How to Mud Coat Swirl Ceilings

A ceiling can have many textures.

After drywall is installed into the studs on your walls and ceilings, it can either be painted or textured depending on your preference. Textures are most commonly found on ceilings. Once the drywall is applied, instead of painting the ceiling, you can texture it to give it a unique and different look. Texturing a ceiling can be a little tricky if you have never attempted it. But, with the proper tools, you can give your ceiling a textured swirl in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Tarp
• Ladder
• Topping compound
• 10-inch taping knife
• Texture brush
• Scissors
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Move all furniture and everything else out the room where you will be swirling the ceiling. Cover the floor with a tarp, and position a ladder in one corner of the room.

2. Open a bucket of topping compound, and stir it with a 10-inch taping knife. Climb up the ladder until you can reach the ceiling. Apply the topping compound to the entire surface of the wall. Spread it out even over the whole ceiling, working from one corner to the other. Apply a 1/8-inch thick coat over the surface.

3. Swirl the topping compound around with a texture brush beginning in any corner of the room. Press the texture brush up against the wet coat of topping compound. Push down hard and turn the brush from side to side. Get down from the ladder and examine the design.

4. Repeat the brushing process if necessary. Cut bristles off the brush with scissors for a different look in certain spots.

5. Swirl the compound with a sponge or your fingers to make different designs until your have the desired effect on your ceiling. Wait 24 hours for the ceiling to dry. Remove the tarp and move everything back into the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when working on a ladder.

References

• Hometime.com: Finish Coat and Texture
• plaster-wall-ceiling-solutions.com: Wall Texture Tips