Useful information if you are going to remove the stippled ceiling in your house.

If you have inherited or bought a house built during the sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties, it is very likely that its walls are made of gotelé. Also, as a result of changes in tenants’ tastes and current trends, you want to remove the stippled paint from all the walls of your house and opt for another type of finish.

If this is your case and you have arrived here looking for useful information on how to remove the stippled paint from the walls of your home, you are in luck.

In the following lines, we will explore the different methods to remove stained different methods for removing stippledThe approximate cost of doing so, and also some tips for the best possible results.

What is gotelé and why remove it?

Gotelé is a wall texturing technique that became popular during the 1960’s that consists of the application of a mixture of paint and sand or small grains that is projected onto the walls, leaving a rough and embossed finish. rough and embossed finish.

The reason why builders opted for gotelé during the Spanish urban development boom was because of its ability to conceal flaws or unevenness caused by the speed at which building blocks were being erected. ability to conceal flaws or unevenness caused by the speed at which the building blocks were erected in the second half of the 20th century. in the second half of the 20th century.

Well, what for about half a century was defended as the best possible decorative solution, has become a rara avis, as the current demand for gotelé is practically nonexistent. demand for gotelé is practically non-existent.

The trend now is to go for smooth surfaces that make cleaning easier and bring more light into spaces.acilitate cleaning and provide greater luminosity to the spaces. The widespread perception is that the gotelé looks old-fashioned and, therefore, services to remove the gotelé of the houses are soaring. You may be interested in→ 7 tips to increase natural light at home

How to remove stippled paint from walls?

To remove the stippled paint from your house, the first thing you should find out is the specific finish with which the wall was worked, as it is not the same to remove a stippled paint finished with tempera paint than one made with plastic paint. it is not the same to remove a stippled finished with tempera paint, that one made with plastic paint..

You may be interested in→ Latest trends in wall painting

To do so, you can you can use a simple test which consists of slightly dampening the wall. In case you see that it absorbs the water in seconds, you will be in front of a gotelé made with tempera paint. If, on the contrary, it does not absorb it and you see how the drops are falling down it, you will have the certainty that it was made with plastic paint.

Before proceeding to the smoothing of stippled walls, it is essential to properly insulate the It is essential to properly insulate the window frames, doors and skirting boards. Use masking tape or adhesive paper to protect these areas and cover the floor with paper or cardboard to avoid staining it. to protect these areas and cover the floor with paper or cardboard to avoid staining.



For facilitate the work and avoid damage to the switches and sockets to the switches and sockets, it is advisable to remove the trim covers and leave the bases of the mechanisms until you finish smoothing.

Subsequently, use a spatula to remove any coating that is chipped or in poor condition. Do the same if you detect bubbles in the paint.

In case of detecting cracks clean them and, if they are very large, fill them with putty before starting to remove the stippled paint.

That said, let’s see how to remove the stippling from the walls whether it is finished with tempera paint or plastic paint.

How to remove stippled paint from a wall covered with tempera paint?

  1. Start by wetting the wall with water using a roller or a wide brush.
  2. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the water to penetrate well into the surface to make it easier to remove.
  3. Use a scraper or putty knife to remove the stippling.
  4. As soon as you have finished removing everything and check that the wall is completely dry, proceed to cover the defects you have caused by applying a little putty with a spatula.

How to remove stippled paint from a wall coated with plastic paint?

  1. Start wetting the wall with water with the help of a roller or a wide brush.
  2. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the water to penetrate well into the surface to make it easier to remove.
  3. Once the wall is completely dry, sand the wall completely and then apply a primer or sealer.
  4. Finally, paint the wall or put up wallpaper or decorative covering of your choice.

In addition to this method, there are two other ways to remove stipple from a wall finished with plastic paint for finishing:

  • Eliminating the plastic paint applying to the wall a paint stripper for reliefs that softens the plastic paint layer. that softens the layer of plastic paint to, later, scrape the stipple with the help of a spatula.

    In this way you will be able to reduce the thickness of the surface enough to be able to apply the putty and then sand the flaws that may have been left on the surface.
  • In the event that the result of beheading the stippling is not effective, you will need to flatten the entire surface of the wall using renovation putty. This will allow you to prepare it to cover it with a special paste, without resorting to priming or sanding the wall.

    Once you have covered the wall with the paste, it is time to find a trowel to apply the special putty for thick layers.t’s time to get a trowel to apply the special putty for thick layers.. En cuanto esta se haya secado por completo la primera capa de masilla, realiza un buen lijado antes de aplicar una segunda capa, para asegurarte de que la pared queda perfectamente lisa. Una vez acabas con el lijado final, la pared estará lista para ser pintada como consideres oportuno.

How much does it cost to remove the stippled ceiling?

The cost of removing stippling can vary significantly depending on the size of the area to be treated, the method selected and, of course, whether you decide to do it yourself or hire professionals.

In the case that you opt for the latter option, you should know that the price of removing the stippling ranges between 5 and 12 € per m2. If in addition to removing it, you want to smooth and paint the walls, the cost will be between 10 and 30 € per m2. Now that you have all the necessary information, you just have to choose whether to do it yourself or if you resort to professional hands to say goodbye to the gotelé once and for all. If you are thinking of doing a renovation of your home and want to know how much it can cost, click on the button below:

Calculate your free quote

Find out what we can do for your home

Starting the experience
You may be interested in

Related articles