Every owner of a house built with drywall has thought of decorating it at some point. This desire is understandable when you consider that the factory’s appearance is fairly sober. The good news is that there are many ways to change their appearance, although some of them may require advanced tools and knowledge. Today you can learn how to structure drywall using the following guide.
Drywall construction is a widely used technique in the building industry. This consists in covering wooden or galvanized steel structures with plaster. This technique makes it possible to reduce costs in projects, in addition to the fact that prefabricated panels can be adapted to several dimensions.
Because of its popularity, there are several options on the market to customize the look. However, each design requires a specific installation that is related to its complexity.
The simplest alternatives for applying drywall textures only require a wide brush, but some require more sophisticated machines such as a funnel gun or printing blocks. You can even create different textures on the drywall, but you need a specific nozzle.
Today we will discuss different techniques and how to install them.
How to structure drywall
Add a 3D effect to the walls
Image source: Josh Wynne construction
Structured drywall is very similar to a conventional wall with corrugated friezes. To do this, an additional layer is applied, which is much thicker than the color and which can be shaped to achieve a 3D effect. With the right lighting, the wall creates shadows and creates dynamic patterns that change depending on the angle of the light.
In addition, adding a thick texture to the drywall is a smart way to fix any defects and repairs on the wall, e.g. B. the joints between the different panels. The different sections cannot be identified because they are irregular in appearance.
Steps to Apply Different Drywall Texturing Techniques
Would you like to know how to texturize walls by hand? Therefore, this list of tips is exactly what you need. Remember that as with other projects, experience affects the outcome. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the perfect result the first time.
You can practice applying the texturing compound to some additional drywall panels that you need to attach to the wall. The texture bond does not dry quickly, but is thick enough to adhere to the panels and you can shape it as you wish.
Before you start, remember to put plastic blankets or newspapers on the floor to avoid contamination. Before the compound dries, remove it and put it back with the rest to keep it semi-fluid.
What do you need to prepare
If you feel confident enough about your skills, the next thing to do is apply the real wall textures. Before you start, you need to sand the entire wall to remove any errors.
Since microscopic dust particles are released during grinding, you must wear a mask and safety glasses for safety reasons. Inhalation can be harmful to health.
For larger areas, it is best to use a rod with a rounder grinder. For the most difficult areas such as corners, you can use a sponge. Use fine grain sandpaper to smooth the wall. Also, do not apply too much pressure, otherwise you could damage the drywall.
Apply a primer
The hand structure not only requires a smooth surface to adhere to, but also a primer on the wall. Like the paint, the primer must be applied to a clean wall.
As you sanded recently, you need to clean the drywall to remove dust. The smallest particles can be removed with a damp cloth.
With a roller, apply a primer to the entire wall to be structured. For a better result, the primer should be done in a single layer.
Prepare the connection for texturing
Now that the wall is ready, it’s time to make the connection. Get a bucket with a capacity of at least 5 gallons and pour half of the compound through the bucket. Now pour a cup of water and mix it.
You can mix the connection manually with a spatula. However, due to its thickness, we recommend using a drill with a mixing paddle. Pour in water while mixing until the compound has a similar consistency to the cake batter. When it gets liquid, pour another piece of the mud compound.
Texturing drywall with the knockdown method
This method works with any type of mix you buy and is one of the easiest to use. The ideal drywall texturing tool for this method is a 60 psi sprayer (or no less than 20 psi). It can also be done manually with a short roller brush, but it’s a little more difficult to get a smooth finish.
Use the sprayer to apply the mass to the drywall as if you were painting. There is no special way to do this. So you can use vertical, horizontal or diagonal movements.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you have to handle the movements consistently and quickly, otherwise the material will accumulate at a single point. It is better to apply a thin layer and apply another layer if necessary than to remove the thick pieces that look like bumps.
How to texture drywall with the basic vortex
In order to apply the basic vortex, the connection must be thick. Therefore, do not pour a lot of water into it. Add white quartz to the mix for a more eye-catching finish. This can also be used to give the connection more consistency.
Apply the connection to the drywall with a trowel from top to bottom. The excess is perfect to create the swirls of this drywall texture that you form with the serrated side of the trowel.
Simply make circular or arc motions to create the vortices, always starting from the top. The teeth of the trowel push the material into the environment.
Each row of vertebrae is usually out of phase with the previous row, which gives it a varied pattern and helps hide errors.
How to Texture Drywall to Create the Orange Peel
Another popular drywall texture is the orange peel. To apply it yourself, you need an air compressor and a gun.
So that there are no problems, the connection should not be very thick. Fill the funnel halfway and set the air compressor pressure to 100 lbs. This is the starting point, but you can adjust the print according to the finish you want.
In contrast to the knockdown method, try not to cover the entire drywall with the mixture, but to create small random stains that adorn the wall. You should make part of the primer visible for best results.
If you want to know how to make orange peel without a funnel, we recommend that you leave this job to a professional. Although it is possible, the technique is very difficult.
How to make the slap brush texture
This technique also works on previously painted surfaces. To prepare the wall, all you have to do is clean it to remove dust. If the wall paint is oil-based or glossy, a superficial sanding is recommended to create some irregularities that help the sludge bond.
If you don’t want to sand the wall, you can coat it with trisodium phosphate (TSP) to achieve a similar effect. However, remember to wear them with gloves.
The compound must be slightly thinned to soak a paint roller. The application process is the same as for painting; Simply roll the roller in one direction and then drive it back the same way to create a smooth line.
Since you need to stamp the surface when applying the joint, it is recommended to work in small sections no larger than 4 feet. Stamp the mixture with a blow brush, but this time with a horizontal movement to increase comfort.
You should be quick with the use of this technique because when a section dries, the new sludge will stand out and cause a noticeable distortion of the texture.
Give your drywall a new look
Now that you know how to structure drywall, you can give your home or business a new look without the need for a professional. However, each of the styles requires some experience in construction. So if you choose to decorate your wall, it is recommended that you ask someone for help to speed up the process.
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