Instructions for Stone Look Faux Painting

Clean the surface you will be plastering. Wipe down walls with a damp rag or towel. Vacuum the corners of all walls to remove cobwebs. Run a dusting rag along all baseboards to remove any dirt. Remove all furniture and interior accessories from the room, or away from the project. Place dropcloths on all flooring for protection.

Add 2-inch painter's tape to all surface areas close to the project area. These include ceilings, baseboards, crown molding, doorframes and window frames. Smooth the tape down with a plastic credit card or plastic putty knife to ensure paint materials do not leak underneath the tape.

Roll on a bonding primer. The primer will prepare the surface for the best plaster adhesion. Use a medium to rough nap roller to cover the surface. Paint the perimeter of the surface, where the roller can't reach, with a 2-inch paintbrush.

Add a squirrel mixer to your hand drill. Open a 5-gallon bucket of lightweight joint compound. Add a small amount of distilled water if the plaster looks or feels dry. Use the mixer to smooth and whip the plaster so it is easier to work with. Rinse off the squirrel mixer attachment in a bucket of water and ensure all plaster is removed.

Put on latex gloves. Hold a drywall trowel in one hand and smear plaster onto the trowel with your putty knife. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree-angle against the wall. One side of the trowel is firmly against the wall. Wipe on the plaster in a circular but random fashion to create texture. Each person will create texture differently. There is no one way to create texture. Take your time until you have a technique you find easy to duplicate over the entire surface.

Continue to the technique by plastering the entire surface. Do not apply plaster more than ¼-inch thick or it may crack. Allow plaster to dry 24 hours. Lightly sand the plaster with sandpaper to remove any loose sections. Wipe off dust with a damp rag.

Paint the stone surface using latex paint. Use a rough nap roller so paint falls into all the crevices and pits of the plaster. Understand that two or more coats may be necessary.