Power mixer in bucket of texturing material
Knockdown or skiptrowel drywall texture makes an interesting wall texture similar to stucco that will stand up for a long time with little or no repair. If you don't paint it, you will eventually be able to remove it with warm water. You will need to develop some skills to apply it. It is messy to apply, so use plenty of drop cloths. Reserve a piece of wallboard to practice on before you actually begin on your wall. But never fear-if you do make a mistake, simply wash off the section you have mistakenly applied and redo it. It covers an uneven wall nicely without the trouble of wallpaper. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Preparation
1. This exterior stucco wall has a texture similar to a knockdown interior wall.
Clean the walls you want to cover. For an average size room, purchase a 5-lb. bag of drywall "mud," or texture compound, and pour about half the dry mix into one bucket. Put the other half into the other bucket and add water one cup at a time. Screw the power mixer into your drill (both are available at your nearby hardware store) and stir the texture compound until it is the consistency of pancake batter. You want it to peak on the wall but not run down it.
2. A knockdown wall orange peel texture
Rent or purchase a spray hopper connected to a compressor. Put the texture compound into the spray hopper and set it for a ³⁄8 inch opening and 60 psi. Practice spraying it on the extra piece of wallboard you have set up. It should go on with peaks and valleys and in approximately the same thickness. The recommended consistency of pancake batter is about what it needs to be to fed easily through the hopper. If it does not feed through the hopper, add a little more water and mix until it does. If it runs through the hopper and does not form peaks, add a little more dry mix and stir until it forms peaks. When you have that perfected, start on your wall. Spray from top to bottom, then move over and spray from bottom to top.
3. Trowel
Keep an eye on the wall you have already sprayed as you move around the room. When the peaks of texture material have a dull rather than shiny finish, it is time to use the trowel. Hold the trowel at about a 45-degree angle and lightly flatten the peaks of texture material until the wall looks like it has plateaus and valleys. Continue around the room, spraying and knocking down the sprayed-on peaks. You may find it easier and better looking if you knock down from side to side rather than top to bottom. You want all the plateaus to be about the same height, so adjust how lightly you trim them down with the trowel as you go.
4. Cleanup is relatively easy. Use warm water on spills-even on trim and windows-and dry it. Let the texture dry thoroughly before you move furniture and draperies back in. You will have mellow walls with an individual look.
Tags: texture compound, through hopper, around room, consistency pancake, consistency pancake batter, drywall texture