
The ceilings of many homes and apartments are not painted, but instead are coated with a substance that has a bumpy texture. It looks like this: This treatment is normally called a textured finish or an acoustic finish by builders, but most people refer to it as popcorn.
Why are bumpy walls better than smooth walls?
It’s also a more durable surface than a smooth wall, and less affected by minor wear and tear. And some people still feel texture adds character: The bumps reflect light and create shadows, making ordinary walls less “boring.”
What are the different types of wall texture?
7 Types of Wall Texture and the Techniques Behind Them. 1 1. Comb. The comb texture is produced using techniques that create lines of various widths and shapes in drywall compound. This technique is often ... 2 2. Popcorn. 3 3. Orange Peel. 4 4. Knockdown. 5 5. Sand Swirl. More items
What is comb texture on drywall?
The most common type of comb texture results in a rainbow like image repeated at various angles on drywall. To obtain the shape of a rainbow arc, experiment with a trowel with a series of small teeth to make the lines.

What are the different types of wall texture?
7 Types of Wall Texture and the Techniques Behind ThemComb. The comb texture is produced using techniques that create lines of various widths and shapes in drywall compound. ... Popcorn. Photo: istockphoto.com. ... Orange Peel. ... Knockdown. ... Sand Swirl. ... Slap Brush. ... Slap Brush Knockdown.
Why do walls have bumps?
A: Each of those bumps indicates the presence of a nail from the wallboard to the wood wall studs. When your house was new, the drywall contractor nailed the wallboard in place, covered the small depressions made by the hammer's head with joint compound and sanded the wall smooth for the painters.
What are popcorn walls called?
A popcorn ceiling, also known as a stipple ceiling or acoustic ceiling, is a ceiling with one of a variety of spray-on or paint-on treatments. The bumpy surface is created by tiny particles of vermiculite or polystyrene, which gives the ceiling sound-deadening properties.
What makes a wall textured?
Wall texture is a substance that is thicker than paint but thinner than a straight drywall compound. Texture applied to walls and ceilings creates small shadows due to the bumps and depressions.
What is the texture on walls called?
Probably the best-known drywall texture, “popcorn ceiling” gets its name from its slightly extruded, rounded knob-like texture. Its uneven distribution makes it particularly popular when there's a need to cover up ceiling repairs. Plus, it has the benefit of slight sound dampening.
Do modern homes have textured walls?
There are also a lot of reasons not use a textured drywall finish in a modern home, but maybe the most significant of all is the overall appearance. If you want a very clean, minimalist, simple aesthetic, or wall coverings (paper or textile), you will want to have a smooth Level 4 or Level 5 drywall finish.
What are the 4 types of texture?
There are four types of textures that appear in music, Monophony, Polyphony, Homophony, and Heterophony. These four textures appear in music from around the world.
What is textured drywall?
Textured interior walls (think: “orange peel,” popcorn, or swirled patterns) have a practical function, since the texture hides the signs of drywall installation—that is, the taped seams where the sheets of drywall meet—and other imperfections.
Is stucco the same as popcorn?
Stucco ceilings are also referred to as “popcorn ceilings” or “cottage cheese ceilings” due to their textured, bumpy appearance. These ceilings are characterized by hard ripples made out of stucco material that is sprayed onto ceiling surfaces.
Why do apartments have popcorn walls?
Basically, a textured wall is more cost effective than smooth wall which is why they are so commonly used in rental properties. Texture can by applied and finished faster than smooth walls, usually requires less material and less skill to achieve a good result.
Can you sand down textured walls?
Gently sand the surface of the wall with sandpaper. Choose a sandpaper that is 120 to 150 grit to ensure surface abrasion without damaging the drywall. If warm water removed most of the texture, a light sanding will likely smooth the wall surface.
How do you texture drywall walls?
Apply taping or joint compound to your wall with a trowel or a wide compound knife. Dab a sponge into the compound, then press the sponge against the wall repeatedly to create an overall texture. Dab on additional compound as necessary. Let dry and then paint.
How do you get rid of bumpy walls?
Four ways to get rid of unwanted textured walls:Apply a skim coat. ... Replace the textured drywall with new drywall. ... Cover the walls with another material, such as wood. ... Live with it.
How do you fix lumps in walls?
1:292:45How to Get Rid of Wall Bumps! (Screw Pop Fix) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo i can go ahead now take the trowel. And scratch off that extra mud. We have two options we canMoreSo i can go ahead now take the trowel. And scratch off that extra mud. We have two options we can either sink these in deeper.
How do you fix bumps on the wall?
0:051:20Texture Bump Removal with Trowel - Interior Wall Finish Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd scrape them off and don't dig the trowel into the wall otherwise you're gonna have more gougesMoreAnd scrape them off and don't dig the trowel into the wall otherwise you're gonna have more gouges to fix but again look at that. It's a little pressure doesn't take much.
