Knockdown texture is a decorative paint technique where the paint is applied to a surface and then dragged across with a bristle brush or a trowel, leaving paint only in the indented areas.
It is a faux finish that is created with a trowel, a paintbrush, and a bucket of mortar.
Knockdown texture can be applied to any painted surface, but it is most commonly used on walls to create a textured effect. It is a very popular finish for painting plaster walls and is also used as a painting technique for faux finishes on furniture.
The process of creating texture is simple but does require some practice to get the hang of it. It is a way to cover up an existing texture, such as wood grain, with a new surface. It involves first scraping off the top layer of an existing surface with a power sander to expose the underlying surface.
Then, the wood is sanded with fine-grit sandpaper and the surface is sealed. It is usually applied to a dry surface for more even coverage.
Types Of Knockdown Texture
Splatter Texture
It is the most popular among all the textures available in the market. It is just like a plaster and many people call it “splatter texture”.
Texture is a key element in painting and drawing. It’s what brings your work to life. The key to texturing is understanding where the energy from the texture should be directed to.
For a more aggressive texture, use a hard texture material like plaster. If you are looking for a gentler texture, you can use a softer material like plaster.
There are more types of texture than just plaster and so it is good to experiment to see what you like best. With the texture pack, the modder has created a splatter effect for walls, windows, objects, and more. This effect is in the form of dirty blood splatter.
The spatter gives detailed texture to the surface rather of covering it entirely. We can create this spatter or plaster texture with a drywall hopper gun.
See also: Parquet Flooring
Stomp Texture
This classic trompe l’oeil technique commonly used in decorative arts and architecture, features a repeated design element distressed to recede into the background, creating a three-dimensional effect.
The texture is commonly seen in stenciled brick walls, painted old furniture, and wooden flooring. It also can be seen in stamped metal, faux marble, and ceramic tile.
I have been seeing a lot of people talk about this new STOMP technique to create a textured paint look on walls. The technique is pretty easy to do and it’s also really fun.
Stomp creates a rougher surface than splatter, and applying this texture with a roller takes more time due to the additional tool involved.
See also: Alaska White Granite
Mud Trowel Texture
Mud Trowel Texture is a very popular, in-demand, and sought-after texture. It is a very dirty, grimy, and gritty type of texture that is applied to the ceilings and walls of the buildings.
It has a lot of variations, but the most popular is the muddy, dirty, and gritty type. Also, It has very high resolution which makes it more suitable in our hall rooms.
We can mud trowel texture by using 18 inches or more broader drywall trowel blades for easily applying the mixture. It provides the most subtle and smooth appearance among all the above textures.
It requires more time than the splatter and stomping texture as many tools and intermediate processes are to be performed for getting mud trowel texture.
Read More: How to Seal Dolomite Countertops
How To Apply Knockdown Texture
This includes a lot of tools, materials, and procedures for the perfect finish of texture. Firstly we will discuss the tools and required materials:
Drywall Hopper Gun
It is an electrical machine spray the contained mixture or compound directly onto walls and ceilings. Earlier there was a tradition of using a painting brush to spread the mixture over the wall. But by using this device we can finish our work quickly and it gives us an asymmetric look.
Primer
Apply this twice to create a smooth, sticky surface. Allow it to dry completely in between coats.
Read More: Valle Nevado Granite
18-inch Knockdown Knife
The function of an 18-inch knockdown knife is to make the surfaces of the wall and ceiling flat, and smooth for getting a fascinating knocked-down appearance.
It has a movable blade that erases all the irregularities produced before texturing the walls and ceilings.
Raw Compound
Use a mud compound mixed with other high-quality materials as our principal raw material. After preparing the compound, move it to the hopper cannon for spraying. In addition to dirt, this composition contains a number of high-quality components.
Big Gallons
The prepared compounds are always in powdered form and kept in a gallon container. We use a gallon container to mix the chemicals and water.
