Wall prep guide
Can You Wallpaper Over Textured Walls? Orange Peel and Knockdown in Gwinnett Homes
Not directly, if you want a smooth finish. Orange-peel and knockdown textures show through most wallpapers. The fix is a skim coat: a thin layer of joint compound over the whole wall, sanded smooth and primed. The Gypsum Association's GA-214 standard treats a full skim coat as its highest finish level, Level 5.
In short
- Texture shows through thin, light and glossy papers most.
- Heavy, embossed or textured papers hide light texture better, but not knockdown.
- A skim coat plus primer creates the smooth base most papers need.
- Liner paper is an alternative for some walls and materials.
Why texture shows through
Wallpaper follows the surface under it. Light raking across a wall from a window or a ceiling fixture turns every bump of orange peel into a shadow. The thinner and shinier the paper, the more it shows. Many homes built in Gwinnett County over the past few decades have this kind of texture.
Your options
| Option | Works for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Skim coat, sand, prime | Almost every paper and wall | Adds time and cost, best result |
| Liner paper | Light texture, some specialty papers | Extra material and labor |
| Heavy textured paper | Light orange peel | Limits your choice of paper |
| Hang directly on texture | Not recommended | Bumps and weak adhesion show |
What the drywall finish levels mean
The Gypsum Association's GA-214 standard describes finish levels from 0 to 5. It lists Level 4 for surfaces where wallcoverings will be applied, and Level 5 adds a skim coat of joint compound over the entire surface for the most uniform result. A textured wall is not either of those, which is why it needs work before paper.
How we skim coat a textured wall
- Repair cracks, holes and nail pops.
- Knock down high points of the texture.
- Apply joint compound over the whole wall in thin coats.
- Let it dry fully, which takes longer in humid weather.
- Sand smooth and check under raking light.
- Remove dust and apply a wallcovering primer.
Where we work: neighborhoods and ZIP codes
We skim coat orange-peel and knockdown walls before papering in Gwinnett County, Cumming, Woodstock and Canton.
Gwinnett County
- 30017 Grayson
- 30096 Duluth
- 30092 Peachtree Corners
- 30071 Norcross
- 30093 Norcross
- 30043 Lawrenceville
- 30045 Lawrenceville
- 30046 Lawrenceville
- 30019 Dacula
- 30052 Loganville
- 30078 Snellville
- 30039 Snellville
- 30518 Buford / Sugar Hill
- 30519 Buford
Cumming and Forsyth County
- 30040 Cumming
- 30041 Cumming
- 30028 Cumming
Woodstock, Canton and Hall County
- 30188 Woodstock
- 30189 Woodstock
- 30115 Canton
- 30114 Canton
- 30107 Ball Ground
- 30542 Flowery Branch
- 30506 Gainesville
Also serving: Buckhead and North Atlanta; Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek; Roswell and East Cobb. Not sure we cover your street? Send your ZIP code with a quote request.
About WallPros. WallPros LLC is a wallpaper installation company based in Grayson, Georgia, serving Gwinnett County, North Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell, East Cobb, Cumming and the rest of Metro Atlanta for 10 years. We install, remove and prepare walls for homeowners, interior designers and builders.
Sources
FAQ
Common questions
Will peel-and-stick wallpaper stick to textured walls?
Poorly. Adhesion drops on texture and the bumps show. A smooth, primed wall gives much better results.
How much does skim coating add to the cost?
It depends on the wall size and texture depth. Ask for prep to be listed as a separate line in your quote.
Is skim coating the same as a Level 5 finish?
A full skim coat over the whole surface is what GA-214 describes as Level 5.