Apart from the texture finish itself, and paint if you’re going to over paint, you will need a brush or roller to apply the finish. The most suitable type of brush is a 200mm (8in) distemper brush. The type of roller you use will affect the pattern created and special rollers are available to create certain effects.

Sometimes you paint the material on first with an ordinary roller (or a brush) and then work it over with a patterning roller, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of roller you will need.

Tools And Equipment For Textured Finishes

If you are dealing with a ceiling you will need some form of access equipment; Two stepladders with a plank resting between them will usually suffice. Textured finishes, especially when applied with a roller tend to spray and spatter about, so it’s best to have goggles and a mask to protect your eyes and mouth when you are looking up, also, don’t forget to protect your hair. In addition, whether you’re painting walls or ceiling, you’ll need a dust sheet or some other form of protective covering for the floor.

You may also require a plumb bob and line and any equipment required for tilling cracks or joints such as a caulking tool, jointing tape knife, tilling knife, tiller and so on.

Where you intend to texture the surface after painting on the finish you will also need your patterning tool(s). These can be proprietary or home-made; you can even use equipment which was chiefly designed for other purposes which you may decide will create the pattern you want.

Apart from patterning rollers, the proprietary tools available include combs (some of which can give special effects within the combined pattern such as ‘rose’ and ‘flower’), stipple brushes and pads and special ‘swirl’ brushes. You can also buy a tool called a lacer’ to dull any sharp ridges; however a plastic straight edge or the blade of a filling knife is a suitable alternative.