How to Skip-Trowel Stucco

Prepare the surface for plaster. Ensure it is clean and no dirt and debris exist on the wall. Wash down any walls with a damp towel.

Mix stucco together so it is evenly distributed in the bucket and there are no dry sections. Use a hand drill and attached mixer to whip the stucco or joint compound. Pour a small amount of water into the plaster and mix if the plaster appears dry and crumbly.

Hold a drywall trowel in one hand and wipe the plaster onto the trowel using a putty knife. Place one solid edge of the trowel against the wall's flat surface. Tilt the trowel so you are now holding it at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Smooth on the texture to the wall. Skip over the texture again and create a texture with the wet plaster. Only cover about 85 percent of the wall surface. It is okay to have some bare spots. Do not apply the plaster more than ¼ inch thick.

Continue to add the plaster to the wall and follow the same technique and pattern. No two patterns of skip trowel will look exactly alike, and there is no right and wrong way to add the plaster to the wall. Still, it is important to duplicate the same technique and texture throughout the entire project.

Allow the plaster to dry. Lightly sand the plaster with medium grit sand paper to remove any loose plaster particles. Wipe down the wall with a damp sponge to remove drywall dust. Drywall dust will prevent paint from sticking to the wall.

Paint the stucco using latex paint. Use a rough nap roller and be prepared to paint two or more coats of paint onto the textured surface. For dark colors, such as reds and blues, paint a coat of gray primer onto the stucco surface first.