How to Apply Texture to Damaged Walls

Move all furnishings away from the wall. Give yourself about three to four feet of space. Wrap remaining items in the room in painter's plastic for added protection. Cover the ground surface with tarps or drop cloths.

Sand the surface of the wall with a medium-grit sanding block, and remove any loose debris. Wipe off all sanding dust with a damp towel.

Whip a gallon of lightweight joint compound with a hand drill equipped with a mixer attachment until it is evenly moist. Add small amounts of water if necessary. Wash the mixer attachment in a bucket of water to avoid the plaster drying on the tool.

Dip a mini roller into the plaster and roll onto the wall. Roll in vertical sections only or roll in a random pattern. Once you have covered about a four-by-four foot surface, smooth down any peaks of the plaster with a drywall trowel. Continue to roll on sections of plaster and smooth down the texture with the drywall trowel until the wall is completely texturized. Allow the plaster to dry.

Inspect the damaged wall area. Add an additional thin coat of plaster if necessary to cover up the wall damage. Again, roll on the plaster and skim or smooth down with the trowel. Allow to dry.

Paint the plaster with eggshell or satin latex paint. The plaster can be painted any color. Use a medium to rough-nap roller to place paint into all the textures crevices. The plaster will absorb the initial layer of paint; be prepared to paint more than one coat of paint onto the surface.