How to Stomp Texture a Drywall Ceiling – An Easy Guide

What You’ll Need

• Drywall compound
• Sample wallboard
• Paint tray
• Drop cloth
• Extension handle
• Paint roller
• Wide taping knife
• Heavy nap liner
• Stomp brush
• Drywall primer

Before You Begin

Unevenness and imperfections in ceilings prior to being stomped (as with all textures) might show through – even with a stomp overtop.

Look at the joints, the lighting, and the cut outs to see if any ceiling repair must first be done.

The ceiling should be fastened with screws and dry from taping and mudding.

The Process

Step 1: Mix a diluted compound with a stir paddle on a drill.

Step 2: Roll on to a sample wallboard with at least a 3/4″ nap roller.

This will leave the slipping tracks of a background pattern.

Step 3: Continue diluting the compound until you attain the match you are after.

Step 4: When ready, dip either a nylon bristle stomp or a natural bristle stomp on a pole into the mix. The natural bristle heads give an irregular pull style.

For imprints that are too stiff an impression, try soaking the nylon brush head in a bucket of warm water for a while to loosen the bend of the bristles. They should be limp.

Maintain a wet head as you go by first dipping in the mix and giving a light shake to free too much accumulation. Remember that if starting with a head too dry it will pull excessively from the ceiling base coat that was rolled on, while beginning from a head too heavy with the mix will cause over deposit.

Step 5: Simply remove the wet mix on the trial board with a wide taping knife.

Roll on again and stomp until the desired crows print is made.

Step 6: With the pattern ready, prepare a larger batch, enough to cover the entire ceiling with a fair amount of excess – having enough to not run out.

Step 7: Roll on the mudd to cover the ceiling in a single step, cleaning the edges with a taping knife and creating an upward score at the outermost edge for straightness with the blade.

Wasting no time, follow behind with the stomp brush on a pole, working with the damp layer well ahead until the entire ceiling has been covered with stomps.

With this method of texturing, it is best done by someone rolling and someone stomping at the same time.

Step 8: Drop the brush head and knifes in water to keep them wet til cleaning.

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