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Drywall texture rule of thumb question

Heck | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 14, 2007 07:29am

I haven’t shot a whole house of orange peel in a while, but I have been asked to do so on  a new house that took 200 sheets of rock = 9600 sq ft.

I always used all purpose joint compound before, so that is what I am comfortable with.

The question is, how many boxes am I going to need to do this texture with my hand held hopper? Is there a ‘rule of thumb ‘ about how many boxes/sheet of drywall?

Then they want me to use my airless to spray on primer and paint. I calculated the primer at 400 sqft/gal, comes out to 24 gallons?? Seems like a lot, as I don’t really think  will get that amount of coverage with an airless, probably get closer to 300 sqft/gal, so 32 gallons?

So that led me to figuring out how much paint – figure 2 coats, average 250 sqft/gal/coat = 77 gallons??? That can’t be right.

Where is the error in my way of thinking?

_______________________________________________________________

I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die
embarrassed. – Fezzik the giant

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  1. User avater
    IMERC | Mar 14, 2007 07:35am | #1

    primer after texture???

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    1. User avater
      Heck | Mar 14, 2007 03:43pm | #3

      Naw. On new construction, I prime w/ PVA before spraying texture. So how much primer/mud/paint do I need?_______________________________________________________________

      I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Mar 14, 2007 05:10pm | #6

        since it was mud texture and new I wundered...

        250 / 275 SF per gal primer...

        DW mud ... no clue...

        use bag texture....

        mix thickness/application/over spray/ and all the rest of those variables change cover rates something fierce...

        bag texture is so much easier... nicer job.. $$$$ goes further... can use an airless with the right tip..

        mix the texture in a trash can several days before application and let it age.....texture has a binder in it so that is why I asked if you were gonna prime after texture..

        rock, finish, texture and then prime seems to be the way now adays...

        Wini's house would take 6 to 8 bags if you were to do hers..... even at ten bags it would be a deal..

        50# goes a long ways and does one serious bunch of SF... makes life so much nicer too...

         

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

        Edited 3/14/2007 12:35 pm by IMERC

        1. dovetail97128 | Mar 14, 2007 06:47pm | #7

          I come up with the same figures here, also agree on the texture material and prep.

  2. TomT226 | Mar 14, 2007 02:02pm | #2

    There's a calc on the box that I've used, and it's pretty close.  That all depends on how wet and dense you texture.  The last I did was a 15X7 BR, with two windows, three doors, and it took about 2-3 boxes, IIRC.  Light knock down.

     

    1. User avater
      Heck | Mar 14, 2007 03:52pm | #4

      Wow. That seems like a lot of mud. That comes out to 457 sqft, neglecting openings, one hopper full should more than cover that with a light orange peel. I usually texture over my own taping, which I get really smooth, so I'm not using the texture to bury anything. In this case, I am texturing someone else's job, not sure why, and I haven't seen what it looks like yet.

      Using your 450 sqft room = 2 boxes :

      9600/450 X 2 bxs = 43 boxes

      I'm thinking it should take maybe 10-12 boxes, max....but I just don't remember._______________________________________________________________

      I just want you to feel you are doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed. - Fezzik the giant

      1. TomT226 | Mar 14, 2007 07:05pm | #8

        Gotta amend that.  There was a large bath and a closet.  This was also a valted ceiling in the BR at about 11' or so.  The bath was partially valted also.  Had some left over, so it probably was 2 boxes.  I generally thin with a quart of water per box and use a 3/16" tip for a medium texture to hide blemishes, as this was a remodel.  I know I used at least 3 hoppers, maybe more.  Had to get on a scaffold to do the high stuff.  PITA. 

        1. User avater
          Heck | Mar 19, 2007 06:16am | #9

          Here's the skinny:

          Got 30 gal of primer, took 27.5, one coat

          Got 40 gal of paint, took 37.5, two coats

          Got 12 bags of texture, took 2, medium-heavy splatter

          Who knew??_______________________________________________________________

          It ain't what you make, it's what you don't spend

  3. alwaysoverbudget | Mar 14, 2007 04:09pm | #5

    heres my guess,500 sq ft per box =20 boxes. i would also consider if i run out do i have to drive 50 miles in the middle of job. if so i would have plenty of extra,take back what i didn't need.

    i'm with you on the paint,your calc. seems right at 400sq per gal. but  a total of a 100 gals of paint/primer sitting there on the floor would look like enough paint for 4 house's. 9600 sq  ft is pretty big,about 4500 sq ft house? larry

    hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

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