How to Repair Knockdown Textured Walls

Prepare and protect your work area by removing nearby items and spreading out a drop cloth beneath the area to be repaired. Tape off any adjacent surfaces, such as wood trim, light fixtures or windowsills.

Cut away the edges of the hole or crack that needs repairs. Use a sharp utility knife to score the paper around the damaged area. Peel the drywall paper and the attached texture off of the damaged portion of the wall. Clean out the edges of the hole or crack in the drywall with the utility knife, leaving a clean edge that tapers outward from the center.

Fill the exposed hole or crack with spackling paste applied with a putty knife. Press the paste firmly into the opening. Wipe off any excess paste with the flat edge of the putty knife, leaving the surface of the repair even and level with the rest of the wall. Use a damp sponge to smooth down the surface and edges of the patched spot lightly. Let the paste dry for the amount of time recommended on the product label.

Dilute the spackling paste to the consistency of pancake batter by adding warm water. Apply the diluted paste over the patched area with a crow’s foot brush, dipping just the tip of the brush into the texture and dabbing it onto the wall with a pecking motion to form sharp peaks. Let the spackling paste dry until it feels tacky to the touch. This usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes from the time of application.

Knock down the texture with a trowel. Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle and gently move it across the tips of the peaks, gently flattening them into small plateaus that match the depth of the texture on the rest of the wall.