How to Texture a Wall With a Roller

Materials

• Painter's tape
• Drywall compound
• Flat paint or drywall primer
• Paint

Instructions

1. Protect the Area

By its very nature, texturing is a confusing operation that results in wet textured material flying in all directions. When splashing a ceiling, even the most careful painter will need to cover the floor and adjacent wall surfaces, including finishing the doors and windows. Use floor cloths and plastic sheeting for vertical surfaces, hanging with duct tape.

2. Repairing the surfaces

Wall and ceiling surfaces may need to be patched before applying dotted texture. First, patch the holes or chips with a drywall compound or light caulk. Use your drywall knife to force the compound into the hole and slide with the tip of the knife to smooth the compound on the surface. Don't waste too much time on this as it will be covered with textured material. Normally it is not necessary to sand the surface until it is smooth; just smoothing it out with a drywall knife is fine.

3. Prime the surface

Then apply a coat of regular white latex paint or drywall primer. Let it dry. This precoat is essential because textured paint applied directly to the bare plaster wall will be absorbed by the wall surface, compromising your efforts.

4. Mix the Texture Compound

Create your own inexpensive wall texture material by diluting drywall compound with water in a 4: 1 ratio. Use a 5-gallon bucket and paint mixing attachment on your drill to mix the texture compound well. Beat the mixture until it is thick with latex paint. It should be smooth and easy to roll.

Alternatively, you can buy paint with a pre-mixed texture. Popular brands include Sheetrock Texolite and Behr Premium Plus Texture Paint. Stir the paint well, per the manufacturer's directions, to prepare for application.

5. Roll Out the Wall Texture

Texturing involves a two-part lamination process: an initial application and then a second lamination of the applied material after it has partially dried. Setting the time is the most complicated part of the process.

Fill an ink tray with textured material or textured paint. Dip a paint roller into the paint tray, spread it out, and apply the texture to the surface of the wall or ceiling. A normal roll cover will produce a texture, but there are also special roll covers available that are designed for stippling.

Be sure to follow the product directions when using commercial textured paint. They may recommend a single coat.

Tip

In most cases, if you have problems with the wall texture, the cause is the ratio of water to the drywall compound. Little water produces sticky and spiky textures. Too much water results in spikes that are not supported or even water running down the wall.

6. Reach narrow areas with a brush

Where the roller cannot reach, the corners and edges around the wood, complete the texturing by applying the material with the flat side of a brush.

7. Let the texture dry

Allow the texture to partially dry, about half full dry. Test for dryness by pressing your thumb on the surface and pulling it out. The result should be sharp tips, almost like a meringue.

8. Texture a second time

When the applied texture material reaches the desired consistency, roll over the surface again. This will pull the partially dry material lightly, creating the desired three-dimensional texture. In places where the roller cannot reach, you can use the flat surface of a brush to lightly push the material off the surface.

9. Create a Knock-Down Surface (Optional)

Optionally, before the surface is completely dry, you can drop the surface by smoothing a drywall knife into the texture, using the tool at a right angle. This gently flattens the surface peaks, creating an appearance very similar to textured plaster. Again, the texture substance needs to be the right consistency for this to work. If it is too wet, the texture will stain; If it is too dry, it will not fall.

10. Paint a homemade texture

If you are using a homemade drywall mud mix to create the texture, allow the surfaces to dry completely, then prime and paint as desired.

When to call a professional

If you need to cover large areas with wall texture, it’s usually a good idea to hire a professional painter or decorator. They have the expertise and specialized tools, such as an air compressor texture sprayer, to efficiently apply textures like fog, orange peel, splatter, or knockdown effects.

Using a texture sprayer not only ensures a more even and consistent application but also speeds up the process significantly. This can be especially important for large rooms or entire homes, where the manual application would be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Additionally, professionals are trained to handle any challenges that may arise, ensuring a flawless finish without the mess or mistakes that could come with DIY efforts. Hiring an expert also means the texture will dry evenly and quickly, typically within just a few hours, allowing you to enjoy your newly textured walls sooner without the hassle.