How to Cover Plaster & Lath Walls

Repeated patching can mar the look of plaster and lath walls. One solution is to simply cover the wall with textured paint, which will hide the imperfections. When applying textured paint, you will work from one end of a wall to the other instead of painting along the baseboards, trim and ceiling first. This is because you need to keep a wet edge the whole time.

Tarps
Hand-held power-pad sander
Caulk
Paintbrushes
Paint rollers
Sealing primer
Textured paint

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all furniture from the room. Lay tarps on the floor.
- 2
  Run a power-pad sander over the wall, removing any shine. Fill cracks with caulk, applying it in smooth, flat beads with a caulk gun. Let it dry for a full day.
- 3
  Brush sealing primer along the edge of the baseboards and other trim, as well as the ceiling line, in a thin, even layer. Use a roller to spread primer over the rest of the wall, again keeping it thin and flat. Allow it to dry for 12 hours.
- 4
  Start at one side of a wall. Brush about 5 feet of textured paint on the wall. From that point, use a roller to spread the textured paint on wall. View the paint from a slight distance to ensure that the texture is consistent.
- 5
  Continue covering the walls. Use a paintbrush to cover the corners, and then switch to a roller. Step back frequently to assess the texture, paying special attention to the areas where the brushed and rolled sections meet. Let the textured paint set for 24 hours.

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