How to Match the Existing Texture on Sheetrock

Determine how the existing texture on your sheetrock was created. Some common texturing techniques are stomping, in which a pattern or shape is repeatedly stamped into a thin layer of joint compound; knockdown texture, which involves spraying joint compound onto the sheetrock, then partially scraping it off with a putty knife; and spray-on techniques, such as popcorn and orange peel, in which specialized coatings are sprayed onto the sheetrock.

Practice your technique on a scrap piece of sheetrock. For stomping, find a tool you can use to make a pattern similar to the existing texture. Then, apply a one-quarter-inch layer of joint compound to the scrap sheetrock and make impressions into the layer with the tool. For knockdown, dilute a small amount of joint compound with water at approximately a 10-to-one ratio. Splatter the mix onto the practice area with a small putty knife, then lightly drag a larger putty knife over the area. For spray-on techniques, purchase a small amount of popcorn or orange peel texturing material and practice applying it with a spray gun. Start at the center of the piece and work outward.

Apply the texture to the repaired sheetrock. For stomping, pay careful attention to the edges of the repair, matching the stomps in your existing sheetrock to those in the repaired area. For the knockdown method, simply follow the method you perfected in Step 2, being careful not to splatter too much excess compound outside the repair area. For spray-on techniques, start at the center of the repaired area and spray lightly at the edges in order to blend with the existing texture.