When we carry out work in a house or we make changes in the decoration, it is usual to have to sand drywall. It is a process that costs a bit of work, although fortunately there are different tools and systems that speed up and make sanding easier and more comfortable. Anyway, you should bear in mind that the difficulty of the process will depend on your type of wall and the material you have at your disposal.
Also, it is also key to choose the sandpaper that will be used according to the surface. So that you do not have doubts and the whole process is more agile. Here, we explain how to sand drywall fast so you can do your reform in the shortest possible time and without getting too tired.
How to sand drywall fast?
To know how to sand drywall, the first thing to look for is the type of paint or material that needs to be removed. Depending on this product, you will have to use sandpaper -you have different models- or use other systems so that the wall is perfect and ready to paint again, wallpaper or whatever you want to put as decoration.
Depending on the material that has been used on the walls, we can talk about three great systems for sanding drywall have been used on the walls, we can talk about three great systems for sanding a fast wall :
Common sanding
This is usually the most common because it is used when you have to remove acrylic paint, as well as enameled areas or varnishes that could be used on the wall. In this case, you can carry out sanding by hand using sanding pads. Apart from carrying out the process with electric sanders.
Solvents: Sometimes, when there is more than one layer of paint on the wall, or other products have been used to decorate in certain areas -colors, lacquer, plastic, etc. It is necessary to use solvents. For this step, it is important to choose the specific solvent for each type of material and surface and thus eliminate it without problems. The result is that the wall will be completely smooth and undamaged. After allowing the solvent to work according to the time indicated on the product used-, it is necessary to proceed with sanding the wall with spatulas.
Strippers: if we have used polyurethane acrylics or synthetic enamels with additives on your wall, among other products, it will be necessary to use chemical strippers. You must use it as indicated by the chosen product and always with great care. Then, remove everything with the help of a spatula and, after letting the whole room air properly, you can start with the sanding.
Types of sanders for sanding a wall according to the surface
As we have mentioned in the previous section, be known to know which is the most suitable for sanding your wall.
Sanding coated walls: To sand a fast wall when it has a coating. It is best to use a giraffe drywalls. Once it uses thicker and coarse discs. In addition to having a longer arm than other electric sanders to do a more comfortable and easy sanding. However, after removing the main layer, then it is advisable to use finer grain sandpaper, -of between 100-120 mm.
Plaster sander and sandpaper for cardboard wall
When the wall is made of cardboard or plaster, it is advisable to use a gypsum sander, which is used for this type of plate. This sander is characterized by having finer sandpaper, about 180mm, and being less powerful. Usually, power is usually between 700 and 800 watts.
Plastered partition
If it to sand the surface is a plastered partition, the most advisable in this situation is that you use an electric sander with thicker sandpaper in the first pass. Then, you can use thinner sandpaper to finish the job.
You can also take into account other types of electric sanders, such as the so-called orbital wall sanders, which are specific for sanding walls and allow the use of discs of different thickness, usually between 180 and 225 mm. Among its advantages are that they are more powerful than plaster, but may be short for the case of coating, depending on the model. Anyway, these sanders are quite functional and you can make your work much easier.
If you have ever sanded a wall, you have already verified that much dust is made. In addition, this powder has the peculiarity of being very fine, so it costs enough to eliminate it completely and can be harmful to health.
Actually, it is not always easy to avoid dust. Normally, it takes a few hours to clean everything up completely. However, there are some tricks and tips that allow you to reduce all this work:
Sander with a vacuum cleaner
Some models of electric sanders usually incorporate a vacuum cleaner, so that the dust is sucked away as the surface is sanding. This greatly reduces the subsequent cleaning time.
After a sanding a wall, a good option for cleaning is to use a vacuum cleaner. However, it is usually not enough with those used for home hygiene. It is convenient to use an industrial vacuum cleaner. This type of machinery can be rented for a specific time in shops specializing in renovation, decoration, DIY, etc. If you do not want to buy one, you can bet on the rent.
Plastics: To avoid the accumulation of dust, it is best to use plastics to cover the floor or furniture. It is not a 100 percent effective remedy, but at least we will avoid a greater accumulation of dust and you can clean.
Of course, once you have finished sanding the wall, the plastic should be removed with great care so that no dust falls and stains the entire room.
From this article, we hope we have helped you to sand drywall quickly so you can reform or decorate your home without too much difficulty. It is always advisable to follow the advice of the experts that you will find in specialized stores. If you are not a great “handyman” and you see that the work can be complicated, we advise you to contact a professional.
