How to Apply Texture to New Concrete Walls
- Overlays You can apply a new layer of concrete to a wall, known as an overlay. ...
- Spray Texture It's possible to spray concrete onto a wall using a hopper spray gun. ...
- Trowel Textures Although it takes some skill, you can use a trowel or a putty knife to texture concrete; concrete takes well to manual texturing and shaping. ...
- Objects ...
How do you make concrete look textured in interior design?
Objects. Rather than adding texture to concrete, you can get a textured look by applying items to the outside or by embedding objects. For example, apply veneer brick or stone to the wall. You can embed items, such as stone. There is a technique used with stucco called pebble dashing, which involves this, and has some variations.
Can you add texture to concrete with tools?
Fortunately, for those inclined to add texture, there’s also a wide range of tools available that, with some mastery, can take either horizontal or vertical concrete from dull to fantastic. Ask concrete tool manufacturers the first texturing method they recommend newcomers master, and the answer is almost uniformly seamless skins.
How do you add texture to stucco?
Other options that work well with texturing stucco are whisk brooms or paint rollers. You also can use wadded up pieces of paper or steel wool to add a rough texture to the surface. Rather than adding texture to concrete, you can get a textured look by applying items to the outside or by embedding objects.
Can you spray concrete texture on walls?
Spray Texture. It's possible to spray concrete onto a wall using a hopper spray gun. Use a concrete formulated for this purpose, as well as a gun designed for this. While spray coats often are used as a way to add a texture to floors for the sake of safety, they have an appealing, rough and natural look you may find desirable for a wall.

How do I add texture to existing concrete?
The Solution. The best way to get stamped concrete over existing concrete is a stampable overlay. Stampable overlays are a thick overlay capable of accepting texture from stamps. These overlays are much thicker than microtoppings but not as much as a self-leveling overlay.
Can you texture over cement?
Not only is it durable, but this material can be colored, textured and shaped. If you have a new, plain concrete wall, you may want to apply a texture to it to make it more attractive or make it look like a different material.
Can you texture concrete after it dries?
Concrete can be textured before or after it has been set, depending on how hard you want it to be. The tools above are used in concrete while still in a malleable state and can take some abuse. If you want a roughened surface that is harder to touch, texturing should occur after the concrete has cured.
Can you spray texture on concrete?
Pool decks are the most common application, but spray texture overlays are frequently used on concrete patios and sidewalks as well. A wide range of colors are available for these overlays. A near infinite number of patterns can be created using design tape.
What is concrete overlay?
Answer: A concrete overlay is a thin color concrete cement based products that go over existing concrete for repair or decorative reasons. Overlays can be applied as thin as a feather finish up to in most cases 3/4″ depending on the desired finish.
How do you texture a concrete block wall?
1:267:56So we get some mud on our trowel. And you don't when you're taking it you don't want a big trowel.MoreSo we get some mud on our trowel. And you don't when you're taking it you don't want a big trowel. Full of mud. You want a little bit. So I'm gonna come down here get a little bit on and then.
Is there a difference between concrete and cement?
What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.
What is a broom finish on concrete?
Broom Finish concrete is concrete finished by dragging a horsehair broom, or something similar, over its wet surface. Brushing the concrete makes for a textured surface with small, but noticeable grooves. Broom Finish concrete has been the preferred utilitarian texture for exterior concrete for decades.
Why do they brush concrete?
Sometimes called brushed concrete, a broom is used to create a slip-resistant texture on the surface of the concrete. Concrete finishers have been broom finishing for about as long as there has been concrete. Broom finished thin overlays add skid resistance and upgrade a deteriorating concrete surface.
How do you make concrete look like stone?
How to Stain Concrete for a Natural Stone EffectPrepare the Concrete. Clean and etch the concrete with products designed for concrete. ... Apply the Primer. ... Apply Painter's Tape. ... Test the Stain. ... Spray the Stain With a Pump Sprayer. ... Wait for the Stain to Dry. ... Add a Darker Stain. ... Apply a Topcoat.
How do you texture a concrete sidewalk?
6:0510:10More. You can see luke's kind of hanging out on the edge. And doing the edges. And i'm doing theMoreMore. You can see luke's kind of hanging out on the edge. And doing the edges. And i'm doing the walk this walkway was four feet wide. And it totaled about 35 feet long but it wasn't a huge walkway.
How do you overlay concrete?
3:377:56And I do have another short video that will show this technique in more detail. So I'd like to jumpMoreAnd I do have another short video that will show this technique in more detail. So I'd like to jump to another installation to show you the next part of the process.
How do you apply texture to cured concrete?
1:164:36Step. 2 once dry scrape over the surface with a metal squeegee to remove any ridges or squeegeeMoreStep. 2 once dry scrape over the surface with a metal squeegee to remove any ridges or squeegee marks. Step 3 for a spray texture or trowel knockdown finish or the texture top into a hopper gun.
How do you decorate a cement wall?
7 Ideas for Decorating a Concrete Garden WallGet Creative With Poured Concrete. ... Add Plants and Metalwork. ... Mimic the Texture of Rough-Sawn Wood. ... Hang Vertical Planters. ... Customize with a Mural. ... Apply a Textured Overlay. ... Embed Boulders.
Can you stucco a concrete wall?
Concrete block makes a super base for Portland cement-based plaster (stucco). The two materials are made from the same basic ingredients and they are extremely compatible. Prop- erly done, it's a great combination. The concrete block should have an open or coarse texture.
