How to Make a Faux Concrete Wall 1-2-3

Do you like DIY home improvement projects and want to learn how to make a faux concrete wall yourself? This impressive wall texturing technique is surprisingly simple.

In fact, creating faux concrete with joint compound requires no special skills. Plus, the materials don’t cost much either. In fact, you may be able to do it for under $30!

The following video shows the materials you’ll need and the steps to take to make your own faux cement wall. I’ve also listed everything with details below.

 

Materials You’ll Need for a DIY Concrete Wall:

1. Joint Compound for Faux Concrete Wall:

Drywall Joint Compound at Lowes or at Home Depot.

If you have a small project, you can get a 3 quart size instead of the 4.5-gallon shown. However, I found that an average bedroom wall requires the larger size, even though you’ll have some leftover.

2. Create Faux Concrete “Wall Paint” with Tint:

Liquid Concrete Color at Lowes or at Home Depot.

I used the charcoal color (as they show in this video). However, you have other color options including brown, red, terra cotta and buff.

By the way, a little of this coloring solution goes a long way. In other words, add it sparingly. =) I think I only used about 1/6 of the bottle, or maybe a few tablespoons.

3. Use a Trowel to Produce a Plaster-Like Effect:

Square Notch Trowel at Lowes or at Home Depot. I also suggest getting a mud pan to wipe off excess mud as you work.

Note: I used multiple drywall tools on my project, including a smaller 6″ drywall knife to access corners better. Plus, I used a taping knife because, well, personal preference. So, use what tools feel comfortable to you.

4. Buckets for Mixing Your Joint Compound:

In addition, you’ll need some 5-gallon buckets and a paint mixer to incorporate the color into the drywall compound. That said, you may decide to use fewer buckets, depending on the number of shades you want to work with.

Note: I actually only used 1 bucket to create my textured concrete wall. However, I achieved the multi-shade effect simply by not mixing the cement color thoroughly into the mix.

For example, when you pour color into the the compound, the top layer will appear darker than the bottom portion in the bucket. The more you mix, the more you distribute the color evenly.

As you start mudding your wall, you apply the darker portion first. Then, you finish with a lighter shade. This easy, decorative technique seriously doesn’t require much thought.

Spread the colored joint compound in an irregular manner, and your will have a natural look. In other words, don’t try too hard. Concrete doesn’t!

I think using this method turned out well, and I didn’t have to dirty as many buckets. Keep in mind that the compound will dry a slightly lighter color.

Note: After it has dried, you can sand any rough edges from the joint compound while still leaving a textured finish. I did minimal sanding on mine.

Optional: Sealing Your Faux Concrete

I also added one last step to this project: I painted over the joint compound with a clear sealer. I just used one coat, since I didn’t want to lose the flat matte finish.

By the way, I used this same technique in a bathroom but sealed it with 2 coats instead. The second coat gave the finish a satin-like effect, but is was not too shiny.

Speaking of which, you can use this decorative concrete coating technique on more than just a standard wall. For instance, think about a backsplash, fireplace surround, behind a bar or underneath a kitchen island.