How to Faux Texture Your Walls
Want to add a decorator's touch to your home? Sandwashing is one technique that
will do just that. It is a subtle, slightly textured technique that simulates the look of sand, creating a stone-like finish.
Sandwashing Technique
A tinted primer applied to your wall first, which is close to the
color you have selected for your sandwash color, will work best. Apply two coats of the sandwash to get an even finish.
The First Coat - Start at the top corner and use your brush to cut in a 2 foot strip across the ceiling edge
and down the corner of the wall.
Then load up a 3/4" nap roller with SandWash, being generous, and fill in a 2'x2' area. Continue this process, doing
additional 2'x2' sections, creating a column down the wall. Make sure to overlap each section slightly and always maintain
a wet edge.
When you have finished each column, reload the roller and apply a thin coat of SandWash, now covering the entire column.
Repeat this process as you complete each column area until you have finished the entire wall.
Don't be surprised if the first coat appears uneven. Allow 4 hours for it to dry completely before you apply a second coat.
The Second Coat - Now apply the second coat of SandWash making sure to use the same process as you did on the first
coat. This time allow 24 hours for it to dry.
The Top Coat - If you are in a high-traffic area or a high-moisture climate, you might want to apply some crystal
clear water-based polyurethane as a top coat. Allow it to dry for 7 days. Note: topcoating will darken the color of the
Sand Wash finish, but it will also enhance it as well.
Tools You Will Need
- SandWash
- 3" or 4" nylon/polyester brush
- 3/4" nap roller
- gloves
- paint tray
- drop cloth
Venetian Plaster Technique
Give your home an old-world "European" feeling with the Venetian
Plaster Technique. Apply this technique over primed or low-sheen surfaces (flat or eggshell).
Tools You Will Need
- Venetian Plaster
- paint tray
- drop cloth
- extra rags
- gloves
- 400 or 600 grit sandpaper
- 100 grit sandpaper
- flexible 4" or larger steel trowel (or wall scraper)
The First Coat - Take a flexible steel trowel and round the corners with 100 grit sandpaper to reduce
the changes of getting edge marks during the application process.
Load up your trowel with Venetian Plaster and hold it at a 15-30 degree angle, pulling and spreading your tinted
Venetian Plaster across the surface. Make sure you test the color first on a smaller surface. Use long and then
short stokes, placed randomly on the surface, creating a very thin layer. Allow the original wall to sort of peek
thru in some areas.
Wipe off your trowel often. Venetian Plaster when dry can affect the smoothness of the application of the product.
Let your first coat dry for approximately 4 hours.
The Second Coat - Load up the trowel with Venetian Plaster. This time hold it at a 60-90 degree angle and
apply a thin second coat using long and short, overlapping strokes.
Let this coat dry for 24 hours before putting on a topcoat or burnishing the surface.
Burnishing - If you are using a topcoat, skip this step. If not, then allow the Venetian Plaster to dry for
24 hours and burnish it within the next 7 days. To burnish it, rub the surface in a circular motion with 400 or 600 grit
sandpaper. Then wipe the surface with a slightly damp rag to remove plaster dust.
Once you have burnished the whole surface, use a flat side of a clean steel trowel to rub the finish. This will
give it a more polished look and you'll wind up with a marble-like appearance.
TopCoat - If you have high-moisture or are in a high-traffic area, use a topcoat. Do not burnish the surface,
either before or after apply a topcoat.
Use a clean, flexible 4" or larger steel trowel. Hold the trowel at an angle while pulling and spreading a very
thin layer of the topcoat across the wall.
The topcoat should dry to a satin sheen. It may also darken the color of the Venetian Plaster.
Faux Crackle Techniques
Faux Glazing Techniques
Decorating Under the Stars
Wallpaper Making a Comeback
Wallpaper: Is It Worth the Cost? I
Wallpaper: Is It Worth the Cost? II
How to Hang Wallpaper
WE SPECIALIZE IN THESE TOPICS: FAUX PAINT - FAUX PAINTING - HOW TO FAUX PAINT - PAINTING TIPS - HOW TO PAINT - PAINT HOME - PAINT WALLS - PAINTING TECHNIQUES - FAUX TEXTURES -
PAINT FAUX TEXTURES - HOME PAINTING TIPS - INTERIOR REDESIGN TRAINING - HOME STAGING TRAINING - CORPORATE ART CONSULTING TRAINING -
INTERIOR DECORATING TRAINING - DECORATING - REDECORATING - DECORATE - REDECORATE - INTERIOR DESIGN - INTERIOR DECORATING - INTERIOR REDESIGN - INTERIOR REDECORATING - FURNITURE
ARRANGING - FURNITURE PLACEMENT - FURNITURE ARRANGEMENTS - INTERIOR REDESIGN TRAINING - HOME STAGING TRAINING - ONE DAY DECORATING - QUICK DECORATING - FAST DECORATING -
EASY DECORATING - COLOR CONSULTATIONS - COLOR FORECASTS - HOME IMPROVEMENT - DECORATING TIPS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Handy Links to Our Decorating Products
| 
