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Preparing a Wall for Painting or Wallpapering

Sanding walls and ceilings is often regarded as a heavy and dusty task, but it doesn't have to be that way. With Mirka's award-winning dust-free tools, you can complete your job with ease and significantly reduce dust buildup.

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Why Preparation Mattters

Paint magnifies every defect in the surface beneath it

Filler marks, roller stipple, lifted wallpaper edges, hairline cracks and small dents all become more visible the moment a fresh coat of paint goes on — especially in modern matt and eggshell finishes under natural light.

Proper sanding flattens repairs, feathers them into the surrounding plaster and creates a consistent key for primer, paint or wallpaper adhesive. Done well, it's the difference between a finish that looks decorated and one that looks renovated.

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Why Dust Free

Dust is the enemy of a perfect decorated finish.

Traditional sanding throws fine plaster and filler particles into the air, onto your tools, and onto the very surface you're trying to perfect. Mirka's dust-free system removes that variable.

Find out more about dust free sanding

Cleaner customer spaces

Capture dust at the disc before it reaches the air, so living rooms, bedrooms and finished areas stay liveable while you work.  

Better health protection

Fine plaster and filler dust is a recognised respiratory hazard. Mirka's closed system keeps operator exposure dramatically below action levels.  

A flawless final coat

Dust settling on tacky paint leaves visible nibs and flashing. Extraction at source means topcoats dry clean, even and consistent.  

Faster turnaround

No sheeting, no masking, no daily clean-down. Professional decorators report up to 30% time saved over a typical repaint.  

The Complete System

Three components, one dust-free result

The right solution for every project

Power Tools

Man sanding wall dust-free power tools
  • For sanding partial walls, the lightweight Mirka® DEROS II random orbital sander is your perfect choice. 
  • The long-reach Mirka® LEROS 950CV handles full walls and ceilings from the floor, with the shorter Mirka® LEROS-S 950CV suitable for more compact spaces. 
  • For corners and edges, Mirka® DEOS II 353CV as well as DEOS II Delta can help you reach even the most difficult spots. 

Electric sanders feel out of reach? Our hand sanding kits are a great way to get started with dust-free sanding.

Mirka® Next Generation Power Tools

Sanding without dust

Abranet® net abrasive

Changing Abranet abrasive on sanding tool
  • When sanding filler on walls, we recommend choosing the Mirka Abranet® range of products.
  • The ground-breaking Abranet® abrasive is fully formed out of mesh, meaning the entire surface area can be used for dust extraction. Abranet® is available in different grits and strengths. 
  • Unsure which grits you need? We recommend P80, P120 and P180 for sanding walls and ceilings. 

TOP TIP: Never miss a grit stage and get a perfect finish.

Read more about Mirka Abranet

Dust off

Dust Extraction

Woman sanding wall dust-free
  • Dust removal is essential when you want to gain a perfect wall sanding result without the mess. 
  • Mirka dust extractors pull dust through the net abrasive the moment it's created. The dust is then placed in the dust bag of the extractor instead of remaining in the air.
  • Don’t forget, we recommend using a mask and other protective gear when sanding.

Read more about Mirka dust extractors

STEP-BY-STEP

How to prepare walls and ceilings the dust-free way.

Step-by-step guide for sanding ceilings, walls and woodwork

A condensed guide for professional decorators and confident DIY enthusiasts. Always follow the specific instructions of your filler, primer and paint manufacturers.

Download our walls, ceilings & woodwork guide

Inspect and make good

Mark every crack, dent and lifted edge. Fill, repair and allow to fully cure before any sanding starts.

Masks the essentials only

Protect floors, sockets and fixed furniture and you're ready to sand.  

Flatten with P120-P180

Use a Mirka DEROS or long-reach LEROS with Abranet® P120 to flatten filler and feather repairs into the surrounding plaster. Step up to P180 to refine.  

Refine for paint

Move to Abranet® P240 across the whole surface. Work systematically in overlapping passes to leave a uniform key with no swirl marks.

De-nib between coats

After primer and between topcoats, lightly de-nib with P320–P400 Abranet® to remove dust nibs and roller stipple before the next coat.

Final inspection

Check again in raking light before the final coat. Touch up any missed spots — a few extra minutes here is the difference between a good finish and a great one.

