How to Texture Damaged Walls

Fill in large crevices, holes or cracks with spackling compound. Wipe the spackle onto the damaged area with a putty knife to fill in the damaged parts. Allow it to dry and sand the area smooth with fine- to medium-grit sandpaper.

Start at the top left or right corner of the wall. Apply a large portion of plaster to a trowel. Hold the trowel so the blade is perpendicular to the wall surface. Turn the trowel and place one edge against the wall. As if buttering a piece of toast, wipe the plaster onto the wall. Use the edge of the trowel to dip into the plaster and create grooves and ridges. Continue to apply plaster and move plaster around the surface of the wall until the entire wall is covered.

Allow the plaster texture to dry for about 24 hours. The plaster will require more time to dry in humid conditions. Touch the plaster to check whether it is dry. If it is cool to touch, one more day of drying time is needed, even if the surface is dry.

Sand any loose plaster from the surface with a sanding block. Wipe away dust or chalk created from sanding with a wet rag.

Roll on one coat of primer over the entire plaster surface. Allow it to dry and follow with two coats of latex paint. If there are any areas not catching the paint, use an old stipple brush and dab paint into the plaster crevices.