Ceiling texture --Any contractors here that can express an opinion?

last year

knockdown texture for ceiling - is this is disaster?

As part of our remodeling, we replaced the kitchen ceiling and put up new drywall. We did all the prep, and originally planned to apply a knockdown texture ourselves (we have never done it before). We read a ton of info and watched a bunch of videos. We applied primer to the ceiling.

Then we decided to hire a contractor to do the knockdown.

Well, they came out today, they sprayed it on our ceiling (what looks like a pretty thick splatter), but they couldn't knock it down because it is not setting! They waited an hour. They claim this is because the texture is going on top of primer. But everything i read shows that it should only make a difference in minutes of drying time.

Anyway, they waited an hour, and it is not setting. Now they are telling me they have to let this dry completely, come back tomorrow to spray AGAIN and to then knock that down.

This is very odd. It goes counter to all that i read.

Have anyone heard of this?

Should i just have them scrape this stuff off and cut my losses?

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PRO

PPF.

last year

last modified: last year

I've sprayed lots of knock down (enough to own a dedicated texture sprayer), and sometimes, if it's mixed a bit wet, or sprayed a bit thick, or if the space is enclosed, or sprayed over previously painted surfaces, it can take longer to dry.

Probably some of all that on your job. I don't know of any type of "wrong mud" they could have used.

They should have scraped it off before leaving. Tomorrow it will be rough and difficult to knock down unless it's sanded first.

Next time, no need to prime before -- wait until after all the drywall work is done.

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Comments (15)

PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
I’m not a contractor; just an interior designer. I had to look up what a knock down ceiling was...

Scape it off and cut your losses.

Back in the day, a look alike was called a popcorn ceiling and folks have been spending $$$ for years to get rid of that look.

It is my opinion it will not add one cent of value to your home.
julia garcia
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@JudyG Designs This is the texture we currently have all over inside our house, so we have to have kitchen ceiling match everything else. I was just trying to determine if contractor did something wrong to have this issue, and whether or not re-spraying and knocking that down tomorrow will look ok, or if we need to have it scraped off and re-done (by someone else)

(forgot to mention -- this is not the same as popcorn ceiling)
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cat_ky
last year
I agree with Judy G. Just scape it all off and keep the ceiling smooth. Make sure the drywall taping and mudding is good. Because you just had it sprayed, you may have to have it skim coated now, to get it nice and smooth, but, it would be worth it to me.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
There's nothing wrong with a knock down finish. It's a builder's preference because they believe it covers more seams with less finishing, thus saving them money.

If the knock down isn't setting up, they used the wrong mud.
julia garcia
Original Author
last year
@Joseph Corlett, LLC Thank you, that's sort of what i was wondering...

It is just so weird that a licensed drywall contractor would not know what mud to use... And then saying that it didn't set because we had previously applied the primer.

I see that it is starting to dry now (3 hours later). Should we allow them to try again tomorrow?
suedonim75
last year
Knockdown and popcorn aren’t even close to being the same thing.
julia garcia
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@PPF. tomorrow he is planning to spray again. He is saying that because it will be sprayed on top of another mud layer (that he applied today), it will dry quickly and he will be knocking that down (not the one he sprayed today). Is that the correct thing to do ?
PRO
PPF.
last year
Feel the surface. Is it rough? You said you researched DIY texturing. Think about dragging a knockdown knife over a rough surface.

It may be fine. Report back tomorrow.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
"I don't know of any type of "wrong mud" they could have used."

It wouldn't surprise me if these guys thinned some pre-mixed mud enough to get it through the gun. Don't believe someone could be so stupid? You haven't been hanging around here long enough.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
last modified: last year
No, it isn’t the same as a popcorn ceiling, but it looks the same.

The ceilings do not have to match. If your ceiling doesn’t turn out well, consider beaded board to cover the mess. Again, it won’t match the rest of the house, but again, ceilings do not have to match.

Here are pros and cons on having a knockdown vs smooth ceiling. Aesthetically, IMO, smith ceiling wins!
julia garcia
Original Author
last year
@PPF. @Joseph Corlett, LLC

So, they came back today. They sanded some of the texturing off.

They applied it again, and this time they were able to knock it down, well, mostly. Some areas that had less previous mud was still too wet for them to do much.

I will correct that myself by sanding off the peaks once everything is dry.

Bottom line: this was not "normal". I wish we never hired anyone and tackled this as DIY, as we did with tile, recessed lighting, etc.
suedonim75
last year
“No, it isn’t the same as a popcorn ceiling, but it looks the same.”

But it doesn’t.

Yes, smooth ceiling do look the best, but it isn’t always feasible.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
last modified: last year
OP, suedonim75, has the option for a smooth ceiling.

And, please, do not quote me to correct me.

Use your own words, supporting your expertise.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
Opening a can of worms, but if the ceiling is not done correctly, you may want to consider not paying for a sloppy job.

Ceiling texture --Any contractors here that can express an opinion?

PPF.

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