5 Tips for Crows Foot Wall Texturing

Written by Fiye Ward
on Feb 17, 2010

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
Gabriel Connor Salter
on Aug 11, 2021

5 hours
•
Intermediate
•
50-150

Plastic sheeting

Painter's tape

Paint roller with pole

Drywall compound

Water

5-gallon bucket

Plastic sheeting

Painter's tape

Paint roller with pole

Drywall compound

Water

5-gallon bucket

Crows foot texturing, also known as slap brush and panda paws texturing, is relatively easy to do but can be quite messy. Texturing your ceiling can be used to hide flawed drywall joints, as well as add depth and interest to an otherwise flat and lifeless ceiling.

rows feet texturing is also known by other names such as slap brush and panda paws. This type of texture is relatively easy to apply, but can be quite messy so precautions against this should be taken. Texturing your ceiling is useful when attempting to hide flawed drywall joints, and can also add depth to an otherwise flat and lifeless ceiling.

Room Preparation

It is important to remove as much furniture as possible from the room that you are working in due to the mess involved with this procedure. Completely cover your floors with plastic drops, remove all wall hangings and cover all fixtures. You can use painter's tape to cover the base of any ceiling light fixtures, and wrap a plastic bag around the light. This will make cleaning up a much easier process.

Drywall Compound

You will need at least a 5 gallon bucket of drywall compound and an empty 5 gallon bucket to mix it in. Scoop half of the drywall compound into the empty bucket and add approximately 20 oz of water on top of the compound in both buckets. Attach a ribbon mixer bit to your drill, and mix the water into the drywall compound. Your compound should be about the thickness of a milkshake. Add more water, a little at a time, to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.

Roll-On Drywall Compound

Fill a paint tray with prepared drywall compound. Attach a roller pad to a nap roller frame, and the frame to a paint pole; use the roller pad to apply an even layer of drywall compound to your ceiling. The drywall compound should be approximately 1/8 inch thick, just thick enough to get a good texture without dripping off of your ceiling. Only cover a 6-foot-by-6-foot section at a time unless you have a helper. This will prevent the drywall compound from drying before you can stomp it. Using consistent pressure while rolling will create a more uniform look when texturing.

Texturing

Attach a texture brush to the end of a paint pole. Press or stomp the brush straight up into the wet drywall and twist your pole to the right; twist the pole to the left the second time. Repeat this pattern throughout the entire process of texturing your ceiling. Twisting the pole will rotate your texture brush creating a more authentic texture pattern.

Texture Without Rolling

If you want a more natural looking texture, you can apply the compound to your ceiling without rolling it first. Simply dip the texture brush into prepared compound and apply it directly to the ceiling with the brush. Use the same stomping technique as described in the previous section. You can try both techniques on a scrap sheet of drywall to determine which application method you prefer.

1. Prepare Room for Texturing

It is important to remove as much furniture as possible from the room that you are working in due to the messiness involved in this procedure. Completely cover your floors with heavy plastic, removing any wall hangings and covering any fixtures. Painter's tape is perfect for covering the base of ceiling light fixtures while wrapping a plastic bag around the light will make cleaning up a much easier process.

2. Mixing Drywall Compound

You will need at least 5 gallons of drywall compound and an empty 5-gallon bucket to mix it in. To ensure an even mixture, transfer approximately half of the drywall compound into the empty bucket, adding 20 oz of water into both buckets to top off the compound. If you desire a different consistency, check the compound bag's mixing instructions or search online for other recommended compound-to-water ratios to use. Attach a ribbon mixer bit to your drill, using the drill to mix the water into the drywall compound. Be sure to add the remainder of the water slowly in order to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency. Once finished, your compound should be about the thickness of a milkshake.

3. Rolling on Drywall Compound

Pour your drywall compound mixture into an empty paint tray. Using a medium-sized nap paint roller, connect the frame to a long painter's pole in order to reach the ceiling. Dip the roller and shake off the excess compound, and then begin to apply an even layer of drywall compound to your ceiling. Be sure to start in a corner, rolling back and forth from the wall back out. The drywall compound should be layered just thick enough to get a good texture pattern without dripping off your ceiling. Only cover a 6x6-foot section at a time unless you have someone to help you. This prevents the drywall compound from drying out before you can stomp the texture in. Use consistent pressure while rolling, as this creates a more uniform look when texturing.

4. Texturing

After drywall application, attach your crow's foot texture brush to the end of your painter's pole. Drive the brush straight up into the wet compound, twisting your pole to the right and back to the left. Repeat this pattern, stomping and twisting throughout the entire process of texturing your ceiling. Using a firm stomp and twisting action creates a more even and authentic-looking pattern to your texture.

5. Texturing without Rolling

If you want a more natural-looking, imperfect texture, you can apply the compound to your ceiling directly, without rolling. Simply dip the texture brush into the prepared compound and immediately apply it to the ceiling with the brush. Use the same stomping technique that was described in the previous section. To determine which application method you prefer, try both methods out on a scrap sheet of drywall before starting this project.