Drywall Texture

[Auguy]

I have some walls in my house that had wallpaper on them. The builder finished these walls smooth (20 yrs ago) to make the wallpaper look better. I removed the wallpaper and now want to match the other walls in the house that have a very subtle texture on them. Texture might not be the correct term. It looks almost like the natural finish of possibly using a thick paint, it mostly just covers the drywall imperfections. Is this just the primer the builder used? All of my searches yield many methods of texturing walls, but they all are much heavier than the effect I'm looking for. Is this a mixture of paint and drywall compound? What materials, tools do I need to get this accomlished?

[joed]

Post a picture.

[Auguy]

A picture wouldn't show anything beacause the texture is so subtle. It's more like roller marks. I've heard this referred to as a roll coat.

[Fischer]

You can water down premixed joint compound and apply it with a short napped roller. The mixture should be slightly heavier than the thickest paint. Experiment on a piece of drywall with a slightly heavier coat, and then if it doesn't fit the bill slowly add water and mix till it comes out the same as your other walls.

[Auguy]

I've tried that before, maybe I just didn't have it thin enough because it was too much texture. What the bulder has on the walls you almost have to feel to notice the texture.

[Fischer]

Also use a 1/4" nap roller. Sounds like you may have had too thick a mixture. That's why I suggested you try a sample and keep thinning till it matches.

[Auguy]

Thanks to all. I will experiment some more and see if I can get the results I want.

[pushkins]

If the existing texture is that slight it might be textured paint applied with a textured roller.