Creating a DIY Texture Roller for Your Concrete Projects

Let’s get into one of my favorite DIY projects: creating a custom texture roller for unique concrete textures.

No two texture rollers are ever alike, which means each one brings a unique touch to your work. By mixing materials like sands and adhesives, you can experiment with endless combinations, letting your imagination take the lead.

In this quick guide, we’ll cover the essential materials, step-by-step instructions, as well as a few insider tips on how to bring textures to life on your concrete projects. Let’s get started!

💡 Quick Note: Check out our YouTube video, where Warren Ness walks you through each of these steps. It’s a great way to get a closer look at how these tools work together, giving you a more hands-on perspective.

Why Custom Texture Rollers are a Must-Have

The versatility here is what makes these rollers a must-have for any concrete project. You get to mix and match different materials—sands, adhesives, and anything else you can think of.

Want to add a grainy, natural texture? Choose a fine or medium sand. Looking for something bolder? Go for larger sand particles or even different types of aggregates.

Not only do custom texture rollers add some character to your work, but they also make the whole process more fun and creative. Each time you use your roller, you’ll discover new ways to create unique textures and geometries, keeping things fresh and exciting.

Essential Materials for Your DIY Texture Roller

First, we need to gather our essential materials and tools. Most of these items are easy to find at your local Home Depot or hardware store.

Custom Roller Base: Linzer 9" Faux Finish Sponge Roller

This will serve as the base of our custom texture roller. This roller is reliable for applying an even texture, and it’s super easy to modify. The idea is to start with a solid foundation and then make it your own with whatever materials you decide to experiment with!

💡 Quick Note: You can find this sponge roller at your local Home Depot or view it online here.

Adhesives: Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Spray & Plasti Dip Spray 

To make sure your texture stays intact, start with a layer of Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Spray for durability, followed by Plasti Dip Spray as an adhesive layer. 

These coatings ensure sand and other materials stay in place, even with repeated use. With these sprays, your custom roller will be both sturdy and effective, ready for various projects.

💡 Quick Note: You can find these adhesive sprays at your local Home Depot or home improvement store. View the Rust-oleum truck bed spray here. View the Plasti Dip spray here.

Texture: Adding Medium Sand for a Natural Grain

Medium sand gives your roller a gritty texture while filling in small voids, creating an organic look. Sand helps break up any uniformity, adding a sense of depth and natural randomness.

For bolder textures, feel free to experiment with larger grains, or mix sizes to keep the surface dynamic and engaging.

💡Quick Tip: If you want to use bigger sand particles, make sure that initial Rust-oleum coating is nice and thick. Bigger particles need more support to stay put, so having that extra layer helps keep everything suspended and locked in place.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your DIY Concrete Texture Roller

1. Coat with Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Spray: Begin by coating your roller with Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Spray. This forms a tough, durable layer that acts as the roller’s foundation. Let it dry completely before the next step.

2. Apply Plasti Dip and Add Sand: Spread a layer of sand on a flat surface, then coat your roller with Plasti Dip. Roll it through the sand, allowing the grains to stick for a rugged, textured finish.

3. Dry and Set the Roller: Set the roller aside and let it dry fully. This step is essential for securing the sand; a well-set roller will hold up through many uses.

   
   

Materials for the Sample Nature Panel

For testing the new texture roller, we’re creating a sample nature panel using:

1. 1-1/2" X 4' X 8' R-7.5 NGX Foamular 150 as the base, which is sturdy but lightweight—perfect for trial applications.

2. Bon Pool Trowel to shape and move the material, creating different angles, geometries, highlights and shadows.

3. Anvil 5 1/2" Pointing Trowel for adding finer details, especially when working on smaller or intricate areas.

These tools, along with your new roller, will allow you to get a sense of how textures appear on a real surface, helping you fine-tune before applying them to larger projects.

Applying CarVZ Mix and Trinic Plasticizer to the Sample Panel

To bring out the full potential of the custom texture roller, we’re preparing a mix using CarVZ Vertical Carving Mix and Trinic Plasticizer. This blend is a powerful combination for vertical applications, especially where detail and durability are key. 

The CarVZ mix is specially formulated to hold intricate textures, allowing you to carve, mold, and shape it without the worry of it sliding or losing detail. This stability is essential for achieving sharp lines and defined textures that maintain their integrity as they cure.

The Trinic Plasticizer is where the real magic happens. It’s a high-performance water reducer, meaning it keeps the mix flowable and workable without needing extra water. This balance is critical because adding too much water can weaken the mix, leading to cracks or reduced adhesion. 

The plasticizer allows the mixture to spread smoothly while preserving its density and strength, making it easier to achieve those fine details in vertical applications.

Using the Bon Pool Trowel and Roller to Shape and Texturize

Once your mix is prepared, it’s time to bring it to life on the panel. Start by applying the CarVZ mix onto the foam base with a pool trowel. This trowel is perfect for spreading the material evenly, but it also offers flexibility to shape the surface. 

As you apply the mix, think about the geometry of the final texture—this is your chance to create depth through varied angles, layering the material to capture highlights and shadows. The curves and edges formed by the pool trowel will serve as a foundation for the texture roller to build on.

Now, with your base layer set, it’s time to use the custom texture roller. Dampen the roller slightly to prevent the mix from sticking, then roll it across the surface with a light, even pressure. 

Vary the directions and patterns to avoid a uniform look; the goal is to mimic natural surfaces, so allow the roller to create irregularities and organic lines. Move slowly and intentionally, letting the roller add dimension in layers, almost like painting but with texture.

As you roll, pay attention to areas where the texture might feel too flat or repetitive. In these spots, use your pointing trowel to refine or add additional detail, such as subtle flakes or ridges. You can also re-roll certain areas to increase depth, building up the texture until you’re happy with the result!

Finishing Touches and Next Steps

Once you’re satisfied with the texture on your sample panel, it’s time to refine the edges and add those finishing touches. Take your pointing trowel and gently trim away any excess material around the edges. Letting the material extend slightly before trimming creates a polished, cohesive finish.

If you’d like to see this process in action, check out our YouTube video, where Warren Ness walks you through each of these steps. It’s a great way to get a closer look at how these tools work together, giving you a more hands-on perspective.

Coming Soon: Adding Color to the Sample Panel

Now that we’ve created the nature panel with the custom texture roller, it’s time to think about applying some color. In the next step, we’ll be adding pigments to the surface of our sample nature panel. 

Stay tuned, with the right colors and unique textures, you’ll be able to see an entirely new level of detail!