Approved Guide
How to Handle Texture Drywall Step by Step
When texture drywall leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
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Part
1
Preparing Your Drywall
1
Sand your drywall
. Use a sanding pole to prepare your walls for drywall texturing. A pole with a rounded sander will allow you to remove material faster. Try to get the wall as smooth as possible.
- Use a sanding pole to prepare your walls for drywall texturing.
- A pole with a rounded sander will allow you to remove material faster.
- Try to get the wall as smooth as possible.
- Use a sanding pole to prepare your walls for drywall texturing.
- A pole with a rounded sander will allow you to remove material faster.
2
Prime your drywall.
Remove any dust remaining from the sanding process with a damp cloth. Use a brush to prime the edges near the ceiling line, and use a roller to coat the walls. A high quality primer should go on in a single coat.
- Remove any dust remaining from the sanding process with a damp cloth.
- Use a brush to prime the edges near the ceiling line, and use a roller to coat the walls.
- A high quality primer should go on in a single coat.
- Remove any dust remaining from the sanding process with a damp cloth.
- Use a brush to prime the edges near the ceiling line, and use a roller to coat the walls.
3
Mix your drywall compound.
Fill a clean five gallon bucket with about five parts powdered drywall mix and thirty parts water. The compound should look like thin batter. [4] X Research source
- Fill a clean five gallon bucket with about five parts powdered drywall mix and thirty parts water.
- The compound should look like thin batter.
- [4] X Research source
- Fill a clean five gallon bucket with about five parts powdered drywall mix and thirty parts water.
- The compound should look like thin batter.
Part
2
Creating an Orange Peel Texture
1
Rent or buy a hopper gun and air compressor.
You can find hopper guns at most hardware stores, or online. If you plan on doing a lot of drywall texturing, you may find it more cost effective to purchase one of your own. If this is a one-time project, consider renting your hopper gun.
- You can find hopper guns at most hardware stores, or online.
- If you plan on doing a lot of drywall texturing, you may find it more cost effective to purchase one of your own.
- If this is a one-time project, consider renting your hopper gun.
- You can find hopper guns at most hardware stores, or online.
- If you plan on doing a lot of drywall texturing, you may find it more cost effective to purchase one of your own.
2
Adjust the air pressure.
The air pressure needs to be high enough to spray the compound from the gun, but not so high that you can't control the spray. [10] X Research source
- The air pressure needs to be high enough to spray the compound from the gun, but not so high that you can't control the spray.
- [10] X Research source
- The air pressure needs to be high enough to spray the compound from the gun, but not so high that you can't control the spray.
- [10] X Research source
- The air pressure needs to be high enough to spray the compound from the gun, but not so high that you can't control the spray.
3
Practice your technique.
Before you spray your entire room, do a few test sprays on some scrap cardboard or drywall. Make any final adjustments to the pressure and aperture. [12] X Research source
- Before you spray your entire room, do a few test sprays on some scrap cardboard or drywall.
- Make any final adjustments to the pressure and aperture.
- [12] X Research source
- Before you spray your entire room, do a few test sprays on some scrap cardboard or drywall.
- Make any final adjustments to the pressure and aperture.
4
Spray your drywall.
Cover your wall in a continuous, sweeping motion. Don't pause when spraying as this will cause build up on your wall. Spray with a light touch for best results. [14] X Research source
- Cover your wall in a continuous, sweeping motion.
- Don't pause when spraying as this will cause build up on your wall.
- Spray with a light touch for best results.
- [14] X Research source
- Cover your wall in a continuous, sweeping motion.
5
Finish the texture.
Your texture isn't complete until you paint it. Before you paint your drywall , add another coat of primer. Once the primer dries, add one or two coats of paint to finish the job. [17] X Research source
- Your texture isn't complete until you paint it.
- Before you paint your drywall , add another coat of primer.
- Once the primer dries, add one or two coats of paint to finish the job.
- [17] X Research source
- Your texture isn't complete until you paint it.
Part
3
Creating a Sand Swirl Texture
1
Gather your supplies.
All you need to do a sand swirl drywall texture is a wide brush, about 7 inches (17.8 cm) long. [18] X Research source
- All you need to do a sand swirl drywall texture is a wide brush, about 7 inches (17.8 cm) long.
- [18] X Research source
- All you need to do a sand swirl drywall texture is a wide brush, about 7 inches (17.8 cm) long.
- [18] X Research source
- All you need to do a sand swirl drywall texture is a wide brush, about 7 inches (17.8 cm) long.
2
Load the brush.
To get the right effect from this texture, load the brush and wipe away any excess compound. You don't want your brush to have so much compound that it drips on your wall. [21] X Research source
- To get the right effect from this texture, load the brush and wipe away any excess compound.
- You don't want your brush to have so much compound that it drips on your wall.
- [21] X Research source
- To get the right effect from this texture, load the brush and wipe away any excess compound.
- You don't want your brush to have so much compound that it drips on your wall.
3
Start your pattern near the ceiling.
Start at one end of the wall and work your way over in a horizontal line. Place your brush several inches below the ceiling and make a half-moon shape.
- Start at one end of the wall and work your way over in a horizontal line.
- Place your brush several inches below the ceiling and make a half-moon shape.
- Start at one end of the wall and work your way over in a horizontal line.
- Place your brush several inches below the ceiling and make a half-moon shape.
- Start at one end of the wall and work your way over in a horizontal line.
Part
4
Creating a Slap Brush Texture
1
Gather your supplies.
To create the slap brush texture you will need a paint roller and some texture brushes. If you plan on doing the ceiling as well, get a pole for your roller and brushes. [23] X Research source
- To create the slap brush texture you will need a paint roller and some texture brushes.
- If you plan on doing the ceiling as well, get a pole for your roller and brushes.
- [23] X Research source
- To create the slap brush texture you will need a paint roller and some texture brushes.
- If you plan on doing the ceiling as well, get a pole for your roller and brushes.
2
Roll out your compound.
Load your paint roller up with drywall compound and start rolling in vertical lines. When you finish rolling one direction, repeat the process in the opposite direction. You aren't adding more mud to the wall, rather your goal is to make an even surface.
- Load your paint roller up with drywall compound and start rolling in vertical lines.
- When you finish rolling one direction, repeat the process in the opposite direction.
- You aren't adding more mud to the wall, rather your goal is to make an even surface.
- Load your paint roller up with drywall compound and start rolling in vertical lines.
- When you finish rolling one direction, repeat the process in the opposite direction.
3
Load up your texture brush.
Apply a generous amount of drywall compound to your texture brush. Hold the brush perpendicular to the wall and "stamp" the brush onto the wall.
- Apply a generous amount of drywall compound to your texture brush.
- Hold the brush perpendicular to the wall and "stamp" the brush onto the wall.
- Apply a generous amount of drywall compound to your texture brush.
- Hold the brush perpendicular to the wall and "stamp" the brush onto the wall.
- Apply a generous amount of drywall compound to your texture brush.
4
Wipe the angles.
Dip a taping knife into some of the drywall compound and run it across the edges to smooth out any angles. [26] X Research source
- Dip a taping knife into some of the drywall compound and run it across the edges to smooth out any angles.
- [26] X Research source
- Dip a taping knife into some of the drywall compound and run it across the edges to smooth out any angles.
- [26] X Research source
- Dip a taping knife into some of the drywall compound and run it across the edges to smooth out any angles.
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