I have removed the wallpaper in my kitchen and will have the walls painted. The contractor I am using tells me that the sheetrock needs to be mudded several times and sanded in between coats. A friend of mine told me today that it could be wet sponged in between coats and there would be no need for sanding. My biggest concern is the potential mess it could make in the kitchen if the sanding technique was used. After the mudding is done, primer and two coats of paint would be applied.
Would the wet sponge technique be less messy and produce a satisfactory result?

Thanks

using a wet sponge will give the same effect as sanding...

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I have removed the wallpaper in my kitchen and will have the walls painted. The contractor I am using tells me that the sheetrock needs to be mudded several times and sanded in between coats. A friend of mine told me today that it could be wet sponged in between coats and there would be no need for sanding. My biggest concern is the potential mess it could make in the kitchen if the sanding technique was used. After the mudding is done, primer and two coats of paint would be applied.
Would the wet sponge technique be less messy and produce a satisfactory result?

Thanks

Not sure anyone can answer this without seeing your walls. Also, it's not that hard to take measures against drywall dust.

If your contractor is doing the work and assures you that the dust won't be an issue then I'd let him do it however he wants. He should be cleaning it up. If you don't trust him to then I would be using a different contractor.

I have done drywall and I sanded but I was in the basement without carpet so the dust was less of a concern. I do most of the work on my house and when I do I usually look for the most efficient way to do things which may include some newer techniques. However when I do hire and contractor I let them decide how they want to do things so long as I am confident that the end result is the same. I would prefer a contractor sand if he is comfortable with that method, and then clean it up, instead of forcing him to use another method he may not be as comfortable with.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
using a wet sponge will give the same effect as sanding...

Correct but I would still do some sanding.
Yes there is a lot of dust when you sand.
Sponging will help but some sanding is still needed.

Often after wallpaper is removed you need to put a skim coat on the wall. This will smooth it out and get rid of any damage done when removing the wallpaper.

A good skim coat shouldn't need a lot of sanding although they will have to sand the entire wall.

Ask them if they can use a sanding machine. They make them that connect to a vacuum. Great for walls and ceilings. Corners will still have to be hand sanded. They should also be able to section off the kitchen with plastic. Turn off the HVAC when they are sanding also.

Good point on HVAC. And kill the breaker to the fridge. You dont want that dust coating your condenser coils when the fridge kicks on. Tenting the work area with plastic and a box fan blowing out a window will keep that awful mess confined within the tent.

If you do the box fan in the window, don’t be a rookie, remove the screen too!!

Sanding is not necessary,mud the tape joint,next day use 8 inch trowel,next day use 12 inch trowel scrapping the turds off each time prior to applying mud.
Best to buy good quality mud that comes in box like Rudd brand.
The big box stuff is shit,requiring to be power mixes with drill and paddle bit
Then wet sponge with wet sponge..
Be sure to prime the rock before painting to seal from bleed thru
If that is too much work for you ,hire some pro's.