5 Tips for Crows Foot Wall Texturing
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5 hours
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Intermediate
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- 50-150
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.
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.