Q. I want to wallpaper a wall that has a sand-texture finish. How do I prepare the wall so it will be smooth enough to wallpaper?

There are two primary ways to prepare a bumpy wall for wallpaper, with the first method suitable for experienced do-it-yourselfer only, and the second technique best suited for beginners.

The first technique, covering the wall with a thin layer of drywall mud, is the one favored by professional paperhangers such as Jim Reeves, owner of Reeves Paperhanging in Glendale, Arizona. "It's like replastering the wall," Reeves says, noting that plastering is a skill perfected only with much practice.

He applies as many as three thin coats of drywall mud with a trowel. After that, the wall is sanded and sealed with a clear, penetrating, hard-drying drywall sealer.

The other option is to hang wallpaper liner, which is available at most big home improvement stores and at wallpaper stores. Wallpaper is then hung over that. Reeves suggests painting primer on the wall before the liner is installed, and then adding a layer of wallpaper paste over the liner before the wallpaper is hung, even if the wallpaper is pre-pasted.

This second method doesn't create as smooth and perfect a wall as a professional could accomplish with the first method, but it's a much better choice for the average homeowner to tackle.

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