How to Change the Texture on Drywall
Even the most careful of drywall finishers leave irregularities in the finished product, especially on the ceiling, because it is hard to work overhead. Drywall texture helps mask these irregularities. Once you have removed the old texture, you have a few options to consider before applying new texture. One choice you must make is what you will texture with. You can use either drywall mud or a texturing powder. You also need to decide whether to apply a flat texture or a bumpy texture to your drywall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic tarp
- Painters tape
- 5-inch putty knife
- Metal file
- 5-gallon bucket
- Trisodium phosphate cleaner
- Sponge
- Texture powder
- Drywall compound
- Drill
- Drill mixer attachment
- Texture spray gun
Instructions
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Remove the furniture from the room and take down all pictures hanging on the walls. Move furniture that cannot be removed into the center of the room. Cover the floor and furniture with a plastic tarp. Remove the screws from the light switches' and electrical outlets' cover plates. Cover the outlets with a piece of painters tape.
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2
Curve a 5-inch putty knife's edges, using a metal file. In a bucket, mix a trisodium phosphate cleaner with warm water, according to the manufacturer's directions. Dip a sponge into the solution and wring it out so it is damp. Apply the solution to a small section of wall first, to test it. Allow the solution to soften the paint and texture. Angle the putty knife against the wall and scrape it forward to remove the paint and texture. Apply solution to one wall. Scrape away the paint and texture before applying it to a second wall. Work your way around the room.
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3
Pour texture powder or drywall compound into a 5-gallon bucket. Add water and stir it in with a drill mixer attachment. Continue to add water until the mixture has a pancake-batter consistency. Wait approximately 10 minutes and stir it again, adding water if necessary.
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Set your texture spray gun to your desired opening for your new texture. A larger opening applies more texture to your walls. Pour the texture solution into the spray gun's hopper. Attach the hopper to the spray gun and turn the spray gun on.
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Hold the hopper about 18 inches from the wall and move it back and forth, to cover the entire surface. Do not hold the hopper in one location or too much texture will be applied to that area. For a bumpy texture you can stop now and wait for the texture to dry, according to the manufacturer's directions.
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6
Wait 15 minutes for the texture to partially harden. Run the 5-inch putty knife lightly over the texture to flatten it out a bit. Do not drag the putty knife over the drywall or you will remove the texture. Move the putty knife in both an up and down and left to right pattern. Allow the texture to finish drying.
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References
- Photo Credit John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
