Skim coating or Drywall?

4 years ago

We’re renovating a 3,000 sq. foot home built in the 90’s, colonial style with open floor plan (foyer and great room open to the second lecel, so very tall ceilings in those areas). We spent $20k having the interior prepped and painted—trim, cabinets, doors, closets, all of it. Decent job but we simply cannot stand the colors, or the knockdown texture (NOT popcorn, but still). I just got a bid to smooth everything (remove texture and skim coat) and then repaint for $47k.

I plan to get more bids. I was also advised to look into hanging new drywall over the existing walls. I’m sure both solutions have pros and cons, but my question is, would it make sense to hang drywall and paint a few really simple rooms? The office, guest room, and my daughter’s room are low-traffic, no cracks on the walls, etc. And then do the skim coat option in the more complicated/high ceiling areas? Is this the worst idea of all time? Is $47k reasonable, or insane?

Please advise. I don’t want to cut corners, and am never doing this again, so want to make good decisions. Thank you so much.

Featured Answer

PRO

Rockin' Fine Finish

4 years ago

New drywall adds another can of warms like door termination all electrical needs to be moved out. Have it skim coated and repainted. The amount depends on your location where about are you

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Comments (6)

User
4 years ago
New drywall all the way. Especially if you want new trim.
rchoban thanked User
rchoban
Original Author
4 years ago
Verbo, you’re an angel for answering! Could I ask you to explain why? (I don’t doubt you at ALL, I’m just dumb!!! And sorry also, with sheetrock how do y’all get around electrical outlets, etc? THANK YOU AGAIN
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outpaientzero
4 years ago
Is the knockdown just on the ceiling or is it on the walls too? $47 sounds insane and if this is a competitive bid in your area I can only imagine the cost covering with new rock. Covering over with new sheet rock would also involve removing all trim, building out all window and door frames to match the new sheet rock thickness and adding electrical box extensions throughout. Maybe pulling down cabinets, dealing with HVAC ducts, etc, and once it's done It will never be the same and and believe it could come close to $100K.

Skim coating would be my option and something I've done in the past so I don't get the $47K price tag, maybe other bids for the same job is needed.

I hate knockdown and think it was used to avoid a third (finish) coat of drywall mud using lower skilled workers. (same with popcorn ceilings). I skim coated my kitchen remodel over new sheet rock and it's a cut above in quality over just painting new sheet rock. The ceiling is flawless without the tiny dimples seen from the texture of the sheet rock paper. No light shadows from waves caused by a ceiling joist being a 1/8" lower than the others and is perfection to the limits.

It took me time and I'm not a professional but perfection requires skill not every taper/finisher has. Quality of the work should be your top priority here and if you hate looking at the knockdown imagine looking at a horrible skim coat you just paid 50K for.

Another question; why does the contractor need to remove the knockdown? In most cases it's just skimmed over.
rchoban thanked outpaientzero
3onthetree
4 years ago
Just skim coat it. I don't think they will be removing the knockdown ceiling texture after it has been painted, maybe even multiple times. It should cost maybe 1/9 of the cost given you.
rchoban thanked 3onthetree
rchoban
Original Author
4 years ago
I appreciate all of you so much.