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Popular wall textures include orange peel, knockdown, spray sand, and smooth finishes. Orange peel and knockdown are particularly common choices for drywall as they are simple and cost-effective. Orange peel texture has a lightly bumpy surface resembling the skin of an orange, while knockdown (sometimes called knockout) looks like a stucco finish with flattened high spots. In contrast, popcorn texture has fallen out of fashion, partly due to its past association with asbestos and a shift toward more restrained interior design styles.

It’s not a good idea to plaster over broken plaster (unless by broken you’re referring to cracked, in which case that’s perfectly fine). However, broken plaster can be a sign of a larger underlying issue like foundation damage or severe damage to the lath holding up the plaster, so it’s worth investigating before you simply plaster on top of the damage.

Whether a drywall anchor can be reused depends on its material, type, and the method of removal. Plastic anchors, including expansion and self-drilling types, are generally designed for single use as they tend to break or deform upon removal. Metal anchors, such as toggle bolts, are more durable and may be reusable if they are not damaged during extraction. However, with toggle bolts, the toggle piece can fall into the wall cavity when the bolt is removed, making it difficult to retrieve. If an anchor is damaged during removal, for instance by having its head cut off, it cannot be reused regardless of the material.

How you hang the drywall can affect the finishing process. It's often easier to finish horizontal drywall panels, as the seams run across the wall rather than up and down. Standard drywall panels are 48 inches wide, so the seam is easy to reach without bending down or stretching your arms.