How to Apply a Knockdown Texture Without a Sprayer

Sometimes, if your home isn’t new, the previous owner may have botched up wall repairs that are blatant. Knockdown texture is a good way to conceal imperfections on a wall.

1. Cover an ordinary paint roller with a plastic loop roller. You can buy this type of roller at your local hardware store.

2. Fill a bucket with joint compound, then take a plastic taping knife and spread joint compound all over the plastic loop roller.

3. Apply joint wall compound to the surface of the wall, creating a layer of compound 1/8 inch thick. Start by rolling in a straight up-and-down motion, beginning at the top of the ceiling and working your way down. Work with a gentle pressure as you roll the compound on the wall. Alternate directions as you roll, going from up-and-down to left-to-right to ensure that you have a good layer of compound on the wall. Work in 3x3-foot section at a time.

4. Allow the compound to set and dry. The longer that you allow the texture to dry, the more knockdown texture you will achieve.

5. Position a 10-inch taping knife at a slight angle on the dried compound and gently slide down to knock off the peaks in the dried compound.

6. Prime the wall then apply paint.