How to Get Rough Surface on Knockdown Texture Drywall

Texture on drywall ceilings or walls adds a design element, but you’re not stuck with applying just one style of texture. Drywall contractors create knockdown texture by passing a wide taping blade over wet, stippled compound. You can vary the roughness of the surface texture by adding a small amount of sand to the compound during the texturing process.

Premixed drywall compound
Water
Silica (or quartz) sand
Large stipple-texture paint roller
Roller pan
Taping trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Thin premixed drywall compound with water to the consistency of cake batter.
- 2
  Add silica or quartz sand to the thinned compound. It’s essential that you record the amount of sand you add to the compound. For example, if you have one gallon of thinned compound and you add one cup of sand, write down both amounts for future reference.
- 3
  Pour the thinned compound into a large paint roller pan and roll an even layer of compound on the wall with a stipple-texture paint roller. Use light pressure to form a texture that features peaks and indentations.
- 4
  Roll a section about 4 feet wide and the full length of the wall.
- 5
  Pull the wide end of a taping trowel lightly over the tips of the texture, using only enough pressure to push down the peaks of the texture. This is creates the knockdown effect.
- 6
  Vary the pressure of the trowel for more or less texture depth.
- 7
  Continue rolling the sanded compound on the wall, and then lightly troweling.

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