Applying Textured Drywall Spray

Drywall spray texturing on ceilings or walls can add a certain class to an ordinary room. While not everyone appreciates this textured effect, there is more to it than aesthetics. Soundproofing as well as hiding painting and drywall installation mistakes are among them. If you have never applied texturing, below you will find 5 steps will get you off to a good start.

Step 1 – Initial Preparation

If this is a new experience for you, and if you don't plan to do more texturing, you will want to rent a sprayer. Typically, you can rent one at an equipment rental store. You will want to experiment before your actual application, if you're a novice at applying this texture—particularly if the surface you plan to spray is a ceiling. Use a drop cloth and masking tape, and cover everything you don't want sprayed.

Use a scrap piece of drywall or plywood to test the particle size you want on your ceiling or wall. And test the coverage you prefer. You'll need to know the ideal distance you should hold your spray machine nozzle from the surface to be sprayed. And you'll need to know how fast to move the nozzle to adjust the amount of texture you need. You can learn all this by testing before you begin your actual spraying.

Step 2 – Spraying Preparation

Leave your spraying machine in a separate room while you're spraying. Otherwise, your machine will be covered with texture when you're finished. When you're ready to begin spraying, fill the sprayer's hopper with dry texture powder or with a compound that has been premixed. Add water—even to the premixed compound—until the texture material is the consistency of thick pancake dough.

Step 3 – Selecting Nozzle Setting

Choose the nozzle setting that will give you the desired size of sprayed particles. Unless you've had experience with these settings, do a test spray on a discarded piece of drywall or board.

Step 4 – Spraying the Texture

As you spray, keep the nozzle moving at a consistent speed. This will assure you of having a consistent thickness of texture on the surface receiving the spray. Too little texture is better than too much. If you miss spots, or if the spray on these spots is too light, you can easily apply more texture. However, if your texture is too thick, it is likely to cause problems. You'll have to immediately stop spraying, have a helper quickly scrape off the heavy texture, and re-spray it. Matching new and old edges can be tricky. It's best to avoid applying too much. If you don't have a helper, find a place to set your sprayer where it won't tip while you're scraping off and respraying.

Step 5 – Finishing

When finished, immediately wash off the spraying equipment with water before the texture has a chance to harden on the equipment. Allow a drying time of 12 to 24 hours.