Interior Wall Textures – Sacramento Market Report

 

This report covers the interior wall surfaces in homes in the Sacramento Region. The topic will be the interior wall textures in new and remodeled homes based on our knowledge of the area, contractor communications, and published trends.

 

When we talk about the interior wall surfaces, we are discussing drywall surfaces. Many of the older homes in the region have plaster walls, as a general rule, those remodels either remove the plaster throughout the project or patch to match the existing. These homes are not addressed in the current trends.

 

The vast majority of the homes are drywall interiors. There are many custom textures that are available to the homeowner, none of them are common, and they will not be addressed here. The textures come in several common types.

 

 

Orange Peel – This is a light texture to give some depth to an otherwise smooth wall. This is common in bathrooms and kitchens. This is a simple texture that many can do. The texture is sprayed on and left to dry before painting.

 

 

 

Skip Trowel – This texture was used in virtually alldrywall textures for several decades. It is applied to a smooth surface to create a random texture on the wall. The texture is applied by hand by skilled professionals. Many drywallers today do not know how to do this. This is a dying trend in new and remodeled homes; it was quickly replaced with the knock-down technique.

 

 

 

Knock-Down – The knock-down texture is applied by spraying compound on the smooth wall and knocking down the high spots to produce a random texture similar to the skip-trowel method. Because this technique can be done quickly, and get similar results to the knock-down texture, it grew in popularity. A crew can complete a whole home in a day – that is fast! This trend is not necessarily growing any larger

 

 

 

 

Imperfect Smooth – This surface is almost a smooth surface. There are some small voids in the finish, by design, to create an imperfect surface. This is a growing trend in both the new home and in homes being remodeled. The trend involves high-end custom homes and tract homes in the same types of neighborhoods. The imperfect smooth finish is not the most popular texture; however, it is the largest growing trend in the Sacramento market today.

 

 

When we look at the trends in the interior wall surfaces today in Sacramento, we can see that the latest trend is the imperfect smooth finish growing in popularity. The knock-down is the most common in both new and remodeled homes. The orange peel and skip-trowel finishes are limited to the remodel projects that require the matching of existing surfaces.

 

 

 


 


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Specialists in Dry Rot and Water Damage Repairs

 

 

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Tom Arstingstall
Tromler Construction
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Specializing in Dry Rot and Water Damage Repairs

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26 Comments on Interior Wall Textures – Sacramento Market Report

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

OCT
09
2011
135,247 Points 9 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, I recently repaired holes in the wall and was amazed at how easy it was --- and I ain't MacGuyver! I had four large holes in the wall from heavy pictures that had been hung in sequence improperly and each of the hanging anchors had dug out the surface. The overall sized surface I was trying to "fix" was about 3' long by 18" high.

I used compound to fill in the holes and sanded it after it dried so it was flat to the wall. Then at a big-box hardware store I picked up a can of spray-on orange peel texture. Man! do I love this stuff!!  I taped newspaper underneath my work area and practiced by spraying on the newspaper so I could see how it was hitting and the pattern it was making ... the can lets you dial in the spray pattern from sparse to thick. And then when I saw I was pretty much matching the same orange peel section as the wall, I sprayed it on the patched area ... let it dry and painted.  My brother could not tell where the repair was made (and actually accused me of hiring a Handyman dude who fixed it).  I had no idea this stuff came in a can, but was sure glad I found it. Would I attempt to do a whole wall ... NOT!  but for a fix-it-up repair like I had ...yes.  All the walls in my home are orange peel texture, so this is a "keeper" for me.  Thanks for the info (and photos) of textures. 
10:38am • #7
840,383 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

When first made aware of the different textures, I wondered which one was the best and why...? What is the criteria thought I? There is no wrong or best choice I concluded. Cosmetically speaking, after a while, one doesn't notice the wall they pass a few thousands of times.....thank you
11:13am • #8
282,737 Points 11 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, texture on walls is such a matter of taste. I think the 'imperfect smooth' came about because there are so many people who think they know what it takes, but in the end can't get the wall 'perfect'ly smooth... :D
12:07pm • #9
352,952 Points 39 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Tom, This is a great explanation for the types of interior wall finishes.  I liked this topic a lot. 

