How to Texture a Wall With the Stucco Technique

Use joint compound to mimic the architectural appearnce of stucco on interior walls.

Stucco walls bring interest and architectural detail to plain interior walls. In addition, they help to absorb sound and are beneficial in hiding tiny imperfections in the wall surface. Stucco wall treatment is a user-friendly option since the final results are largely subjective. Paint, glaze or wax the walls once the joint compound is thoroughly dried to achieve the depth of color and texture associated with traditional stucco exteriors.

Things You'll Need

• Spackle
• Trowel
• Sand paper
• Tack cloth
• Primer
• Paint brush
• Paint roller
• Paint tray
• Latex paint
• 5 gallon bucket
• Joint compound
• Water
• Drill
• Mud paddle
• Paint grain tool or raking tool

Instructions

Preparation

1. Fill any nail holes, dings or dents in the wall with Spackle.

2. Sand any rough spots down so the wall feels even and smooth to the touch. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove any grit from the wall.

3. Apply a quality latex primer and follow it up with a quality latex paint. Don't skip this step, even if you plan on painting the wall after texturing. Priming and painting help achieve the best final outcome for the stucco appearance.

Texturing

1. Mix joint compound and water in a five gallon bucket using a mud paddle attached to a drill. Add water until the mixture is the consistency of peanut butter.

2. Scoop the joint compound onto a trowel. Apply it to the wall to a depth of approximately 1/8 of an inch. Let the joint compound set up slightly, until the surface is dull but the compound is still damp.

3. Comb or rake the compound into rows of small, overlapping circles, then allow it to dry. Make the circles in the size of your choice. Smaller circles mean more circles on the wall, creating more interest. Let the wall dry at least 24 hours. Avoid touching the wall while it's drying to avod damaging or altering the stucco treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your hands to smear the joint compound on the walls for a rough, less structured stucco appearance.

• Keep the temperature of the room 55 degrees or warmer.

• Do not texture walls with studs more than 16 inches apart. The weight of the texturing compound will damage walls with supports further apart than 16 inches.

References

• Drywall Made Easy: Drywall Texture
• Designing Brad: Joint compound Texture, Stucco, Bad Dry wall Quick Fix!, Texture
• Drywall School: EVERYTHING ABOUT DRYWALL JOINT COMPOUND (MUD)