Texture matching is the difference between a repair you can see and a repair you can't. Every Wilmington home has its own texture — sometimes more than one in a single house — and the only way to make a patch disappear is to match the original technique, tool, and material exactly.
Textures We Match
Knockdown, the dominant Wilmington wall texture in homes built 1995–2015, is sprayed on with a hopper gun and flattened with a wide blade. Orange peel, popular in new construction, is sprayed on and left to dry. Popcorn (acoustic) covers most pre-1990 ceilings. Smooth Level 5 is a full skim coat sanded glass-flat — the highest finish grade. Skip-trowel is hand-applied and looks Mediterranean. We match all of them.
Why Matching Is Hard
Two factors make texture matching difficult. First, every installer's hand is slightly different, so even the same texture varies wall to wall. Second, paint accumulates in textured walls over the years, slightly altering the depth and reflectivity. We compensate by stepping back and adjusting the texture wet, before it dries, and by always priming the patch before paint touches it.
Smooth Wall Conversions
If you'd rather get rid of texture entirely, we offer smooth wall conversions: we skim coat the entire wall or ceiling with two to three coats of joint compound, sand it perfectly flat, and prime. The result is a Level 5 finish ready for modern paint colors.
What's Included
- All common NC textures
- Smooth wall conversions
- Popcorn removal
- Primed and ready for paint
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove popcorn ceiling?+
Yes. We scrape the existing popcorn, skim-coat the ceiling smooth, sand, prime, and prep for paint. We always test for asbestos on ceilings installed before 1980.
How well do you match an aged texture?+
Very well for knockdown and orange peel. Popcorn is harder because each spray can has slightly different aggregate size. We test on a hidden area first when matching is tricky.
Can you texture over wallpaper?+
No — wallpaper has to be removed first or the texture won't bond. We can quote wallpaper removal and texture together.
Is smooth or textured better?+
Neither is objectively better. Smooth looks modern and reflects light beautifully but shows every imperfection. Textured hides imperfections and is more forgiving for repairs. We match what suits your home and goals.