Textures on walls make them far more durable than smooth walls. And although textured walls typically need less maintenance, they’re still subject to exposure from different elements, from moisture to insects, leading to damage like holes and cracks. If you wonder, “When I need a texture-patch on interior walls, who should I call?”
If you have the right tools and can follow instructions, you can repair the textured patch yourself. It may seem a daunting process, but with consistent practice, you’ll be able to accomplish it reasonably quickly.
To practice with patching on textured interior walls, find an inconspicuous spot (like a usually hidden corner) in a room. Or you can also take a scrap piece of drywall or a piece of paper. Experimenting will help you develop the proper technique to match your wall’s current texture. That way, you will feel surer and less intimidated in applying patch texture on the damaged wall.
It is also important to determine what type of texture is currently on the wall to help you purchase the correct material.
Steps to texture-patch on interior walls:
- Purchase a pre-mixed drywall compound and a new piece of drywall (if you’re going to repair a large hole or crack).
- Mix the drywall compound following the label instructions.
- Sand the textured drywall to remove imperfections.
- Apply the drywall compound to fill small holes or cracks, dents, or dings. Use a knife in scooping the compound and applying it to the affected area.
- If you are repairing a larger hole, use new drywall. Cut out the drywall around the hole. Add a backing board around four inches (10 centimeters) longer than the hole’s size. Make sure that the new drywall piece has the same thickness as your existing drywall, and then cut it to the size of the hole. Put your drywall patch inside the same hole and secure it by screwing it into the backing board and the wall.
- Now that the hole is patched, you’ll want to sand the surface to make the drywall layers smooth and even.
- Prime the patch with a latex primer and let it dry.
- It’s time to add texture! Water down your drywall mixture to make a thinner consistency, which will allow the drywall compound to spread smoothly across the walls. Add one cup (240 ml) of water to the compound and mix until you get a thinner and more liquid mixture. Bear in mind that the amount of water you add depends on the texture effect you’re trying to create.
- Experiment by dipping a sponge into the mixture and practicing it on a piece of wax paper to achieve the same texture pattern on your wall.
- If the mix is too thick, add water as much as needed. But be also careful not to add too much water, or else your mix will end up watery and thus difficult to apply on the wall.
- Turn the sponge so that the drywall mixture is facing the wall. Position the sponge directly on the outside edge of the patched area. Use the sponge, apply pressure to the wall and quickly pull straight back. Repeat the process until patching the area is complete.
- Allow the newly applied texture to dry for 24 hours. Once the surface is dry, apply paint to match.
Applying a texture-patch on interior walls does not need to be intimidating, as long as you have the proper tools and follow the step-by-step instructions above. But if the extent of the damage is too great, you may want to hire a professional painting contractor to do the job for you. Make sure that you hire the most qualified painting contractor in your area when you need a texture-patch on interior walls or do other house repair and paint jobs. If you don’t know where to find good painters in your city or town, check out ways to find the best painting contractors near me.