How to Get Dents and Bumps Off Walls Before Painting

The key to a smooth, professional paint job is proper prep work. Paint layers highlight even small imperfections in the surfaces they cover. Barely visible bumps and dents in the wall are magnified under dark and light paint alike. To prevent any potential problems, make sure the wall is smooth and flat before you apply the first layer of primer.

Things You'll Need

Sanding block, 120-grit
Sanding block, 240-grit
Joint compound

Putty knife, 3-inch
Tack cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the lumps out of the drywall with a 120-grit sanding block. Sand just enough to level the bumps and make them flush with the surrounding wall. Sand the 120-grit sanding marks with a 240-grit sandpaper block to smooth out the grooves made by the rougher sandpaper.
- 2
  Fill deep dents in the wall with joint compound and a 3-inch putty knife. Smooth the filled hole flat. Allow the compound to dry for the manufacturer-recommended amount of time (usually four to five hours). If the hole is not sufficiently filled, apply more joint compound, smooth it in place and allow it to dry.
- 3
  Sand the filled patch smooth with the 240-grit sanding block.
- 4
  Wipe the sanded portion of the wall down with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust. Unfold the sheet, then crumple it to increase its surface area. Wipe until the tack cloth doesn't pick up any more sanding dust.

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