February 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Gotelé (textured coating) was standard in Madrid flats for decades, and today almost everyone wants it gone. Smoothing a wall is not the same as painting it: it is fine plastering work that adds hours and material, and that is why it costs more. As a guide, smoothing gotelé usually runs between 8 and 15 €/m², against from 6 €/m² to paint a smooth wall that is already in good shape.
Why it costs more than just painting
Painting a smooth wall is two coats of paint. Smoothing is another matter: you apply smoothing compound over all the texture, wait for it to dry, sand it, add a second pass where needed, sand again, vacuum the dust, prime and only then paint.
It is several days instead of one, far more material and plenty of dust. The price per metre covers that whole process, not just the final paint.
Finish grades (Q quality)
Not every wall needs the same level. For a normal matt finish a correct smoothing is enough. If the wall catches raking light from a window or you are going for a satin finish, a finer grade pays off, because that light shows up any imperfection. The higher the finish demand, the more hours of sanding and filling, and that shows in the price.
What changes the range
Within that 8 to 15 €/m², it depends on the state of the gotelé (the thicker it is, the more compound), the ceiling height, whether the ceilings have to be done too, and the total square metres (more surface, better price per metre). A whole flat smoothed comes out cheaper per metre than a single room.
The exact figure needs a visit
These ranges are there to give you an idea, not to settle a quote blind. The gotelé in every flat is different, and only by touching it can you see how much compound and how many passes it needs. That is why the exact price always depends on a no-obligation measuring visit, where we look at it together and I give you a firm price in writing.