How do you do swirls on a ceiling after drywalling?

Question

My ceiling has swirls on it. It was done when teh house was built, and it in every room. I had a leak in the roof and a chunk of ceiling fell. The landlord called a guy to fix it and he just put up the drywall board and mudded it in, no swirls. Is this something I can do myself and at least look halfway decent. It stands out so bad the way it is. I havent painted it yet.He said he is a decent drywaller (thats debatable) but cant do the fancy stuff. If I cant do it during the drywall phase is there some way to do it in the painting part? Help!!

Answer 1

The swirls are made with regular joint compound thinned down..They sell a brush for this texture that looks like a wallpaper brush but has a small nail built into the handle on the very end on one side..you lightly stick the nail against your drywall(the brush screws into a regular rolling pole for paint handles) and you twist the handle..the nail makes it turn in a circular pattern..There are different methods that some use a whole swirl to each pattern, or a HALf swirl that connects half way through the previous swirl...the patern is up to the applicator..but this is how it is applied...This is a swirl texture like your talking about in a 60% pattern overlap..I am looking for the brush to show you..

http://www.drywallschool.com/mudswirl.ht...

I cannot find the brush anywhere..they have not been used for years...if you have a steady hand you can simply use a wallpaper brush and set it on the ceiling once the thinned drywall joint compound is rolled on and simply set the brush on the surface and twist it in a circular motion..a small wisk broom like you use for an automobile will work too..this is called a "mud swirl"..

Answer 2

lowes sell swirley paint its in with the tartan wall paint

Answer 3

You "can't"...

That having been said, the swirls were done in either wet plaster, or a spackle compound. If the board is flush with the rest of the roof, you're likely SOL... However, take some digital photos of the swirls and the drywall patch and go to a decent hardware store. They may be able to help you. Especially if it is a paint job.

Incidentally...in most jurisictions, the LANDLORD is responsible for fully repairing the damage within a reasonable time. That includes matching the appearance. However, they are then entitled to increase your rent based on the additional expenses (by a percentage) at your next lease signing.

In any case...

Good Luck!