Service 04 of 06
Smooth Wall Drywall Finish in Bend, OR
Nothing to hide behind.
A smooth wall has no texture to cover a joint.
Skim coated over the whole surface, sanded flat and checked under a work light.
Smooth Wall
How we go about it.
A smooth wall is harder to finish than a textured one. Nothing hides a joint.
On the Gypsum Association scale, GA-214, a smooth wall is a level 5 finish.
That means the usual tape and coats, then a thin skim of compound over the whole surface.
The skim gives paper and joints one even face, so both take paint the same way.
Then the wall is sanded flat and checked under a work light.
Sanding is the dusty part, so dust containment is part of the job.
Danny Patches brings more than 35 years of experience to it.
What is included
The scope, spelled out.
Level 5 on new board
New walls taped, coated, then skim coated all over.
Texture to smooth
Existing texture skimmed over in coats until it is buried, then sanded flat.
Smooth ceilings
The same skim coat and sanding overhead, checked with the same light.
Repairs on smooth walls
No texture covers the edges, so a patch is floated out wide.
Dust containment
Doorways closed off with plastic. Floors and vents covered before sanding starts.
Walls for gloss or dark paint
Both show flaws more than flat paint does. Say so up front.
Worth knowing
Light is the judge.
Paint does not hide a ridge on a smooth wall. It shows it.
A work light held flat against the wall is called raking light. It finds flaws before paint does.
Gloss paint, dark paint and big windows are the hard cases.
Say what paint is planned and which walls sit beside big windows.
Prime before you paint. Unprimed skim flashes, dull in some spots and shiny in others.
Quick reference
- Tape and joint coats
- Joints, corners and screw heads taped and coated.
- Skim coat
- A thin coat of compound over the whole surface.
- Sanding
- Sanded flat, with the sander tied to a vacuum.
- Raking light
- A light held flat to the wall shows what is left to fix.
Smooth Wall
Sanded under a hard light.
Representative photo.
“Dan is fast and professional no matter the size of the job, whether it’s residential or commercial he can accommodate your needs.”
What happens next
From first call to finished wall.
Call or send the form
Call (503) 991-3165 or use the form. Say which rooms, and if the walls are textured now.
Free viewing of the job
We schedule a free viewing to see the walls, the light and the scope of work.
Written quote
You get a written quote with a time frame to begin and complete the project.
Skim, sand, check
The room is closed off. Walls are skimmed, sanded and checked under a work light.
Where we do it
Smooth Wall near you.
Bend and the rest of Central Oregon. Pick your town for local detail.
- Bend, ORHome base
- Redmond, ORAbout 26 min from Bend
- Sisters, ORAbout 33 min from Bend
- Sunriver, ORAbout 29 min from Bend
- La Pine, ORAbout 40 min from Bend
- Prineville, ORAbout 47 min from Bend
- Madras, ORAbout 64 min from Bend
Often done with
What is a level 5 drywall finish?
It is the top level on the Gypsum Association scale, GA-214. Joints are taped and coated as usual.
Then a thin skim coat covers the whole surface.
Can textured walls be made smooth?
Yes. The texture is skimmed over in coats until it is buried, then the wall is sanded flat.
Heavier texture takes more coats.
How is the dust kept down?
Plastic goes up at the doorways. Floors and vents are covered, and sanders are tied to a vacuum.
Are smooth walls right for every room?
Not always. A smooth wall shows flaws most under gloss or dark paint and next to big windows.
Texture hides more. Call (503) 991-3165 to talk through the rooms.
Get it fixed
Send a photo. Get an answer.
Call, or text photos of the wall to the same number. Bigger jobs get a free viewing and a written quote.
Open every day, 8 AM–6 PMBend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, Prineville, Madras and the country between.
Tell us about the job
Describe the damage or the project. Bigger jobs get a free viewing and a written quote.