How to Go From Stucco to Drywall

Survey the stuccoed area for damage, including cracks. These are the areas from which you will begin working to remove the stucco. If the stucco is not damaged, begin near the edge of the wall.

Insert a cold chisel or a sturdy putty knife with a 3- or 4-inch blade into the crack at a 45 degree angle. Tap the handle of the chisel gently with a hammer until a chunk of stucco peels loose from the wall and falls away.

Move the end of the chisel into the opening, sliding the blade as far down between the stucco and the wall as possible. Tap the handle of the chisel with a hammer until another piece of stucco falls away. Continue this process until the majority of the stucco is removed from the wall.

Remove the mesh or lath boards, if there are any, that originally held the stucco in place on the wall as it dried. Use the prying end of a hammer or a small crowbar to loosen the wire or boards from the wall and to remove any nails that may be holding it in place.

Go over the surface of the wall with a wire brush to remove any small chunks of stucco that may still remain. You may also choose to go over the wall with a belt sander to smooth the surface in preparation for drywall installation.

Measure the dimensions of the room and purchase enough sheets of 4-by-12-foot drywall to cover the desired surface. The sheets of drywall will be installed perpendicular to the wall studs, so measure off and mark the drywall to match the length of the walls. Cut the sheets of drywall to size by scoring through the paper covering with a razor knife and applying pressure to the back of the cut to snap the drywall.

Position the first sheet of drywall so the bottom edge is flush with the floor and the side edges are flush with the adjacent walls. Have someone hold the drywall in place while you insert drywall nails through the drywall into the studs. Position one nail about every 8 inches on each stud.

Install the the second sheet of drywall above the first. It should cover the rest of the wall between the first sheet and the ceiling. The top and bottom edges of the second sheet of drywall should be flush with the ceiling and the first row of drywall. The sides should be flush with the adjacent walls. Nail the drywall in place following the same procedure.

Apply a coat of joint compound in the seam between the two sheets of drywall. Cut a piece of paper drywall tape to a few inches longer than the seam and press it gently into the joint compound centered directly over the seam. Beginning at one end of the tape, hold a wide putty knife at a 30 degree angle and run it down the length of the tape, squeezing out the excess joint compound from behind the tape. Skim the knife in the opposite direction to finish the seam and allow the compound to set.

Apply another coat of joint compound over the tape after the first coat has dried. Smooth the compound with a large joint knife using strokes that cross over the tape. Remove any excess joint compound for a smooth finish.

Sand the seam with medium- or fine-grain sandpaper to create a smooth finish. Remove all dust from the wall using a vacuum or micro-fiber tack cloth.

Apply a coat of drywall primer to the wall using a paint roller. Allow the primer to dry completely before painting the wall.