How to Do a Knockdown Wall Painting

Preparation

• 1

  Remove all furniture from the work area and cover the floor with drop cloths.

• 2

  Apply painter's tape along the baseboards, windows, trim and any place you want to protect from splatter.

• 3

  Pour powdered joint compound mix into a 5-gallon bucket. Thin out the joint compound with water until it is the consistency of pancake batter. Only mix enough compound to fit in a paint hopper at one time.

• 4

  Pour the mixture into the paint hopper. Adjust the nozzle to a 3/8-inch opening and set the air compressor to 60 psi.

• 5

  Practice spraying on a discarded piece of drywall or cardboard. Adjust the spray nozzle and air compressor settings, as needed, to get the desired effect.

Application

• 6

  Begin at the wall and ceiling joint and begin to spray the wall, keeping the nozzle moving in a constant right to left motion as you work downward. Even a slight hesitation can cause an excessive accumulation of texture in one area.

• 7

  Allow the compound to set for approximately 20 minutes or until it is tacky.

• 8

  Apply a drywall knife to the wall at a 45-degree angle. Use just enough pressure to knock down the peaks of the texture. Swipe in random directions to give the texture a varied pattern.

• 9

  Wipe the blade with a damp sponge to remove any accumulated joint compound before each swipe.

• 10

  Allow the texture to set for a minimum of 24 hours before priming and painting the wall.