Why is my drywall bulging?
A bulge in drywall can be caused by moisture damage, overdriven screws, or poor fastening. To fix the bulge caused by moisture, fix the water leak and replace the affected panel with new sheetrock. If the bending is caused by poor screwing and fastening, replace the screws making sure to install them correctly.
What are textured walls?
Textured interior walls (think: “orange peel,” popcorn, or swirled patterns) have a practical function, since the texture hides the signs of drywall installation—that is, the taped seams where the sheets of drywall meet—and other imperfections. “It’s cost-saving,” says Barton.
How are textured walls achieved?
Typically, the texture is sprayed on; sometimes patterns are added, either with a soft brush or an implement like a comb, rag, or sponge.
Four ways to get rid of unwanted textured walls
To many of us, the best wall is the smoothest wall you can get. Here are four ways to turn a stippled surface into a smooth one. These methods will also work with walls that are distressed in other ways (should you tire of the exposed plaster or old-wallpaper look someday).
What is acoustic finish?
An acoustic finish is like carpeting the ceiling. There are many different ways to put a texture on a ceiling, but the most common technique involves mixing some sort of lumpy aggregate -- either vermiculite or polystyrene -- with ceiling paint. The mixture is then sprayed onto the ceiling using a special spray gun like ...
What is a popcorn ceiling?
This treatment is normally called a textured finish or an acoustic finish by builders, but most people refer to it as popcorn. This sort of ceiling treatment is popular for several reasons: 1 It keeps you from having to plaster and sand the ceiling. If you've ever done it, you know that plastering a ceiling is no fun. 2 It hides lots of imperfections in the ceiling. The ceiling is a huge, flat, uninterrupted and well-lit expanse. Any imperfection is immediately obvious. The texturing hides imperfections very effectively. 3 It helps eliminate echo in a room. If you have ever talked in a room before and after carpeting, you know what a big difference carpet makes on echoes. An acoustic finish is like carpeting the ceiling.
Is plastering a ceiling fun?
If you've ever done it, you know that plastering a ceiling is no fun. It hides lots of imperfections in the ceiling. The ceiling is a huge, flat, uninterrupted and well-lit expanse. Any imperfection is immediately obvious.
What is the most common wall texture?
Orange Peel. Orange peel texturing is one of the most common basic wall textures, however, according to Modernize, you will need to take a few steps before diving into to texturing your walls. You’ll need to sand, clean, and prime the walls first before you begin. Orang e peel got its name from the dimpled type texture that resembles the rind ...
What are the best textures for walls?
Each have their advantages and drawbacks, but all of them are beautiful in their own way. Here are 10 wall textures to consider. 1. Comb. Comb textures are popular for those who favor highly stylized wall surfaces and they are created through techniques which create lines of varying widths.
How to use a stomp brush texture?
The Stomp brush texture is accomplished by applying wet mud to drywall. Using a brush with long bristles on a rounded brush is the best way to accomplish the stomp brush. Simply push upwards into the mud with the rounded brush and repeat the pattern until the entire wall is textured.
What is rosebud texture?
Rosebud. The rosebud texturing is a form of the slap brush texture. This pattern of texturing is created by using a brush to make circles in the wet mud to create the pattern of rosebuds. This is done in a series of repeating patterns and it should be practiced on an old piece of drywall until you get it right.
Can cottage cheese be used on walls?
It can also be applied to walls. This texture has the additional benefit of dampening sound because it requires a thick application.
How do I apply drywall compound to a wall?
Apply the drywall compound to the wall using the roller, then use the teeth of the trowel to gently apply lines in the wet compound. If you are aiming for perfect concentric circles, practice your artistic skills on a spare piece of drywall before attempting them on your wall.
How to apply swirls to a wall?
Using the brush, start at the very top of the wall, making a big loop with an open bottom. Each row of this swirl pattern will cover up the bottom of the previous row. Apply swirls to a 5-foot section, dipping the brush into the paint after every swirl, then return to your starting point and drop down one row.
How to knock down drywall?
Knockdown can be achieved by adding a step to the orange peel technique: After applying an orange peel texture to the walls, flatten the peaks and bumps that form in the drywall compound using an 18-inch or wider knockdown knife.
How to make comb texture?
The comb texture is produced using techniques that create lines of various widths and shapes in drywall compound. This technique is often used to produce a repeated series of rainbow patterns on the drywall and is one of the more simplistic texturing techniques. This method requires drywall compound, a roller, and a drywall trowel that has evenly spaced teeth (or uneven teeth if you are going for a less organized pattern). Apply the drywall compound to the wall using the roller, then use the teeth of the trowel to gently apply lines in the wet compound. If you are aiming for perfect concentric circles, practice your artistic skills on a spare piece of drywall before attempting them on your wall. Let the texture dry for 24 hours before priming and painting.
