Calling ATOT handymen

[darkamulets]

I know this is a long-shot but I've seen weirder questions answered. Any here done knockdown texture on dry-wall?

I'm looking at the walls of the new place and they're really inconsistent, some are smooth, others have an orange peel texture. I figured instead of just trying to flatten them out and clean up some of the repair jobs it might be easier to just go with a knockdown texture.

I've seen most guides mentioning renting a drywall gun/acoustic sprayer and a compressor which I don't mind doing. I've also seen a few mentions of making a tool out of lexan and using it as a form of sorts (less mess).

If you folks could just put your 2 cents or any tips on carrying this project it would be appreciated. Also mix ratios/preferred product (right now I'm just looking at sheetrock 90) wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Squisher]

Sorry, no. But, I was able to smooth out some walls recently that had a textured wall paper that had been painted over multiple times. It got to the point where I was going to have remove it with a chisel or try to smooth it out. I decided to skim coat it with wall board compound. It turned out pretty nice.

btw-DON'T EVER PAINT OVER WALLPAPER!!!! Someone will hate you.

 

[highland145]

Watched a guy do it once. Had a big/wide long bristled brush that he used to daub the plaster on the ceiling. Left the high points that you see on some textured ceilings. Then came back with a wide finishing tool and knocked them down. He was good. I would have f-ed it up.

 

[jemcam]

I borrowed a machine that put a textured orange peel on the walls of my kitchen when I redid it. It was super easy, practically no way to fuck it up as long as you don't make the mud too thin and runny. I'm sure you could rent one of these machines for pretty cheap, I think the guy I borrowed it from ony paid like $75 for it. I have painted cars and from what I learned there I tried to apply to the walls of the kitchen. I made it perfectly smooth, paying attention to details and seams. What a colossal waste of time that was. The texture covered every little sin possible on the wall with sludge. It really did look great.

You might want to get a cardboard box to practice on, I used some leftover drywall. It was easy as hell. The details are in the texture of the mud. I made mine a little thinner than a McDonald's milkshake.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

On dry wall just float/skim with joint compound, and sand. Orange peel can be purchased in a can for touch ups, and small areas. Knock down texture is rarely used on walls, but is quite popular on ceilings, and it's application takes, *practice*! I have used sanded texture to repair plaster, and to make a dungeon with faux stone work,(ah, the good old days,wife was funner back then). As to painted over textured wall paper, or worse, something I had to deal with once, the previous owner had glued thin strips of wood on the walls, I simply put up 1/4" wall board over it.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I've always done it by shooting through a normal spray hopper just as you would do normal texture, then I drag lightly with a large paint sheild to knock down the peaks. "Splatter drag" technique I think its called.