Artcrete - How To's and Troubleshooting

Start by laying out the brick stencil on the ground to mimic the project drawings. Then, cut the stencil to working lengths and lay it flat with the release tape facing upward on a clean surface. Lay a 2"x 2" board that is 40" long over the width of one end of the stencil. Pull a portion of the release tape up so it can be wrapped around the 2"x 2" board (as shown in this photo). Once you get the release tape started, rolling the 2"x 2" board across the stencil will assist you in removing the release tape uniformly.
Once the stencil release paper has been removed, with the assistance of a helper, place the stencil against the wall, aligning the pattern to the predetermined layout.
Immediately use a clean stainless steel trowel to push the stencil firmly against the prepared wall surface. (Avoid snagging the stencil with the trowel.) Work within controlled areas until you get the feel for how much area you can comfortably apply with stencil. Do not apply more stencil than you will be able to finish within a couple of hours.
Once the stencil is secured, trowel the finish diagonally across the stencil and wall surface. The diagonal method helps to minimize the amount of finish that is pushed under the template. Immediately double back and remove the finish down to the top side of the stencil. Next, float the finish with a plastic float in either a random or vertical motion. It is not critical to make the texture perfect, irregularities actually make the finish look more realistic.
As soon as the texturing is complete, remove the stencil. Pull the stencil outward and perpendicular to the wall before the finish begins to dry. This technique helps to keep the edges clean.