Why apply a wall or ceiling texture anyway? There are a variety of reasons. An interior decorator or architect will point out that it adds character to the home. Real estate agents contend that it will boost home equity when combined with accents like crown molding and chair rail molding. Building contractors like it because it can cover up flaws like minor wood framing errors (warped studs) and poor taping and floating (drywall finishing).
Tools and Materials for Stomp Texturing
- Paint roller with a 1” lambs skin cover
- Extension pole for the paint roller and paint pan
- Stomp texture brush, crows foot, or double crows foot texture brush
- Knock down knife or wide drywall finishing knife and mud pan (optional)
- Corded or cordless electric drill with a ribbon mixer or a drywall mud mixer to thin the mud
- Drop cloths
- Water-soluble latex primer
- Drywall joint compound (in 5 gallon plastic buckets, not the fast-drying powder)
- Spare plastic bucket
Prepare New Drywall Surfaces and Mix the Mud
New drywall ceilings and walls should be taped and floated and primed prior to texturing. The reason for painting the surface is so the drywall won't absorb the water out of the drywall compound, or mud. Once it's dried, it's time to prepare the mud.
Put about half a bucket of joint compound into the spare bucket. Add a cup or so of plain tap water and mix it well with the electric drill and ribbon mixer. The texture should have an elastomeric paint consistency, or like a very thick vanilla milk shake, so continue to add water as needed.
There is some leeway here depending on personal preference. The thinner it is, the finer the texture pattern will be; thicker will be bolder looking.
Roll Out the Joint Compound and Stomp
Now use the paint roller and extension pole to roll out a thin layer on the Sheetrock. 1/8” (3.17 mm) should be fine; just keep it consistent. Now use the crows foot brush to stomp the drywall surface. This is where the art comes in. The brush can be applied lightly or strongly, with a distinct texturing pattern or purely random.
If doing a ceiling and there is a central light fixture or ceiling fan, many painters, drywall finishers, and handymen like to start there and work out in a circular or spiral pattern. If a bit of joint compound gets on a fixture or air register, it can be wiped off with a wet rag while the mud is still wet.
Using the Knock Down Knife is Optional
The ridges left by the stomp brush can be left as is, or converted into a knock down texture by flattening out the tips of the ridges. This is done by holding the wide taping or knock down knife at about a 30 degree angle and lightly drawing the blade across the top of the ridges. It will be necessary to use the mud pan for this step.
It's easy to see that the options and possibilities are endless. Be creative.
Kelly Smith - Kelly has over 30 years experience as a journeyman carpenter and 20 as a freelance writer and photographer.
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