - START WITH THE WALLS - ceilings are the worst place to learn how.

And if you do it right (smug) you don't have to sand. The better you get the less sanding you do.

Did you know that sheetrock is made of industrial waste?
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
ak, I thought of using that line, but the fact is no rain is getting in and I was afraid to diss my house so badly. It's looking over my shoulder as I type, afterall.

[Big Grin]

Glenn...I hear sheetrocking is a blast. I've never done it, but I hear that ElJay, my future sis-in-law is a pro! Maybe I'll get lessons. Next time she renovates a house, perhaps?

And I have heard that the more skilled one becomes, the less sanding there is to do. I purchased one tool that does cut down on the sanding, supposedly, but I was loathe to use it over the first course of mudding in the mesh tape. That stuff can come up too easily when it is "wet." The next course will be easier.

aspectre, thanks for the tip. I was considering NOT doing the texture stuff because the repairs are really hard to see even now when the white of the dried mudding is in place. I forgot that paint can actually make the differences MORE visible.

porce -- that does sound cool. I've seen that kind of thing done very badly, though. I'm afraid my decorating sense (or lack thereof) would inhibit me from even trying something so bold.

[ June 13, 2004, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: Bob_Scopatz ]
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
quote:
Those little people leave the wallpaper at night and attack you.
Ugh! That's horrible.

But it's not worse than the paisley wallpaper I saw. Maybe it was the light of the mini-chandeliers they had up IN EVERY LIGHT FIXTURE.

*shudders*

Here's hoping this keeps others from putting in competeing bids.

Dagonee
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
Bob the Builder.

[Cool]
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
quote:
And if you do it right (smug) you don't have to sand.
As a professional drywaller and painter I would not recommend skipping the sanding phase. You may have done a great job but it will be even better if you sand it a bit.

In regards to the texturing, if it is similar to knockdown texture a crumpled up newspaper dipped in the very thin mud mixture works very well.
Once you dip the paper and apply, lightly to the wall, wait for roughly 5 minutes and then lightly run your 6 inch knife over the top to knock down the points.

[ June 13, 2004, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: punwit ]
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
Hey Bob, I actually considered doing an "Ask the Painter" thread but figured it would languish and/or appear silly. Whadya think?
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
punwit! Definitely do one!!!

Okay, now run this by me again. I've got the kind of texture that looks like strings or drips. It's not all pointy like regular popcorn ceiling type. And it's not deeply patterned like stucco. It's more like there are strings in the paint, if that helps any.

How do I do that?

One person told me use a thinned mixture of joint compound and one of those foam rollers sort of dripping with the stuff.

Another person told me to use the newspaper thing.

And there's some paint at the store by Behr that supposedly comes out doing this texture, but then they say you have to "do" something to it afterwards, so I figure the mudding technique is probably the one I want to use.

I've got the patches pretty well done. A couple need one more coat and some "feathering" to make the repair have less obvious "edges." But other than that, it's pretty much ready for sanding and then the texturing coat.

Someone said I sure primer it all first so that the ultra-wet mud doesn't just make the dried repair underneath just come out or get messy. What do you think I should do?

Thanks!
 
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
*whizzles on sheetrock*

*combs self*
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
Hmmm, strings in the paint. Trying to visualize this. Would ripples on a pond come close?
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
quote:
"I'm fixing a hole
where the rain gets in
and stops my mind
from wandering..."

Thank you. This thread title has been bothering me since I first saw it. Arg!
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Yes!!! That's it!!! But not anything concentric or obviously parallel "lines" of ripples. It's a bit more random looking, like there's a slight gusty breeze across it.

PERFECTLY APT description, though!

So...how do I do that?
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
You should usually allow each coat to thoroughly dry before doing anything. Anyone that indicated you should put a new coat of mud or paint over semi dry mud or paint is giving you suspect advice. I occaisionally have rushed a job by doing a coat over not completely dry product but I am a professional (do not attempt to do this at home) [No No] [ROFL]
 
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
*doo dee doo do whap?*

*takes a prolonged mudbath and hopes to high heavens the pro's figure it out before the kiln arrives*

[ June 13, 2004, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: fallow ]
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
quote:
Did anyone else hear an old Beatle song in their head when they saw this thread?


ak - Yes, Yes yes yes yes!

I've been wandering around singing "And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right, where I belong I'm right, where I belong..." for the past 24 hours and it's been annoying the bejeezus out of me.

Glad I'm not alone [Smile]
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
It's rather strange about the Beatles song since it's only the first two words that are at all the same! [Angst]
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
If the lines run roughly bi-directionaly, like roughly east-west or north-south, a roller application of either soupy drywall mud or a textured paint product should come close to your texture. There are specialty roller nap products made that can make the process easier. Without seeing your particular product I'm just doing some educated guessing tho.
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
Once you get the texture done you should coat the whole shebang with either a specific wall primer or at worst a flat paint. If you are finish coating with a paint of any sheen: eggshell, low lustre, semigloss, or gloss you will need several top coats to achieve a uniform appearance commensurate with your existing paint. If you are repainting all then the priming phase will be sufficient.
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
I shall try the soupy mixture and a roller.

The rollers I looked at iddn't quite have the texture I was looking for.

I was thinking of also asking the guys who do the building maintenance at my work to see how they do it because the walls there have the exact same texture and they seem to do a good job of matching it.

I also have to say that even if it doesn't match, it'll get close enough. I had to undo one repair from the prior owner and my technique is already superior to the sloppy job they did.

I am going to repaint the entire house. So no worries on matching.
 
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Yep, I immediately thought of Fixing a Hole too, and was planning on asking Bob if, when he got done, he was going to be painting the room in a colourful way, but I was beaten to the punch.

Teshi, I expect that that song occurred to all of us because, in addition to having the line that's already been quoted, it also has one that goes "I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door". Combine the two lines, and you've got something fairly close to Bob's thread title.
 
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Update:

I sanded
I even wet-sanded.

Um...should've known better. You get dry mud wet, it turns to wet mud. Comes off the wall. Ha ha ha.

Used judiciously, a wet sanding sponge works really well. But it's too easy to overdo it. So, I used the dry sanding sponge instead. Worked great.

Then, the texture. That really was fun!!!

I think I'll go into business texturing walls. I won't do anything else. Just texturing. It's too much fun!

[Big Grin]

Oh, and I did ask the building maintenance guys. They said "use a roller. Go slow." Worked like a charm.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice everyone!!!

[Big Grin] <------ me after texturing

Did I mention I enjoyed the texturing?
 
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
 
Why don't you try a little texturing?

Finishing painting can be very satisfying. Unlike starting painting.
 
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
[Party] Woo hoo. I find it refreshing that someone says they enjoyed painting or drywall work. I hear so many people complain about how much they hate it. I'm glad the roller application worked well. Good luck on the rest of your project.

Are you doing all this beautification because you are selling the house? Where are you and dkw going to live post hitching? (Ha Ha.. post hitching.. sounds like a western)
 
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
Yay Bob!

Faux texturing with paint is fun, too.

Wet sanding sponges are for when the mud is still wet. But I bet you figured that out, no?

Home improvement rocks.
 


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