How to Do a Plaster-Textured Wall

Plaster texture added to plaster or drywall walls helps hide imperfections. If the wall contains ridges, patched cracks or blemishes that stand out because of the flat surface, adding peaks or bumps help obscure those contours. Move furniture away from the walls and cover the floor with tarps to protect surfaces. Texturing with plaster is something of an art, so if you've never done it before, practice on scrap wood before you start.

Tarps
Stepladder
Paint scraper
Pre-mixed plaster
Wide drywall knife
Grout float

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape away any peeling paint or loose material from the wall.
- 2
  Fill in any holes, cracks or gaps in the wall using the drywall knife and plaster. Make the patch as flat and solid as you can. Let the plaster set for 12 hours.
- 3
  Spread plaster over a few square feet at one of of the wall with the wide drywall knife. Apply it to a depth of about 1/4 inch.
- 4
  Press a grout float into the plaster so the whole flat edge of the float sits flush to the wall. Pull the trowel straight outward, creating peaks and ridges.
- 5
  Set the float back into the plaster, next to the previously textured spot. Pull it out again to create a second area with texture.
- 6
  Repeat the process, pressing and pulling at the plaster until the entire area has texture.
- 7
  Spread a second section of plaster next to the first. Texture the whole section as before, making sure the first and second sections are completely melded together by the texturing.
- 8
  Continue across the whole wall, spreading and texturing the plaster section by section. Let it dry for 24 hours before painting it.

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