Why do so many walls have a bumpy texture, what purpose does it provide?
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It’s called texture and it adds depth and structure to what would normally be a blank wall. Allows for shadows and light to display which some people enjoy looking at.
It also makes the wall much easier to finish. A smooth wall needs to be smooth or you’ll see all the bumps and imperfections. A textured wall covers that all up.
People have mentioned a more pleasant appearance, but it also has a significant influence on the sound “feel” of a room. It can really reduce echo and other unpleasant auditory effects.
A couple of reasons. First, it looks better to most; a flat wall would look sterile. Second, it hides imperfections. Dings, screw heads, and scratches show up very well on a flat surface, and you can’t easily tell on a textured one. Third, it breaks up echos. Like, big marble rooms are amazing to visit and hear how everything echos, but it would be overwhelming to have it in a living space.
Hello, I am from Florida, where most of our homes have what we call “orange peel” walls. It’s a bumpy texture, similar to an orange peel. Generally it’s done because 1) it is cheaper (constructors can stop at level 3 drywall as opposed to going to level 5, where there are more layers and more sanding, I.e. more labor and cost). 2) the texture does a better job of hiding imperfections… smooth walls would show a flaw or indent real quick. 3) it’s easier to maintain. So if you have to touch up paint, with texture you can just dab on the area affected. If it were smooth, you’d probably have to paint the whole wall so you don’t see any lines.
It is easier to finish, if plastering the whole wall is required, and some people prefer the appearance. As an interior architect, I despise them and avoid them at all costs. I think they look terrible, and if you lean against a wall with a more spiky texture, it will destroy your clothes.
I prefer using plasterboards that already have a smooth finish, and then only plaster the joints and paint or wallpaper on the smooth surface. It gives a neater expression, in my opinion. It does seem to vary depending on your geographical location too, for example in several European countries I work in, they were very popular from 1970-2000, but are rarely used these days. Same goes for textured ceilings. I have not had these types of walls or ceilings requested a single time in years, only requests to remove existing textures.
In terms of sound and feel of a space, I use other methods to ensure those work, rather than textured walls and ceilings. There are several options of 3d wall coverings though, many of those look very good and will give the light/shadow play as well.
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