Whether it’s a rough stucco wall, textured drywall or a textured floor, painting textured surfaces can require a lot more elbow grease and paint to get the job done correctly. But besides more paint and harder work, there are a few techniques that can really help you to get the paint in those tough to reach nooks and crannies. Use these tricks and hints for painting rough textures and get all of your rough painting done without troubles.
Which Paint Works Best?
It’s not just about getting a bunch of paint into those hard to reach places; it’s about using the right paint for the job. Flat wall paint should be avoided at all costs when painting a textured surface. This is because flat paint is so much harder to clean than semi or full gloss paints. If you’re looking to keep dust, dirt and debris from building up in the cracks and crevices of a textured wall, use a good quality semi-gloss paint for easy maintenance.
It’s also a good idea to stay away from lighter colors-especially white. The lighter the paint color, the more the dirt and dust will show on the textured surface. Choose a darker paint to prevent shadows, dirt and debris from making your textured paint job look dirty and dingy.
Cutting In
Just like any other paint job, it’s important to cut in the edges with a paint brush so that a paint roller can be used to fill in the rest. When cutting in on a rough textured surface, you’ll need a long bristled brush to help spread large amounts of paint onto the surface without getting it all over the place when you cut in. Since painters tape probably won’t do a very good job to prevent paint from spilling over onto other surfaces, you’ll need a good brush and a steady hand to combat the effect of a rough texture.
Mottling, swirling or pressing the brush against the rough surface can help to fill in the high and low spots of a rough textured surface. Multiple brush strokes are required to ensure that the paint reaches all of the little cracks and crannies that are in a rough texture.
Rolling it On
The only way to get a uniform and consistent finish on a rough texture is with a heavy nap roller. Large nap rollers require a lot more paint during the initial loading process. But once the roller cover is loaded with paint, you’ll need to continually reload it to keep the paint flowing perfectly over the rough surface.
The first coat needs to be light and thin. Additional coats can be thicker, but keep in mind that any excess paint left on the texture will cause some nasty runs. To avoid runs and streaks in the paints final coat, use a light nap roller to soak up any leftover runs after you use the heavy napped roller to create a smooth finish over any rough textured surface.