How to Smooth Drywall After Wallpaper Removal
- 1). Roll a coat of thinned drywall compound on the wall with a large nap roller. You can purchase thinned compound at lumberyards and do-it-yourself-type centers. Start in one corner and roll on a single thin coating.
- 2). Smooth out the wet compound. Bryan Tradem, author of "Working with Drywall," recommends using a 14-inch trowel to smooth out the wall.
- 3). Position the trowel at the top of the wall and pull downward evenly, smoothing the wet compound with each stroke.
- 4). Apply enough pressure to leave a thin layer of wet compound on the wall. It's okay if you can see through it in places.
- 5). Overlap the first stroke about one inch with the trowel on the next stroke to remove compound that forms a ridge on the edge. Continue rolling on compound and troweling until the wall is complete.
- 6). Sand away all rough areas the compound leaves behind by with a drywall sander once the wall is completely dry. As the compound dries, it turns white and hard, like chalk. Sanding will create clouds of fine dust. Wear a respirator mask and protective goggles that seal around your eyes during sanding.
Source...