How to Skim Coat a Ceiling

Climb the ladder and use the 8-inch drywall knife to scrape off existing texture such as popcorn. Hold the knife at a shallow angle and push the edge away from you to scrape.

Use the 8-inch drywall knife to load some drywall mud into the mud pan. Dip the drywall knife into the pan and scoop some mud onto the knife.

Start at one corner of the ceiling and apply mud to the ceiling with the drywall knife. Apply the mud while holding the mud knife at approximately a 30 degree angle. Apply light pressure to the knife as you move it across the ceiling. Repeat this process until the entire ceiling is coated.

Wait approximately 24 hours to allow the mud to dry. Use the drywall knife to gently scrape off overlap ridges and high spots.

Use the 12-inch drywall knife and apply another coat of drywall mud to the ceiling, continuing to fill in the low spots and cracks. Wait another 24 hours until the second coat dries. Repeat this process until all low spots and cracks are filled.

Wait 24 hours for the final coat to cure, then attach a fine drywall sanding screen to the pad on the drywall sanding pole and sand the ceiling. Use long, even strokes and avoid sanding in one spot for too long. Keep sanding until the surface is smooth with no high spots, low spots, cracks or texture.