How to Knock Down a Texture Ceiling With Joint Compound

Prepare the area below your ceiling by removing the furniture and spreading out plastic sheeting over the floor. Use additional sheeting to cover any built-in furniture and items too large to move. Tape off the upper edges of the walls around the perimeter of the ceiling to avoid any accidental smears and smudges. Remove any ceiling lighting fixtures and cover the openings with tape and newspaper.

Mix drywall joint compound in a 5-gallon bucket, according to the label instructions. Use a power drill and paddle attachment to create a smooth, even mixture. Add enough additional water to form a thick, creamy consistency, similar to pancake batter.

Fill a paint roller tray with the joint compound mixture. Roll the substance over your ceiling with a thick-nap roller attached to an extension handle. Cover a 10-foot square area. Press a crow’s foot texture brush into the damp joint compound on the ceiling. Holding the brush at a 90-degree angle from the surface, use a pecking motion to form small stalactites in the moist mixture. Let the texture dry 10 to 20 minutes. It is ready to finish as soon as it starts to lose its wet sheen.

Knock down the texture with a trowel. Hold the trowel at a 30-degree angle to the surface of the ceiling. Swipe the trowel across the tips of the stalactites, cleanly knocking off the sharp points. Wipe the blade of the trowel every few swipes to keep it clean and to avoid creating smudges in the knock-down texture. Complete the remainder of your ceiling in this manner. Let the texture dry completely before painting the ceiling.