Walls and Ceilings - New Drywal texturing

This is a new one for me to try. I just installed, taped, mudded, and sanded my drywall. Now the wife wants a knockdown look with a faux paint job on top of it. Basically something that looks like my sister's AZ house with Adobe and faux finish.

Anyway, here are my questions. I have not sealed the drywall as of yet with a PVA primer. I figure that has to be done first. I have never done a texture finish other than adding sand to the final paint.

What type of hopper, size of nozzle, PSI setting, and type of material should I use to spray on the walls? Like I said, it’s all new to me.

I read other similar threads and the use of a flat wall board sounds like it works better than using a large knife to do the knockdown.

In addition to the tools and material question, what should the consistency be for the material before spraying and when I do the knockdown?

Yes, I will definitely practice first.


Thanks.

Randy

Check with local rental yards or even a hardware place, they usually rent the whole set-up, cost here in MO thru Westlakes is $40 a day. Air pressuse & nozzle size vary by application, start with like 50 psi and a med. tip size & then experiment until you get what you want. You can use scrap, or even just test in an out of the way spot on the wall, you'll have about 5-10 mins that it'll scrape off quite easily. For a knockdown finish I'd give it about 20 mins, then drag it out witha wide paddle, I use a 36" for this.

As for the mud, I like it like loose pancake batter, it should freely run off the mixer paddle when you lift it up out of the bucket.

Yes it is best to put a good coat of new drywall primer on it prior to doing the texture. We get our best result with the finish paint by sprying it on and back rolling. Hope that helps. Let us know how it turns out.

Only thing I can add is that I use a 12" knife to knockdown. I find the larger knives are a little wavy and hard to handle. And since this is your first job you might want more control over the pattern. Also are you absolutely sure about the type of texture you want? You say you want faux paint and when I think of Arizona I think of skip trowel or stomp knockdown, Something big like that. Just making sure.

Coops,

Can you describe the stomp knockdown process? I think I know what you mean.

Randy

Stomp knockdown is done with a brush called a crows foot. It has long bristles, that lay flat, attatched to a wooden frame. You load up the brush with mud and stomp onto the surface. When you pull the brush off it stipples the mud. Then depending on the look you want, you let set up a little and knock down. It can be done similar to spray knockdown or you can have larger flat spots.

Randy.
There is a lot of looks you can get. A glaze on top of a knock down would be my least favorite though. Try doing different effects on some sheetrock. The most popular would be to trowel on the mud in different directions, prime and paint 2 coats of satin, semi gloss paint. Then Glaze. You can be really creative with the texture if you want to. Just be careful about the glaze you put on top. Store bought glazes do not have much open time which will cause lines on walls. Top coat with water bourne sealer.
Doyle