Redefining innovation in surface finishing

Introducing the Next Generation of Mirka® Power Tools

The award-winning Mirka® Power Tools have entered a new era. The lineup is now even stronger with advanced technology, improved performance, and user-focused design. Meet the stars of the new generation.

DEROS II – The enhanced orbital sander series now features 8 upgraded models, delivering more power and even smoother sanding.
DEOS II – Our refined low-profile orbital sanders, offering superior precision and control with 4 updated models.
DEROS RS – The all-new heavy-duty rotary sander, engineered for maximum power and precision in tough applications.
DEXOS – A state-of-the-art M-Class dust extractor, ensuring optimal performance and dust-free work environments.

Learn more about our Next Gen tools

Save your health, time, and money

Sanding Without Dust

Do you get covered in dust when sanding? Try the benefits of Mirka's pioneering sanding solutions and see how a dust-free working environment can boost your business.

Benefits from dust-free sanding

Healthier working environment – Stop dust from getting into your lungs
Time-saving – No cleaning after sanding and clean abrasives cut better
Money-saving – No clogging lets you sand longer with the same abrasive
High-quality finish – Thanks to a finer scratch pattern 

Learn more about our dust-free sanding

Ornamentalist and decorative painter, France

Dust-Free Decorations in France

Having the right tools for the right sanding application is crucial if you want to exceed expectations in the finish, whether you work on something new or doing renovation work. For Alexandre Lardy, plasterer, ornamentalist and decorative painter from France, choosing a dust-free solution from Mirka was an easy choice.

'One thing I’ve really liked and that struck me immediately is the dust extraction aspect. I have the impression that I’m not sanding at all, so effective is the extraction – I get absolutely no dust.'

Alexandre Lardy, decorative painter

It's not only great for myself, it's also great for my customers.

Sarah Hillberg

Paint Pot Ladies

Paint Pot Ladies – painting and decorating business, UK

LEROS® Favoured by Painters

Sarah from Paint Pot Ladies was tired of ending each workday covered in dust, looking like a snowman. She decided to switch to Mirka's dust-free solutions and discovered that the complete system, which includes abrasives and practical power tools, significantly improved her work experience. The lightweight LEROS® quickly became one of her favorite tools.

'It's not only great for myself, it's also great for my customers.'

Sarah Hillberg, Paint Pot Ladies

Frequently asked

Wall and ceiling prep questions, answered.

Why is sanding so important when preparing walls and ceilings?

Paint, wallpaper and decorative finishes only look as good as the surface beneath them. Sanding flattens filler, removes brush marks, feathers repairs into surrounding plaster and creates a uniform key for the next coat. Skipping or rushing this step is the single most common cause of visible patches, flashing and lifted edges.

How do I sand walls and ceilings without creating dust?

Pair a Mirka random orbital sander (such as the Mirka® DEROS II or long-reach Mirka® LEROS) with a Mirka dust extractor and Abranet® net abrasives. Abranet's open mesh structure lets dust pass directly through the disc into the extractor, capturing up to 99.97% of particles at source — so no airborne dust settles on the customer's furniture, floors or freshly painted ceilings.

What grit sequence works best before painting?

A typical progression on new plaster or filler is P120 to flatten, P180 to refine, then P240 Abranet® for a paint-ready surface. For high-build primers and between coats of emulsion or eggshell, step up to P320–P400 to remove nibs without burning through.

Can I sand ceilings without scaffolding?

Yes. The Mirka® LEROS long-reach sander lets a single operator sand entire ceilings and high walls from the floor, with full dust extraction. It's faster than pole-sanding by hand and leaves a noticeably flatter surface ready for paint.

Is the Mirka system suitable for occupied homes and DIY?

Yes — that's where dust-free sanding pays off most. Because dust is captured at the disc, you can prepare a room without sheeting off the rest of the house. The DEROS II sander and a compact extractor are equally at home with a professional decorator or a confident DIY enthusiast.

Does dust-free sanding work outdoors too?

Yes. The same system prepares exterior render, masonry, soffits and fascias before painting. Capturing dust at source keeps the surrounding terrace, windows and planting clean, and protects the operator from silica exposure.

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