The Technique for Applying Sand Texture to a Wall

Mixing

• When preparing to mix your sand and paint together, always wear a dust mask, which will decrease the risk of inhaling dust created by the sand. Pour the paint in a slightly large bucket but not one too big where you can't stir it with a paint stick. Slowly stir in the sand. Use as much or as little sand as you would like to include in your sand texture wall, and stir the mixture well.

Application

• Pour a small portion of the sand mixture into a paint tray. Roll the mixture onto a wall in a vertical direction. Reload the paint roller, and roll on the mixture in a horizontal direction. Only even pressure and not heavy pressure is necessary. Stir the paint and sand mixture every few minutes as the sand particles will tend to shift to the bottom of the bucket.

Paint

• Add paint to the sand texture only after the wall is completely dry. Usually this takes about 24 to 48 hours, according to Portland Drywall. Touch the wall's surface to test if it is dry. If it is very cold or cool to touch, wait another day to paint. Use a medium nap roller to apply paint over the sand texture.

Additional Effects

• Create the look of an aged wall by using the sand texture as your base. Add additional layers of knockdown drywall texture by troweling on joint compound over the dry sand texture. Apply a color wash over the entire surface using deep brown or yellow ochre paint mixed with glaze.