Having experience with most of these options, I have an appreciation for the process involved.  While small areas may be simple to repair, it 's the ability to match the finish that makes all the difference in the final  appearance of the project.  Thank you for sharing this information, and best wishes always.  
12:37pm • #10
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

You rock Judith, I'm looking for a drywall repair dude. Interested?  :)   Great that you gave it a try, it's not to tough to do some repairs if you are a little handy. Good Job!

The thought process is probably different for everyone. Some may like one style over another, others may be concerned with how the home appears to those that don't see the home regularly, still others may be thinking about resale. I've worked with a lot of wall surfaces, I think it boils down personal preference; even no preference. Thanks Richie.

Peg - That may in fact be the origin because that is what it looks like at first. I've seen some beautiful imperfect work though.  :)

You hit this point square on the head Richard, it all about getting the match.
3:13pm • #11
135,247 Points 9 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, I have the Hire-the-Handyman Dude on speed dial and truthfully... I figured if I really screwed up, I could call these guys to come fix it (I'm sure they all LOVE to get those types of calls) so I was determined to try first and was (thankfully) (delightfully) surprised. 
3:21pm • #12
2 Featured Posts

Good article. In Vancouver Canada many of our older homes are plaster and really a challenge to hang art on. I've noticed though a lot are just getting the walls drywalled and of course this makes it easier for hanging art which we need to do when we are staging.
3:41pm • #13
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Always good to have a back-up plan Judith!

I bet it can be a challenge hanging art in plaster Dana.
5:50pm • #14
982,677 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

And when DIY'ers try to get a texture  . . . it can be terrible.  I didn't know the names of the various types, good to know.  Thanks.
6:29pm • #15
177,169 Points 7 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

You answered a question without my even asking it today! My last open house of the day has this impeftect smooth stuff! I like the crows foot stuff myself!
6:58pm • #16
1,157,955 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom this give consumers a choice.  My personal preference is simple.
9:48pm • #17
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

It is good to know the names, its hard to verbally describe the texture to someone if they have no knowledge of what it looks like Carla.

Imperfect smooth seems to be the latest craze, the crows foot must be an impression pattern Rosalie.

Jennifer, keepin' it simple!
10:12pm • #18
561,763 Points 11 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I like the knock down best... the imperfect smooth always seems so... imperfect.. LOL
10:24pm • #19
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Too funny Sheila, I like the knock-down too.
10:29pm • #20
OCT
10
2011
235,736 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Tom--thank you for giving a name and a picture to each of these.  In Arizona where I used to live it was mostly skip trowel.  I came to hate that.  I actually prefer totally smooth, like I grew up with in the Midwest but apparently that is harder for the trades to do and so it is done less these days. 
12:01am • #21
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Thanks Janet, pictures can help to identify the different surfaces. There is nothing wrong with smooth.

 
12:19am • #22
201,976 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

There are multiple variations on the knock down technique here in Arizona.  How the texture is sprayed, how long before it is troweled and the manner in which it is troweled all affect the final finish.  With remodeling and additions it is not uncommon to see two or three different "knock down" textures in the same home. 
2:37am • #23
555,176 Points 148 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That's for the tutorial, Tom.  I have not given much thought to wall surfaces, except when it comes time to repair them.  Good information to know.
7:51am • #24
906,345 Points 21 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, who would have thought that the "imperfect finish" would be found in upscale homes!  Most of what we see around here is orange peel and knock down finishes.
8:07am • #25
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I understand what your saying Marge, getting an exact match is very challenging.

No problem Mike, glad to add some thought to the day.

The first time I saw the Imperfect finish, I thought "Oh, they missed a few spots". Looking at the final, painted wall was amazing. A perfectly smooth wall, with a few "accent flaws by design", unbelievable finish Silvia.
9:41am • #26

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