A quick how to on saving you time and getting great results texturing wall patches. For small projects, texture in a can will get you great results to match existing orange peel or gently raised texture surfaces.
Start with a Quality Product
We’ve used a plethora of spray products over the years. Big box and Specialty Store water and oil-based, and we’ve mixing our own using our hopper and air compressor. However, the variability in the texture and how it sets up will vary greatly. Also, if you have a finer texture (like ours), the more expensive options seem to provide the best match.
Prepare the Area and Your Supplies
Water based wall texture is simple to clean up, even if it dries on harder surfaces. It can stain, so best to clean up quickly. Because we’re painting at the same time, we prep for painting. Taping edge lines, doing the perfect paint lines trick and draping for splashes. Then we prep for overspray – you will be spraying beyond the area to be textured, much like spray painting.
It’s important to prepare your spray can properly. Make sure the can is in the ideal temperature range stated on the can and shake, shake, shake. Once you’re done shaking, give it another good shake.
Spray a Test Swatch
We will typically tape paper or plastic up to cover over spray and use that to fine tune the spray texture to match. It is possible to spray it on the wall and wipe it off before it sets up, but it’s messy (and a little annoying). Card board works great.
Tips for Texturing
1. Start spraying off the wall on you overspray material
2. We’ve found that having the can 18-24 inches away is a sweet spot.
3. When spraying, quick-random-crazy arm-waving gestures work well. Seriously, let go of any semblance of a nice pattern and just spray crazy. If you need more in an area, start off the spray area and spray arm-wavey crazy back over the area.
4. If you screw up, you can sand it off when it dries. It’s okay. Been there. Even had to skim coat again.
5. Always turn your can upside down and spray until it clears (keeps it ready for the next job).
6. If you get big blotchy spurts, carefully dab with a damp paper towel to return to normal.
7. Be patient as the product does settle slightly as it dries.
8. Let it dry and when you first paint, don’t over apply product as it can mess up the texture. We like to use Pro-999/Rx 35 or a spray paint primer for problem areas.
Examples
Here are two typical examples of the fine spray you’ll get from a big box (left) and a specialty paint store (right) product. The specialty product is typically more expensive but for us, it matches what we have better.
Homax tends to produce a flat sunken orange peel 
Texture Tex produces sharper orange peel textures
