Saskatoon Drywall Services: What Is Knockdown Texture?

Have you ever looked around a room and felt that it was boring and in need of a change but weren’t sure what to do about it? Maybe it isn’t a problem with the colour of the walls so much as their texture. Drywall is a blank slate onto which, with the help of drywall services in Saskatoon, you can project your vision.

Drywall texture is applied with joint compound or drywall mud. There are many different types of drywall textures available. Dating back to the 1990s, knockdown is a relatively recent texture, a variation on older textures such as orange peel and popcorn.

Where Is Knockdown Texture Applied?

Knockdown texture can be applied on the walls, the ceiling, or both. Because it does not extend out too far from the surface or make it too rough to the touch, the knockdown texture is popular as a wall application.

What Are the Benefits of Knockdown Texture?

Like other types of drywall texture, knockdown can be used to disguise seams and other imperfections in the drywall itself. Drywall texture affects the way that light is reflected around the room, making it look bigger or brighter. It adds visual interest and helps the walls look less flat by giving the walls an element of dimensionality while still remaining smooth.

The benefits of knockdown texture are not limited to aesthetics. Knockdown texture also helps to absorb sound, improving acoustics in the home and helping to maintain the privacy of the various rooms. When echoes are dampened, the decreased interior noise pollution also makes it more comfortable to spend time inside the house.

How Is Knockdown Texture Applied?

There are several different techniques for applying knockdown texture. Each starts out by applying a joint compound or drywall mud to the wall or the ceiling. This can be accomplished with a trowel, a stiff-bristled brush, or a drywall hopper gun.

Whichever technique you use, the compound will form little peaks rising up from the surface that resemble stalactites. Next, a tool called a knockdown knife is used to smooth over the peaks and make them even. The texture still remains, but the peaks no longer extend out from the surface.

How Does Knockdown Texture Compare to Others?

Knockdown texture is similar to earlier drywall techniques, such as orange peel and popcorn. The difference is the knockdown step that produces a flatter, less rounded appearance. Both orange peel and popcorn textures were developed in earlier decades. When they started to seem uncomfortably dated, knockdown was developed to achieve a similar effect that was more subtle.

What Does Knockdown Texture Look Like?

Knockdown texture gives the wall a mottled appearance. Depending on the technique used, this can range from subtle to more pronounced. It is naturalistic and yet somehow controlled, with the peaks on the wall being tamed and shaped.

What Is Involved in the Different Knockdown Techniques?

Each of the three knockdown techniques has a different effect on the end result. Applying the compound with a skip trowel is more time-consuming but allows you to put more artistic expression into the project and results in a more subtle effect. The technique of using a stiff-bristled brush to apply the compound is called stomp, and it results in peaks with a higher elevation relative to the surface compared to the others. Using a hopper gun to apply the compound is a technique called splatter. It is aptly named, as it is probably the messiest of the three techniques. The application process itself is quicker and easier compared to the other methods, but the setup takes longer.

Call Handyman Connections for Drywall Services in Saskatoon

Applying drywall textures isn’t necessarily difficult, but it can be time-consuming. Any mistakes you make may be visible for a long time. The experienced technicians at Handyman Connection create the look you want with minimal inconvenience on your part. Call us for all your drywall services and home repairs.