Applying Ceiling Texture with Joint Compound

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Topic: Applying Ceiling Texture with Joint Compound

monkeymind

Mon, 12/04/2006 - 3:30pm

Applying Ceiling Texture with Joint Compound

OK - I removed my old popcorn ceiling down to the grey paper. I have patched all my gouges and repaired cracks and am ready to apply a somewhat smooth texture. I bought texture paint, but read on the Sheetrock brand all purpose joint compound that I can use it to apply a texture. This would be much less expensive than the texture paint. I have been searching and am still confused about how to apply a texture. I am looking for instructions on prepping (priming? - the joint compound instructions do not say to prime. It basically says to apply a thin layer of compound and then use a brush roller, or other "tool" to texture it. Very vague instructions.) Has anyone done this? What "tool" would be best to get a texture that is somewhat smooth, but yet textured enough not to show flaws? I do not want to have to rent a sprayer and do a skip trowel effect, though that is what is on all my walls, but one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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ldyroadking01 writes:

Sat, 12/09/2006 - 1:35pm

You can use a Hopper gun to blow the thinned compound on but it won't be smooth. You can rent one or buy it, it's not expensive. Prepare to make a huge mess!!! Make sure you cover everything in site because this stuff will go everywhere!!! Joint compound is great stuff. I like it and have used it on many projects including texturing my bathroom walls and ceiling and creating faux stones on my living room walls. It can be thinned with water to make a paste or used as is. It can be color tinted, rolled on or trowled on. You are looking for a semi-smooth to smooth texture and the way to do this is to either roll the compound on or stand on a ladder and trowel it on. You will have a sore neck after doing this, beleive me. My neck hurt for two weeks after I textured my bathroom ceiling! In your case, I would probably roll it on.

One technique is to use a

jeffe_verde writes:

Fri, 12/22/2006 - 6:28am

One technique is to use a short nap roller to apply "Topping Compound". You can apply it just like you would paint. Once the texture has dried, paint with a PVA (drywall) primer. Topping (joint) compound sucks up regular paint like a sponge, and the water in regular paint can cause unprimed texture to peel off the wall.

Beware that a rolled texture does not look like a sprayed texture. Where "Orange peel" has a pebbled finish. Using a roller will leave a surface of tiny craters. This results from the way the roller pulls at the finish as it's rolled forward.

Other options are to-
-trowel the compound on, either working it smooth (this takes practice)or intentionally giving it an irregular, hand-trowled look
-using a round brush (you'll find it in the drywall section - about 5" in diameter, with softish bristles) to apply in a swirling motion (dip in the compound, press it to the ceiling, twist, repeat).

Slightly thinning the compound will change the resulting texture, as will different roller naps. Before the texture dries, you can always scrape it off and try again if you don't like the results. Once it's dried (but before you've primed it), you can use a damp sponge to scrub it off. Once it's been painted, you'll have to either sand it off or float another layer of compound over it to level it out again.

Finally, be sure to wear safety glasses! Whatever technique you choose, count on getting compound spattered in your face :)

joint compound on a wall

janieb writes:

Thu, 02/12/2009 - 10:52am

i used joint compound to texture my hallway. my son painted it and it looks terrible. do i have to sand off the paint and compound, or can i thin out some compound and go directly over it. please help!!!!!!