Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum banner

Help me duplicate this texture

11K views 41 replies 13 participants last post by  icerock drywall  
#1 ·
So I am not a drywall professional but have done plenty of it since I am in the trades and have remodeled a few houses of mine. The problem is pretty much all I have done has been smooth finish.

I had some water damage to my kitchen ceiling from the bathroom above and would much rather patch it and add texture to match instead of skim coating the entire area smooth since its a big open area. The trouble I am having is that Im not really sure how to go about duplicating and blending the texture. Ive messed around with a few different tools and methods I have come across but nothing seems to match just right. I will attach a few pics which show the teture, hopefully they are good enough.

Thanks a ton for any help!!!
 

Attachments

#17 ·
If Illbuildit.dd says he knows how, I believe him. I would really appreciate at least a written description of how to apply it and what this brush or broom is.
If several people had not said it is a brush texture using a brush no longer available, I would have been sure it was some type of a roller texture, using a strange chattering or short stroke technique.
I If I had to duplicate it for a small repair, I think I could do it with a 9” or maybe an 18” paint roller. It has flames between the ridges like a roller texture and ridges when the roller lifts off, like a roller texture. The problem is the ridges are really close together and the flames are really short. A bunch of short strokes that touch the ceiling with the roller and lift after a short stroke might duplicate it. I also noticed that it totally changes direction at some type of random interval which makes it easier to duplicate. That might work for a 2’ or 3’ repair, but not a large area in the middle of the ceiling.
I searched the net for a push broom for drywall or a picture showing this texture. I did not find either. I am very interested to hear what buildit has to say. I sure would like to see a picture of the brush that makes it.
 
#6 ·
#10 ·
I will agree with ya that it looks like broom... it just seems a little easier for folks to match that type of finish with the texture roller I posted. You know broom is a touch... and you can mess things up with the wrong touch... even a jack leg can use that roller cover and wind up with it looking good.


Not that I am calling ANYONE here a jack leg now... :rolleyes:
 
  • Like
Reactions: blacktop
#9 ·
Its definitely not orange peel and doesnt look like anything that was sprayed out of a gun. Seems like it was probably either rolled or skimmed on and then textured.

I cant seem to find any images that show the "push broom" texture. But its definitely along the lines of the crows foot texture which I have looked at already but of course since everyone applies a little differently, none of them seem to match just right.
 
#16 ·
I have a beast that can almost match that tex to a T. I'll take a pic tomorrow . Oh hell! Wait a sec ... I'll go find the damn thang ....


WOW! It's cold out there! :eek:

I call this the bag pattern . It's all in the stomp with how you want the pattern to come out .
 

Attachments

#26 ·
This thing wasn't an actual "push" broom for using on the floor. It was like crows foot only longer. About 8 or 9 years ago my old one wore out and I bought one after searching all over town and got the last one a supplier had. I guess they're obsolete. And like I say, maybe only in certain parts of the country. But I did have a builder that took a real pushbroom and rub it all over the texture in his personal office as I applied mud. It was ugly as hell!!!
 
#23 ·
As far as application, mix the mud to the point you immediately reach "pourable consistency", dip the crow foot, and pat it on. Then play with it. Match the pattern, look at which way the lines run.. Make them the same length. Then, take pride in the fact you can't see the patch. But after floated, wet rag or sponge edges for camouflage.

If a broom could be found, same instructions.

Oh an.…. Sometimes the mud may need a little more water. That's why you start at "just pourable"
 
#27 ·
Blacktop, I tried the grout sponge in a bag on a scrap piece and couldnt get the same look no matter how much I tried to manipulate it.

Trust me I would much rather a smooth finish but I really dont feel like getting into smoothing out 2400sq ft of ceiling at this point. Im a picky bastard so Id end up doing the whole house. I did all the ceilings with the last place I owned. I wouldnt say the current texture is all that bad, not real noticeable compared to lots of others, and if it was that bad I would have already changed it. Hence why I changed the fan swirl in my last place.

Im going to give a crows foot a whirl tomorrow and see how it comes out on a spare piece first. If it looks good Im going to run with it. I pot some pics for you guys when Im done.
 
#33 ·
<img src="http://www.contractortalk.com/attachments/f49/129722d1421021159-help-me-duplicate-texture-img_2403.jpg" alt="129722d1421021159-help-me-duplicate-texture-img_2403.jpg (852Ă—640)"/

zoom in on the bottom pic. it has signature crow foot everywhere. changes of direction, bristle marks, pull off points. I have matched small patches of crows foot with a roller but its hard to do. cant roll, have to slide then pull off.
 
#34 ·
Image


zoom in on the bottom pic. it has signature crow foot everywhere. changes of direction, bristle marks, pull off points. I have matched small patches of crows foot with a roller but its hard to do. cant roll, have to slide then pull off.
You're right. It looks like the joint compound was rolled on heavy and then stomped with the crow's foot. :thumbsup:
 
#36 ·
Image



Here is a closeup of a crowsfoot repairs that I matched with a crowsfoot brush. In Washington contractors spray the texture on when we do the original complete crowsfoot ceiling so there are no flames showing on the ceiling.

If a person was to roll the texture on the ceiling with a roller and then stomp it with a crowsfoot brush it still would not look like the ceiling in the post.

I have another close up from another repair that I will post also
 
#40 ·
just got home so i can see on the computer. it is applied very similar to what you have done there, the difference is that by moving in one direction back and forth you get what is in the piucture in question. also like i say, could have lots of paint on it. and its all in how much water is in the mud and how the brush was pulled off. so many variables with mud. you can roll thick mud and get sharp points and you can roll thin mud and get soft points. in the tons of texture ive matched one thing is for sure. who really knows unless you get the same guy back out there.