How To Spray Perfect Orange Peel Texture

Orange peel texture is a splatter texture that is sprayed onto walls and ceilings to give them a texture that is similar to an orange peel. There are quite a few different reasons why someone would want to spray an orange peel onto their walls or ceilings. But many people feel that spraying one is too complicated and it won’t look good.

Actually, spraying an orange peel texture is incredibly easy, you just need the right tools, a little instruction and a bit of practice and anyone can get perfect results.

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Benefits of Orange Peel Texture Walls

While many people today considered the look of textured walls to be dated, there are actually a few very real reasons you may want to spray and orange peel texture on your walls or ceilings.

Orange peel walls are more durable than flat walls. Due to the texture, minor dings, dents and scrapes will not show up nearly as easily as on flat walls. This makes orange peel a very popular option for rental properties and commercial properties.

Orange peel hides existing flaws in walls and ceilings really well. If you’ve purchased a home or rental property that is in rough shape, getting the walls smooth may be a very hard task. It can mean brand new sheetrock and lots of money. A quick orange peel texture on the other hand can make the walls look pretty good quickly and cheap.

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Tools Needed To Spray An Orange Peel Texture

• Plus 3 Drywall Mud – This is the mud you will mix up to spray onto the walls and/or ceiling.
• Drywall Mixer and Paddle – Ordinary drills are not geared to mix heavy material like drywall mud. A mixer and paddle are required.
• Wagner Power Tex Texture Sprayer – This is my favorite DIY texture sprayer. It does not require an air compressor.
• Painter’s Plastic – This is for prepping the room.
• Tape – This is for prep.

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Steps To Spraying A Perfect Orange Peel

Spraying a perfect orange peel texture is not a complicated process. It takes a steady hand, the right tools and a texture with the right consistency.

Step 1: Prep the Area To Be Textured

Prep your work area by removing furniture and outlet covers, covering light switches and fixtures, and blocking off the room from the rest of the house. Don’t forget to plug vents and air returns to avoid spreading dust.

Step 2: Mix Your Mud To The Correct Consistency

To create an orange peel texture, mix drywall mud with water in a 5-gallon bucket until it reaches a pancake batter consistency. Use a mixing drill and paddle for best results, adding water gradually to avoid making the mix too runny.

Step 3: Spray Your Texture

After prepping the room and mixing the mud, it’s time to spray. Fill the hopper with mud and wear a dust mask. Use the sprayer’s smallest nozzle for finer droplets. Position the gun about 3 feet from the surface, keep moving evenly, overlapping each pass by 50%. Practice and maintain a steady rhythm for best results, completing the room without stopping.

Check Texture For Consistency

While spraying, pause every 10 feet to check for consistency and coverage. If it looks uneven or light, respray the area. You can also add more texture after completing a room, even if it’s dry.

If the texture is too thick, you have two options. While wet, scrape off excess with a 9″ mud knife. If it’s dry and you’re unsatisfied, sand off the splatter and start over; it should sand off easily since there’s no paint covering it yet.

Step 4: Cleanup

Now that you have finished spraying your orange peel texture, it’s cleanup time.

Make sure to wash out your sprayer and hopper before the mud has had time to dry and wash off any mud knives you used. Now is also the time to clean up the floor. Hopefully you covered your floor with drop clothes or your floor is concrete so you can scrape it clean.

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Tips For Painting Orange Peel Texture Walls and Ceilings

Painting over orange peel texture is not a complicated process. Cut lines take a little bit more patience but other than that, it’s a simple process.

Be Patient Cutting in the Ceilings

Cutting in your ceilings on a textured wall with your paint brush is a bit slower than brushing in cut lines on a flat wall.

When cutting in ceilings on a textured wall, you need to slow down and shuffle the brush back and forth to work it into all the grooves and nooks.

Check out our post Everything About Paint Brushes to help choose the right brush for the job.

Use A Thicker Roller Nap

The only tip for rolling textured walls vs flat walls is that you should use a thicker nap roller.

For most flat walls, a 3/8″ – 1/2″ nap roller will be perfect. When you’re painting textured walls, a 3/4″ nap roller is perfect. This extra padding will allow the roller to get into all the textured areas easily and keep you painting fast without slowing down.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Roll On Orange Peel Texture?

You absolutely can, though it won’t look quite as nice as a sprayed texture. Most hardware stores sell an orange peel roller that you use.

How Do I Fix Orange Peel Texture?

Orange peel texture is not necessarily difficult to fix, but can be difficult to match your existing texture. A rolled-on orange peel or a can of spray-on orange peel works well, but may not match perfectly.

What’s the difference between orange peel and knock down texture?

Knock-down texture is a thicker orange peel texture that was knocked down with a rubber mud knife after it was sprayed on. This gives the knock down large flat areas of texture.

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Time to Spray Those Walls!

Spraying the perfect orange peel texture takes practice and patience, but the results are worth it. Remember to prep the room carefully, mix your mud to the right consistency, and use the correct spraying technique. By following these steps and refining your skills, you can achieve a professional-looking orange peel texture that enhances the look of your walls.

And be sure to check out my paint problems & solutions archive for extra help on all those DIY painting projects!