Orange peel: light stippling, resembles actual
orange peel. Fine dots. Most common in modern homes.
Knockdown: thicker stippling flattened with a knife
— “splattered and knocked down.” Common in SW and mid-Atlantic US.
Popcorn: heavy texture, bumpy, often on ceilings
(pre-1980 may contain asbestos — test before disturbing).
Skip trowel / Santa Fe: hand-applied decorative.
Specialist.
Three common residential textures —
orange peel, knockdown, and popcorn — shown side by side.
Asbestos warning: popcorn ceilings in homes built or
remodeled before 1980 may contain asbestos. Do not sand, scrape, or
disturb without testing. Home testing kits are $20.