How do you remove texture from concrete?
METHOD 1: Soak and Scrape Unpainted TextureTo prep and protect, cover the floor with a canvas drop cloth and tape up exposed trim. ... Fill a pump sprayer with water and spray the entire wall evenly to soften the texture. ... Starting at the top of the wall, scrape the softened texture.More items...•
How thick of a layer to use for a texture skin?
The overlay thickness will depend on the stamp profile depth or carving techniques used. If you are using a texture skin, you may only need 3/8 to 1/2 inch of material. For deep stamp patterns or carved joints, you may need to apply the overlay to a 2-inch depth or more.
What is a texture skin?
Texturing skins are simply much thinner versions of stamps. They are used to impart texture (such as the roughness of a natural rock face) to the wall surface rather than the deeper, well-defined patterns made by stamps. They can be used alone or to pretexture the wall surface before stamping or carving.
How to keep stamps from sticking to wall?
Always apply a liquid release agent to your stamping tools to get a cleaner imprint and to prevent them from sticking to the freshly applied overlay. To keep placement of the wall stamps level, use a fixed point or edge such as a level floor or top of a wall. A string line will also work.
What to do after coloring overlay?
After coloring the overlay with topical stains or dyes, finish by applying a sealer to protect your work and enhance the color , using a product compatible with the overlay mix and suitable for the exposure conditions. Because foot traffic isn't an issue with vertical surfaces, usually fewer coats of sealer are needed.
What is a concrete stamp made of?
These stamps are usually made from lightweight polyurethane or rubber and are often smaller and more pliable than stamps used for horizontal concrete slabs. Typically each stamp is designed to produce just one or two pattern units, allowing for randomized placement and easier stamping in tight spots and corners. Rockandwater.com.
What happens if you mix wall overlay?
If the mixture is too dry, it will be weak and could crumble away. If too watery, it will sag or run down the surface.
Can you sand a painted wall?
On painted or extremely smooth walls, it may also be necessary to lightly sand the surface to provide more grip for the overlay. For exterior wall surfaces such as concrete and masonry, pressure washing and light sandblasting are effective cleaning methods. After prepping the surface, the next step is to apply a liquid primer or bond coat, ...
How to get textured look on stucco?
Rather than adding texture to concrete, you can get a textured look by applying items to the outside or by embedding objects. For example, apply veneer brick or stone to the wall. You can embed items, such as stone. There is a technique used with stucco called pebble dashing, which involves this, and has some variations. Dry-dashing is a variant that involves embedding stones so they are visible, and in wet-dashing, the stones are mixed in with the stucco.
What is the technique used to embed stucco?
You can embed items, such as stone. There is a technique used with stucco called pebble dashing, which involves this, and has some variations. Dry-dashing is a variant that involves embedding stones so they are visible, and in wet-dashing, the stones are mixed in with the stucco. av-override.
What is concrete overlay?
Overlays. You can apply a new layer of concrete to a wall, known as an overlay. There are several kinds of concrete overlays and ways to decorate overlays, but one that may interest you in particular is a stampable overlay. Apply the overlay to the wall, then use a concrete stamp to create a texture. This is a way to make concrete look like ...
What is a knock down finish for concrete?
While spray coats often are used as a way to add a texture to floors for the sake of safety, they have an appealing, rough and natural look you may find desirable for a wall. This type of finish is called "knock-down.". Sprayed concrete also can be used with concrete stencils, which, like stamps, can create an illusion or a textured appearance.
Can concrete be colored?
Concrete is a remarkably versatile material. Not only is it durable, but this material can be colored, textured and shaped. If you have a new, plain concrete wall, you may want to apply a texture to it to make it more attractive or make it look like a different material.
Can you use a trowel to texture concrete?
Trowel Textures. Although it takes some skill, you can use a trowel or a putty knife to texture concrete; concrete takes well to manual texturing and shaping. This is an approach usually used with stucco; stucco and concrete are mixtures that use cement as a major component, and work well together, so you can apply stucco over concrete.
What are the two types of concrete?
In this world, there are two types of concrete: concrete that’s flat, gray and utilitarian, and concrete that’s been shaped, colored and/or textured — and is considered art.
Who said concrete is broomed into swirls?
Proline’s Irwin agrees. He says in many parts of the world concrete is broomed into swirls and other designs.
Can you use texture rollers on overlays?
Still, texture rollers can be beneficial when working with overlays, says John Bongiovanni, president of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania-based Bon Tool. “We offer a seamless texture roller, although there are some that create a joint, as well,” he says.
Can you use rollers on concrete?
Skins and stamps certainly aren’t the end-all and be-all when it comes to concrete texturing. Rollers are another option, and while they don’t have the learning curve stamps do, they have limitations, especially along walls, in corners and working around objects.
Can you texture concrete with gloves?
A patterned mat requires a bit more finesse when picking it up and repositioning. Although possible contact with wet concrete is limited at this stage, Concrete Decor recommends gloves be worn at all times when texturing concrete. Photo courtesy of Butterfield Color
Can you use polyurethane skins on concrete?
These thin polyurethane skins are easy to work with simply because there’s no wrong way to use them, although Cameron Morgan of Pacific Concrete Images in Laguna Hills, California, observes that when you use them you may still have to score or saw-cut the concrete for proper control joints. Working with seamless skins allows those new to ...
