Painting Sandstone Over Damaged Walls

Cover the floor with a drop cloth to help protect it from damage during the painting process. Cover any areas that should not be painted, such as trim or window castings, with painter’s tape.

Inspect the walls for any large cracks or damaged areas. If necessary, fill the cracks with painter’s caulk. Smooth out the caulk with a smoothing tool, such as a wide-blade putty knife.

Use a sanding block to sand down any areas of the wall that appear especially rough. Sandstone paint will add texture, so minor roughness does not require sanding. Use a tack cloth to clean up any debris left behind by the sanding process.

Pour stain-blocking primer into the paint tray. Use a 2-inch brush to paint around the perimeter of the room. Paint around windows and baseboards. Work in long, thin, even strokes.

Roll a clean paint roller through the stain-blocking primer. Apply to the interior of the walls, using overlapping W shapes Work in thin coats, as excessive primer on the roller may lead to paint drips on the wall. Allow the primer to dry completely.

Pour your sandstone paint into a clean paint tray. Using a clean 2-inch brush, frame out a 3-by-3-foot section. Apply sandstone paint to the walls, using a clean paint roller and the same technique with which you applied the primer. Repeat until the entire space is painted. Use low-nap paint rollers when applying sandstone paint to the wall. Poor-quality paint rollers may leave behind a lint-like substance, which may ruin the textured finish of the sandstone walls.

Allow the walls to dry completely, and apply a second coat. Touch up if necessary. A third coat may be necessary over areas that were patched prior to painting.