How to Finish a Garage Ceiling

Hang plastic around the perimeter of your garage and cover the garage floor. Use the pushpins to keep the plastic secured to the walls. When you spray texture it will splatter, creating a large mess. Hanging plastic will eliminate hours of cleanup.

Use painter's tape and smaller sections of plastic to cover light fixtures and garage door rails. This will also eliminate any extra cleanup. It is better to take the time to move things out of your garage and cover all areas not being textured than to create more work for yourself.

Scoop about half of the 5 gallons of drywall compound into another empty 5-gallon bucket. Add about 2 inches of water over the top of the drywall compound. Use a mixer beater and a variable speed drill to mix the water into the drywall compound. Put on your safety glasses.

Attach the hopper to the compressor hose. Scoop drywall compound into the hopper and turn on the compressor. Hold the hopper up toward the ceiling and pull the trigger on the hopper. Use a continuous motion across a 4-foot by 4-foot section of your ceiling and then release the trigger on the hopper.

Use your drywall knife to flatten or knock down the texture. Hold the drywall knife at a 45-degree angle to the ceiling. Apply only slight pressure to the knife as you drag it across the ceiling. This action will create a knock-down texture. If you apply too much pressure to the drywall knife you will completely flatten the splatter marks.