Smooth walls
Can you paint over gotelé without removing it?
You want a new colour, but you do not fancy taking on the job of removing the gotelé (the textured wall finish found in many Spanish homes). Can you paint straight over it? Yes, you can. Whether the result is what you expect is another matter. Here we explain when it is worth it and when it is not.
Yes, you can paint over gotelé
Painting over gotelé is a normal, very common job. If the wall is sound, the paint adheres well and the home is freshened up in whatever colour you like.
What you need to be clear about from the start is that the texture does not disappear. The wall will still look “dotted”, just in a different colour. If it is precisely that texture that bothers you, painting will not fix it.
What to check before painting
Even if the gotelé stays, the wall needs checking before the first coat:
- That the old paint is firmly attached. If there are areas that are peeling or sound hollow, they have to be made good, or the new paint will come away with the old.
- Cracks and dents. They are filled and levelled, although on a textured wall they are harder to disguise.
- Damp or smoke stains. They have to be treated first, or they will show through the new paint again.
- What kind of gotelé it is. Distemper gotelé softens with water and does not always take an emulsion paint on top well. It is worth checking.
Why painting over gotelé is more work than it looks
Gotelé has much more surface area than a smooth wall: every drop has its own relief and shadows. That means more paint is used and it is harder to leave an even coat, with no patches that look lighter or darker.
The texture also makes any colour look a little duller, because it creates small shadows. Strong colours or dark shades on gotelé usually look less striking than you expect when you see them on the colour chart.
When is it worth smoothing instead of painting over it?
Painting over gotelé makes sense if you just want to freshen up the home and the texture does not bother you. But if you are thinking about a renovation, about selling or renting, or simply about a home with an up-to-date look, wall smoothing is the change that makes the biggest difference.
A good time to decide is right when you are going to paint: if you are going to move furniture, protect floors and paint the whole home anyway, the smoothing is done in the same job. Doing it later means starting all over again.
If you are unsure whether to remove the gotelé or cover it, we explain it in removing gotelé: smooth or cover?
How we do it
We come and see your home at no cost, check the condition of the walls and the type of gotelé, and give you a fixed quote in writing for both options: painting over it, or smoothing and painting. That way you compare and decide, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Can you paint straight over gotelé?
Yes, if the wall is sound. But the texture still shows: the colour changes, not the texture.
Is painting over it cheaper than smoothing?
Yes, painting over it is less work than smoothing. In exchange, the wall still has gotelé. We give you a quote for both options so you can compare.
Does the wall need preparing even if I keep the gotelé?
Yes: you need to check that the old paint is firmly attached, fill cracks and treat damp stains before painting.
Do you do the smoothing and the painting in the same job?
Yes. If you decide to smooth, we smooth and paint in the same job.
