The process of fixing cracked and peeling walls doesn't have to set you back financially. Homeowner Nick Galette demonstrates two ingenious methods of remaking damaged or unattractive walls. Damaged bedroom walls are transformed into textured "stone" with wall compound and glaze, and less-than-inspiring bathroom wallpaper is hidden with pleated strips of favorite sheets. Stone-Finished Walls Nick chose a dark-green base coat topped by a black glaze. Choose your own color combinations. Materials:
Wall compound
Latex paint for base coat and for glaze
Glazing medium
Painting tools
Flat trowel with smooth edge
Rubber gloves
Foam brush, sponge or old cloth for applying glaze
Clean rags
- Wearing rubber gloves, use the trowel to apply a 1/4" layer of wall compound to the wall (figure A). Don't bother to smooth the surface evenly: it will be textured in the next step.
- After the compound has set for about a half hour, place the trowel flat on the surface and pull away to achieve a textured effect (figure B). Immediately smooth over the peaked surface with the flat of the trowel, swirling a bit if desired, so the overall finish is flat, with craters underneath (figure C). Let the surface dry for 24 to 48 hours.
- Apply a base coat of paint to the wall and let dry.
- Mix together equal parts glazing medium and the paint selected as a top coat.
- Apply the glaze very liberally with a sponge or cloth, covering the surface but wiping on the glaze in no particular direction (figure D).
- Use a clean rag to immediately wipe the excess glaze from the wall, allowing it to settle in the cracks and crevices (figure E).
Sheet-Covered Walls Materials:
Sheets or other fabric
Furring strips
Caulking gun and heavy-duty adhesive
Heavy duty staple gun and staples
Decorative trim to cover the stapled edges (we used bamboo)
- The sheets will be stapled to furring strips glued to the walls. To begin, use heavy-duty adhesive to attach furring strips around the perimeter of every wall, and allow the adhesive to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
- Beginning in a corner of the room, staple one end of a section of fabric along the vertical furring strip. Hide the raw edge of the fabric by stapling the fabric face down along its length (figure F), then flipping it over along the wall that is to be covered so a hem is formed.
- Starting at the top corner of the wall, staple the corner in place, then pinch-pleat the fabric and staple along the top furring strip (figure G). When the top of one section is stapled, pull the fabric straight down, keeping the pleats uniform, and staple the fabric to the bottom furring strip (figure H).
- Continue covering the walls with fabric strip by strip. Cover the stapled edges with decorative cording or bamboo (figure I).
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