For decades, gotelé was the reigning technique for finishing the walls of Spanish homes. Its ability to conceal wall imperfections made it the construction standard in apartment buildings, houses and villas from the 1960s until the late 1990s. However, decorative trends have evolved towards minimalism and smooth surfaces, making today, removing gotelé one of the most demanded reforms on the Costa del Sol.
At Pintores Pro, we understand that your home is your refuge. Smooth walls not only provide a cleaner and more contemporary aesthetic, but also improve the brightness of the rooms and facilitate daily maintenance. If you live in areas such as Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmádena or Estepona, and feel that your home is stuck in the past, this article will help you understand the whole renovation process.
why should you consider removing the stippled paint from your home?
Beyond the purely aesthetic issue, there are some important functional reasons for deciding to remove this rough finish. Firstly, gotelé traps dust and dirt very easily, which can be a disadvantage for people with allergies. As it is an uneven surface, cleaning becomes an arduous and unpleasant task.
Secondly, smooth walls allow you to play much better with the lighting. On the Costa del Sol, where we enjoy enviable natural light, rough walls create unnecessary shadows that detract from the visual amplitude of the rooms. A smooth wall reflects light evenly, making spaces feel larger and more airy. Also, if you decide to apply wallpaper or decorative vinyl in the future, a perfectly level surface is a must.
Finally, the market value of your property increases significantly. A property with modern finishes and smooth walls is much more attractive to potential buyers or tenants in a market as competitive as the one in Malaga.
The different types of gotelé and how they influence the process
Before embarking on stippling removal, it is essential to identify what type of material was originally applied to your walls. According to the technical definition of this finish, there are mainly two variants that determine the method of work:
Tempera stippled is the most common in older homes. This material is soft and dissolves with water. To remove it, it is usually sufficient to wet the walls and scrape it off with a professional spatula. It is a laborious process but it offers an excellent result once the original plaster base is reached.
On the other hand, there is the plastic paint stippling. This is much more resistant and does not soften with water. In these cases, the process usually consists of intensive mechanical sanding or, more commonly, the application of several layers of high quality renovation putty to completely cover the drip. The latter method requires superior technical expertise to ensure that no visible water or imperfections remain after drying.
Pintores Pro's professional process for stipple removal
Many homeowners consider doing this work on their own, but the reality is that removing stipple is one of the most physically demanding and technically demanding tasks in the painting world. At Pintores Pro we follow a strict protocol to ensure mirror finishes on every project.
The first step is total protection. Removing or covering stippling generates a large amount of dust and debris. We cover floors, window frames, doors and furniture with plastic and high tack tapes to ensure the rest of the house remains spotless.
Next, we treat the wall. If it is tempera, we dampen and scrape. If it is plastic paint, we apply a bonding bridge if necessary and start with the plastering. We use special fillers with minimum retraction, generally applying two or three crossed coats. Between coats, we carry out professional sanding with machines equipped with industrial vacuuming to reduce dust particles in suspension.
Finally, once the surface is perfectly flat, we apply a sealing primer. This step is vital for the subsequent paint to adhere properly and for the colour to look uniform. Without a good primer, the wall will absorb the paint unevenly, ruining the previous work.
how much time and budget is required?
The cost and duration of the reform depends on several factors: the size of the house, the hardness of the drop and if the walls have previous cracks or dampness that need to be treated. At Pintores Pro we travel all along the Costa del Sol to provide personalised estimates with no obligation.
For a standard flat of around 80 square metres, the complete process of removing stippled paint and painting can take between 5 and 8 working days. It is a worthwhile investment of time, as it radically transforms the appearance of the house without the need for disruptive structural work.
It is important to be wary of excessively cheap quotations. Saving on low-quality materials or skipping crucial steps such as fine sanding will result in walls with imperfections that will become evident as soon as the sidelights are switched on or the sun shines through the window.
Pro Painters: Your partner on the Costa del Sol
If you are looking for professionals with proven experience to remove stippled walls in your house or villa, Pintores Pro has the equipment and machinery to offer you a high quality service. We know the particularities of the coastal climate and we use resistant materials that guarantee the durability of the finish.
Our commitment is total customer satisfaction. Not only do we take care of leaving your walls perfect, but we take care of every detail, from punctuality to the final cleaning of the work. Smooth walls are the perfect canvas to start decorating your new home.
Contact us today and ask for a quote to remove the stippled walls. Rediscover the potential of your home and enjoy the modernity and elegance that only a professional smooth finish can offer.