How to Finish a Faux Stone Wall

Project Preparation

• 1

  Remove all furniture and decorative accessories from the room. Place items in the center of the room, leaving approximately a 3- to 4-foot path around the perimeter of the room or work area if items cannot be removed from the room.

• 2

  Wipe the surface area with a damp cloth or rag to remove cobwebs, dust and other debris. Vacuum corners of ceilings. Unscrew and take off all outlet covers. Place blue painter's tape over outlets for protection.

• 3

  Cover all flooring surfaces with plastic sheeting. Tape the sheeting down to the floor to ensure it does not move. Place additional fabric drop cloths on the floor for added protection.

• 4

  Place 2-inch painters tape on all areas touching the work area where paint should not be applied, including baseboards, ceiling lines and other adjoining surfaces. Burnish tape with your finger, or rub it with a plastic putty knife.

Paint and Plaster

• 5

  Add a bonding primer to the surface using a paint roller. Apply to all areas where plaster will be applied. Allow to dry about four hours.

• 6

  Spread a small amount of lightweight joint compound onto a drywall trowel. Hold the trowel with one edge firmly against the wall surface, at a 45-degree angle. Slide the trowel along the wall, creating a natural stone pattern, while applying the plaster. Cover about 90 percent of the wall surface; it is okay to leave some spots bare. Allow to dry 24 hours.

• 7

  Touch the surface of the wall before continuing the painting process. Do not continue if the wall feels cold or wet. Only sand and paint the plaster if it feels room temperature.

• 8

  Sand the plaster with a fine-grit sanding block. Do not apply much pressure; the goal of sanding is to knock off any loose plaster that has not firmly adhered to the wall's surface. Wipe the plaster, after sanding, with a damp towel to remove sanding dust.

• 9

  Attach a heavy-nap roller to a roller frame. Pour a neutral color latex paint in flat or eggshell sheen into a paint tray. Roll the paint over the plaster surface. Use even pressured horizontal strokes, and remember that more than one coat may be necessary for even coverage. Allow to dry about four hours between coats.