Wall and ceiling texture covers up minor imperfections. It even does a good job of reducing the visual impact of major errors. For do-it-yourselfers who find themselves challenged by the art of finishing drywall, texture can be a lifesaver. Spray texture—in the form of handheld spray cans—is a quick, easy way to apply texture.
Texture Delivery Systems
Large-scale ceiling and wall textures are applied by painting or drywall professionals using special spray equipment. There are ways to duplicate the look with a paint roller, but it’s a lot of work—especially when you’re applying texture to the ceiling. Spray texture is not recommended for large areas. Most cans only cover 75 to 125 square feet. An average-sized bedroom would use four or five cans. But spray texture cans work well for small patches. For example, if you’ve patched a drywall or plaster surface and need to blend the area with the surrounding texture, a can of spray texture can do the trick. You just have to choose the right type of texture for your surface. Relatively foolproof, orange peel texture does not require any trowel work. Just spray it on, let it dry, then prime and paint. To use:
Hold the can far away from the wall—the 24 inches specified on the can is the minimum. Shoot the wall in short bursts, not with a continuous spray.The lever controlling the fineness of the spray can be tricky; test it in many different positions to achieve the desired look.Make sure to warm up the can before using it. Cold texture will spray out in large globs.
Homax Orange Peel texture finish creates a surface with a mixture of large and small raised ovals and circles. Soft to the touch, orange peel is the one texturizer that works equally well for both ceilings and walls. Homax Orange Peel covers 125 square feet. That’s about 15 linear feet of wall. Creating a knockdown texture is a two-step process. First, spray the textured product onto the surface and let it dry for a few minutes. Then, use a drywall knife or trowel to knock down or flatten the texture. As with all spray textures, it pays to practice on cardboard or scrap drywall: even more so with knockdown textures since they require troweling. Make sure the trowel is perfectly clean and free of rust before using, as contaminants will smear into the texture. Homax Pro Grade Knockdown texture creates flat, wide splotches of texture. This provides a deeper texture than orange peel—it can be lightly touched without damage. Knockdown texture creates a look similar to that of stucco but is somewhat smoother. Best for walls, this product covers about 75 square feet. That translates to about 9 linear feet of wall. TriggerPhoto / Getty Images Although it’s not a true soundproofing product (soundproofing slows the transmission of sound from room to room), popcorn texture does an adequate job of softening sound within the room. Popcorn texture creates high peaks and low valleys—this is the deepest and highest texture of all and also the most delicate. Popcorn texture can look like cottage cheese when heavily applied. Best for ceilings, this product covers about 80 square feet per can. That a square of ceiling about 9-foot by 9-foot.
