We want to (well, okay, *I* want to) split our basement family room into two rooms. The family room is L shaped with a large arch (11 feet across )where the two portions of the L meet. This arch is part of a wall that runs the entire width of the basement, including part of the width of the lower part of the L and a hall way to the stairs (and there's a 3 ft. arch in the hallway portion, leading towards the laundry room and half bath). This wall and the arch are there because there's an I-beam that runs the entire width of the house there.
So, building the new portion of the wall, I get, I'm not sure what to do once we've got it framed, though. The walls in the basement are rough textured (I *think* it's knock-down, but I don't really know what I'm talking about here). So.....how the heck do we make this new section blend in? I'm assuming we'll need to knock a section of the texture off (sand?) for taping the dry wall but are we going to be able to match the texture up without knocking it off the whole wall? I've thought about putting up white bead board paneling, but we'd have to knock the texture off the whole wall for that, I'm sure and I don't know how to manage that around the small arch.
We'd like to do this all ourselves but we don't know what we're doing with texture. So, would it look really weird to just panel the new portion of the wall? We're thinking of maybe putting in built-in shelves in the section of wall between the new section and the small arch. Would paneling up to those shelves and leaving the rest look okay?
Posts: 1 | Location: United States | Registered: Oct 29, 2012
Pictures would help. To match the texture you might want to have a drywaller come in and do the finish work. You can rent the sprayer at a rental store, but it is all in the technique to get it right. One of the many reasons I don't like textured ceilings and walls.
General Disclaimer
Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.
My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
For starters, read the drywall topic on my website at www.bobf.info. It is aimed at the inexperienced and may help you.
Knockdown texture is a rough texture sprayed on and then flattened some (knocked down). It is the most difficult texture to duplicate. In my experience it is not used much anymore because it is difficult to apply well and also is a dust collector when applied. It is also very difficult to remove; sanding is painfully tedious! If you just need to remove a strip to apply tape, cut it with a utility knife and peel off the drywall surface, paper and all.
If this doesn't answer your questions, please ask more.
Posts: 12119 | Location: Eagle, CO USA | Registered: Sep 18, 2002
I'd sand the texture off the entire expanse (the part of the wall you're going to build along with the existing wall), then prime and paint the whole wall a bright color, chosen from your decor palette. Because it's a different color from the other walls (and perhaps a different sheen), it won't matter that it's not the same texture because, after all, it's supposed to be a "feature wall." Like Pee-Wee Herman used to say, "I meant to do that!"
Posts: 1324 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: Nov 28, 2004
