Best type of fill for uneven grainy surfaces

[Ollie_joe]

I am currently re-decorating the living room. I have successfully stripped walls and washed down and sanded and am now in the process of filling all the cracks and holes before painting directly onto the walls, therefore I am looking for as smooth a surface as possible.

Whilst the majority of the wall surface is rather smooth, there are areas of the wall which are rather grainy and uneven. I have tried to smooth them over with both deep filler and finishing filler both of the polycell variety, but am finding it difficult and have the added problem of the grainy sandy surface eroding away as i try to fill?

Does anybody have any tips or advice for dealing with this kind of surface. Hopefully you'll know the type of surface i am referring to by my description.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated

 

[barcabod]

Gyproc easy fill may help

http://www.british-gypsum.com/produ...ries/gyproc_accessories/gyproc_easi-fill.aspx

 

[Oldrope]

Use a stabiliser over the whole crumbly surface, and then fill as required.
I tend to use toupret fillers ,but they all handle a different way and the above suggestion of easyfill may be the way to go.
good luck