How to Make a Crow's Foot Ceiling

Sand any rough spots on the ceiling with fine sandpaper or a sander.

Remove the objects and furniture from the room. If you are unable to move large pieces of furniture, cover them with drop cloths for protection. Arrange drop cloths on the floor.

Immerse the slap brush in a bucket of sink full of water and allow it to soak for about 30 minutes.

Fit the masking paper and painter’s tape onto the spindles of the masking machine. Climb up on the ladder, and starting at one corner where the ceiling meets the wall, pull the masking machine along the length of the wall, securing the tape to the wall with your hand. Complete the process until each wall is masked.

Add about 1/2 cup of water to the drywall plaster and mix thoroughly with a paddle fixed to an electric drill. The plaster should be the consistency of cake batter and may require more water to achieve the consistency.

Fill a paint tray two-thirds full of the mixed drywall plaster.

Slide the nap roller onto the roller frame and then screw the extension pole into the end of the frame.

Roll the nap roller into the paint tray until it is soaked with the drywall plaster.

Position the roller on one ceiling corner and roll the drywall plaster thickly onto the ceiling for about 8 feet, pulling it along the length of the wall. Remove the roller from the ceiling and put it back into the corner, but roll the plaster onto the ceiling along the perpendicular wall for about 8 feet.

Reposition the roller so it's parallel to the very first row of plaster and create a row that is the same length as the first. Pick up the roller and start one length over from the second row, rolling the plaster in the opposite direction toward the wall. Continue rolling in opposite directions until you have about an 8-foot square completed. Return to the corner along the perpendicular wall and roll the opposite direction pattern to smooth over the section you just applied. Complete an 8-foot square.

Roll the brush in the drywall plaster after every third or fifth roll to replace the plaster. Pour more drywall plaster into the paint tray to complete the job.

Remove the slap brush from the water, attach it to the extension pole and dip the slap brush into the drywall plaster. Starting about 2 feet from the corner, slap the brush onto the ceiling and then quickly turn your wrist so the brush makes a pattern with the rotation. Lift the brush away and then slap again, twisting in the opposite direction. Continue the pattern until you complete the technique in the 8-foot square. This patterning creates the crow's foot texture. Move the brush toward the corner once you have a feel for the reach of the bristles as you slap and rotate.

Reroll another 8-foot square section with the nap roller and then repeat the slap brush technique. Continue this process until the entire ceiling is textured.

Allow the plaster to dry overnight and then carefully remove the painter’s tape and masking paper.