How to sand walls after puttying and how to do it correctly

After applying putty to your walls, sanding is an essential next step. Your walls will be smooth and prepared for painting or wallpapering after this procedure. Although sanding may seem simple, doing it correctly can significantly alter how your walls will look in the end.

Sanding aids in the removal of putty imperfections like lumps and uneven patches. Using the proper methods and equipment is essential to getting a perfect surface. You can make your walls appear professionally finished with a little perseverance and the appropriate technique.

We’ll go over the best techniques for sanding walls after puttying in this guide. We’ll go over the supplies you’ll need, the procedures to follow, and advice to guarantee a uniform, smooth finish. This information will help you complete wall finishing projects correctly, regardless of your level of experience.

Step Description
1. Let the Putty Dry Wait until the putty is fully dry before sanding. This can take several hours or overnight, depending on the product used.
2. Choose the Right Sandpaper Use fine-grit sandpaper, typically between 120 and 220 grit, to avoid scratching the wall surface.
3. Sand the Surface Gently sand the wall in a circular motion or with even strokes. Apply light pressure to smooth out any bumps or imperfections.
4. Check for Smoothness Run your hand over the wall to check if it feels smooth. If not, continue sanding until the surface is even.
5. Clean the Dust Wipe down the wall with a damp cloth or use a vacuum to remove all dust before painting or applying additional finishes.

Why do you need to sand putty

If you are doing repairs not in a pantry, but in a living room, and you want the wallpaper to fit easily, not wrinkle or peel off, and the paint to lie on the walls perfectly, then you must sand the putty walls. And not just once, but after each applied layer. And even if the surface seems flat and smooth.An exception can only be made for walls leveled by an excellent craftsman who left no traces of the spatula or accidental splashes on them. And only if you are going to cover them with thick vinyl or non-woven wallpaper (see.Wallpaper finishing: choosing correctly), which will hide minor defects.
But paint will not only not hide them, but will also emphasize and reveal them. Especially glossy. Therefore, before painting, the walls are sanded completely and very carefully, and under wallpaper you can get by with local work – sanding only those areas where defects are found.

Suggestions. Direct a bright light beam at the wall at a slight angle from just one side to find all the drips, pits, and other irregularities. The shadows they cast will make them instantly visible.

How and what to sand

To begin with, you should wear gloves, safety glasses, a respirator, or at least a medical mask, for the task of sanding because it is a dusty process. Because fine dust can cause allergies, settle in the lungs, or harm mucous membranes, safety instructions mandate this. The room that will be used for sanding needs to be closed off from other rooms by securely shutting the doors or, in the absence of doors, by covering the openings with a large wet cloth.

Kindly take note. Sanding the walls should wait no more than a day after the putty is finished, but before priming them, as the primer’s thick film will make sanding nearly impossible.

Choosing a tool and an abrasive

Purchasing an electric grinder is pointless for do-it-yourself apartment or small house repair because the quality of the grind is inferior to that of a hand grinder and the machine is very expensive. Additionally, manual intervention is still required in difficult-to-reach areas. As a result, you’ll need a grinding grater with handy mounting for sandpaper or grid, or other abrasive materials.

Which is better, grinding putty on the walls or using a net or skin? Decide for yourself:

  • The advantage of the abrasive mesh is its perforated structure. Dust formed by a net does not linger on the tool, but passes through the cells without scoring a working plane.
    It is quite wear -resistant, it will have to be changed less often than sandpaper, and you will learn about the need to replace by the type of grid that begins to go to the ground, or to reduce the quality of grinding.

  • Sandpaper is still a more familiar material for grinding for many, which can be sold in sheets, rolls or pieces already cut to the size of standard graters. Its advantage is a lower price than the mesh.
    However, sandpaper wears out faster and will have to be changed more often. In addition, it quickly becomes clogged with construction dust, and if a relatively large piece of putty gets stuck in it, it will scratch the smoothed surface, leaving marks on it.

Consider the grain size of the sandpaper carefully if you still want to use it as an abrasive. A medium-grain (P60–P80) sandpaper works well for rough putty starting layer processing; for smoothing the final layer, fine-grain (P100 and up) sandpaper is recommended.

For processing corners, you might also need a sanding sponge with beveled edges in addition to the grater. If not, though, you can make do with some additional supplies or even just some fine-grained sandpaper folded in half.

Grinding technology

  • Wait for the putty layer to dry completely. Do not start work until you are sure that it has gained the required strength;
  • Secure the abrasive to the grater, don’t forget about protective equipment, prepare a stepladder, a spotlight and a small spatula, and you’re ready to start;
  • First, remove obvious bumps, if any, with a spatula;
  • Then, starting from the top of any corner, in a circular motion, begin to treat the wall in small areas, highlighting them with a spotlight;

  • Do not apply too much pressure on the float, especially if you are sanding the final layer of putty (see.Latex putty: options for use), otherwise you will simply wipe it off completely;
  • Sand only the drips and protrusions, do not try to level the holes and pits: they are sealed with putty, allowed to dry, after which the surface is finished again;
  • First, treat the entire wall area, then the inner and outer corners.

That’s essentially it. All that’s left to do is prime the walls, give it some time to dry, and then begin the most fun part: applying a decorative coating.

A smooth, perfect finish can only be achieved by sanding walls after puttying. Your walls can be prepared for painting or other finishes by using the right tools and adhering to the correct procedures. To prevent scratching the surface, always start with coarse sandpaper and work your way up to finer grits.

As you work, have patience and take your time to review your work. Sanding correctly will help to remove any flaws and improve the surface for your final coat. To keep things tidy at work and get the best results, dust off your tools and the walls on a regular basis.

Sanding walls can be easy and satisfying when done correctly. By following these instructions, you can produce a surface that is even and smooth, improving the appearance of your completed area overall.

Sanding your walls after using putty is essential to getting a smooth, level surface for painting or applying wallpaper. To guarantee a perfect finish, the procedure entails selecting the appropriate sandpaper grit, sanding in a steady motion, and clearing away dust. Sanding your wall correctly ensures that it looks polished and professional while also helping to remove imperfections.

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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