How to Apply Behr Texture Paint

Preparation

1. Determine the type of Behr texture paint you need for your project. The paint comes in three textures: smooth, sanded and popcorn. Behr recommends using smooth and sanded finishes on walls and ceilings, and using the popcorn finish on ceilings.

2. Determine how much texture paint you'll need, adjusting the quantity for how thickly you plan to apply the paint. Behr notes that its 2-gallon container of texture paint covers 100 to 200 square feet (9 to 18 square meters), depending on application technique.

3. To determine square footage for a wall, measure the height and length, then multiply the numbers together. For example, a wall measuring 8 feet high by 10 feet long is 80 square feet. Behr texture paint is sold at Home Depot, and as of October 2009 cost $26.97 for 2 gallons (7.6 liters).

4. Prepare your surface by removing loose paint and dirt and cleaning off any mold. Gently scuff glossy surfaces with sandpaper. Countersink nails and screws, repair imperfections in the surface with filler, and sand them smooth. Wipe away any dust and allow the surface to dry completely.

5. Behr recommends allowing new stucco, plaster and masonry to cure for 30 days before painting.

Application

1. Behr recommends using its texture paint when the surface and air temperatures are between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Stir the texture paint well. Wooden paint stirring sticks tend to be too fragile for Behr texture paint and can break off in the paint. Use a clean length of metal rod, a flat-bladed paint scraper or a mixer attachment for your drill.

3. Pour the paint into a painting tray, being careful not to overfill.

4. Place a drop cloth beneath the work surface to catch drips and spatters.

5. Use a looped roller to apply the paint in sections roughly 4 by 4 feet square, leaving uneven edges. This allows for better blending when you begin working on an adjacent section.

6. Looped roller application will create a pebbled effect on your walls, and applying a second coat of texture paint can heighten the effect.

7. To create patterns, allow the second coat of texture paint to dry for five minutes. Use a flat-bladed paint scraper or trowel to create an adobe effect, or skim it lightly over the paint's surface to create a traditional knockdown look. Use a sea sponge to create circles or swirls in your texture paint. Lightly dragging a whisk broom vertically through the paint will create a grass cloth look.

Cleanup

1. Use soap and water for tool cleanup.

2. Use a wet cloth to wipe spatters and drips from baseboards and other surfaces.

3. Store remaining texture paint in a location where it will not freeze.

Resources

• Texture Painting Advice from Behr

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Tips

Behr's Premium Plus texture paint information provides easy-to-follow instructions. Instructions are available on the container and at behr.com (see the References section). If you're unsure how to achieve the look you want, try applying Behr texture paint to a clean piece of plywood or a section of cardboard box. Experiment with different application tools, density of product applied and application methods.

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Warnings

Allow Behr texture paint to dry thoroughly before doing further decorating. The paint will dry to the touch in about four hours, depending on the temperature and relative humidity, and will cure completely in one week.

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