Sandpapers
Most of the raw compounds for texturing are delicate and lightweight so we must use soft sandpapers for rubbing over the walls and ceilings. Sandpaper removes extra uneven primer from the surfaces.
Read More: Metal Countertops
Masking Tape
Mask unwanted cuts on surfaces.
Compressor Machine
It is a powerful machine that transfers raw compound from the hopper to a narrow tube, allowing for equal dispersion of the mixture across the ceilings.
This reduces the human hard work of manual pumping.
Clothes/Rags
To clean dry surfaces or remove dust particles, use clothes or rags to rub.
Paints
Forgiving the texture a pleasant and beautiful look we must select matching paint colors. They will provide different designs and shades to the textured wall and ceilings.
Steps:
1. Protection Against Harmful Contents
Protecting ourselves is the first and foremost concern before doing any kind of work. So we must have complete knowledge about that work because a little mistake can result in major damage or wounds.
Read More: Types of Drywall Texture
Before doing the texture or painting we must pre-planned with the following things:
- Ensure complete knowledge of the tools and machines we are using.
- Must wear safety clothes that cover each and every part of our body.
- Wear protective goggles and gloves to shield your hands and eyes from dust and paint splatters.
- We should cover all other gadgets, furniture, and beds with clothing or something else to keep them dust-free.
2. Making The Raw Mixture
- We must prepare the mixture in the proper ratio by mixing the powder contents with water. First, take the required volume of water in a bucket and then pour the compound into it.
- Ensure that the bucket does not contain any types of stones, sand, bricks particles, etc. This will spoil the mixture and the compound made.
- Now take the compound and pour it into the water slowly and we must be at some distance away.
- After mixing the mixture or mud with water, leave the bucket for some time for proper mixing.
3. Transferring The Mixture Into Hopper Gun
- The second step is to load the hopper gun with the prepared mixture. Before loading, we must ensure that the hopper gun is neat and clean from the inside.
- Clean the hopper nozzle and make sure the trigger button works properly.
- The type of texture pattern largely depends on the type of nozzle and the quality of materials we have.
- Then we must test the hopper roughly on any smooth surface before actually applying it to the desired wall or ceiling.
4. Applying The Mixture On Wall Or Ceiling
- Now hold the hopper tightly in our hands and start spraying the mixture over the wall or ceiling.
- Properly spray the mixture on every part and side of the wall. Unevenly spraying may result in a frightening look and pattern of the wall.
- Also, there are different sizes of hoppers available in the market such as small, medium, large, very large, and many more. We should buy or borrow them according to our requirements.
- After spraying, let the wall or ceiling for 2-3 hours for drying. Wait till the sprayed surface is completely dry before touching it.
Read More: Laminate Countertops
Advantages Of Knockdown Texture
- The texture adds a natural effect and different shades and patterns to our walls. Apply a water-based acrylic sealant in a feathery pattern, creating a hand-painted look.
- To achieve a painterly impression, gently apply sealant to the wall surface with a natural-bristle paintbrush or a compressor-hopper spraying equipment.
- To achieve the correct texture, brush the sealant downward with a dry brush.
- Applying the sealant generously allows it to flow, resulting in a natural and distinct appearance.
- People frequently add this texture to room walls to make them appear newly painted.
- People often use this technique to make a new paint job look aged.
Read More: Black Galaxy Granite
Conclusion
Knockdown texture, known for its rough surface, results from beating or ‘knocking down’ a rigid material’s surface to create various patterns and designs on walls and ceilings. It’s a common choice for both interior and exterior walls.
To create a pebble-like texture, use a special tool (knocker) or tap the material with a mallet. Contractors most commonly use the tool on primed or painted surfaces that are ready for a textured finish.
To add this type of texture to a surface, sand it down with rough sandpaper before spraying the prepared mixture on walls or ceilings. This allows the surface to better absorb the texture.
