Shoutout to the guy who told me to use a paint roller for texture touch-ups

I was finishing a basement in Akron last week and had this one stupid patch that just would not match the existing knockdown texture. My spray gun was too big for the spot and using a knife looked awful. I was about to call it a day and tell the homeowner it was the best I could do. Then I remembered this old timer at the supply house saying to use a cheap, beat-up paint roller. I cut a small piece off a 3/4 inch nap roller, rolled it in mud, and just dabbed it lightly over the patch. Let it set for a minute and then knocked it down with my knife. It blended perfectly, you can't even see it. I felt like a genius for about five seconds. Has anyone else got a weird little trick like that for matching texture?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabeths512mo ago

What kind of mud did you use for that roller trick?

ericj452mo ago

Did you find the ditch mud had a lot of grit in it? Elizabeths51, that's a good question because the dirt type really changes things. Pure clay mud from a riverbank is slick and spreads too thin, it just gums up. The best mix I've found is that heavy topsoil with a little sand, almost like a thick paste. It holds its shape on the roller but still lays down smooth without clumping.

adamr142mo ago

Honestly, just grabbed whatever was in the ditch after the rain lol. The real trick is how thin you spread it.