How to Spray Orange Peel on the Ceiling

Lay down drop cloths on the floors and secure drop cloths to the walls to protect them from overspray. Cover fixtures with plastic bags or with plastic sheeting, held in place with tape, to protect them.

Pour the texture mud into the mixing bucket in an area that can be cleaned easily. Add water. Mix the texture and water thoroughly with the drill and metal mixer until the texture is the right consistency to be blown with the air compressor and texture gun. Wait a few minutes and mix again.

Turn on the air compressor in an area where you can safely practice spraying the gun. Let it charge completely.

Attach the air compressor hose to the compressor, using the compression fittings. Oil the texture gun according to the instructions in the owner's manual. Attach the hopper to the gun, following the manual's directions.

Put on your coveralls, protective goggles and face mask.

Pour the texture mixture into the gun's hopper. Do not overfill, as the gun and hopper will be pointed toward the ceiling at an angle.

Test-spray the gun against a cleanable surface, with the nozzle set to the orange peel setting. Spray from a distance of one to four feet, according to the type of gun being used.

Place the air compressor close to the ceiling you are spraying. Point the gun toward the ceiling and spray from the correct distance, as specified in the user's manual. Sweep the gun back and forth. Pass over the area as many times as needed to cover it to your satisfaction. Move on and spray the orange peel texture on the rest of the ceiling.