Reinventing Public Housing with our Texturglas® Wall Finish System

When managing HUD-funded developments, project timelines and budgets are always tight. Between resident turnover, high-foot-traffic wear, and moisture concerns, interior finishes need to be durable—yet they also must be installed rapidly, handled easily by maintenance crews, and remain budget-friendly. Texturglas® Architectural Wall Finish Systems check all these boxes. Below, we’ll dive into why Texturglas® stands out for public housing projects where install speed, simple placement, and cost savings are top priorities.

Introducing Texturglas® Architectural Wall Finish Systems

Texturglas® is a three-part system consisting of glass textile (woven fiberglass), a high-performance adhesive, and a compatible finish coat. It was specifically developed to reinforce and renovate interior walls—either in new construction or renovation—without the need for full drywall replacement. Unlike standard paint overlays, Texturglas® offers:

• Strength & Stability: The glass textile substrate adds durability to plain painted walls, making them resistant to minor impacts, scratches, and everyday wear.
• Minimal Surface Prep: For damaged drywall or non-ideal substrates, Texturglas® can bridge small cracks and imperfections, often eliminating the need for aggressive sanding or skim coating.
• Breathability: Because the system is vapor-permeable, it allows moisture to escape—interrupting the mold/mildew cycle common in many multifamily developments.
• Customizable Aesthetics: A wide range of textures (from fine linen weaves to herringbone and basketweave patterns) can be finished with any latex, acrylic, epoxy, metallic, or faux glaze paint—giving design teams full creative control without inflated material costs.
• Long Life-Cycle: Whereas typical wall finishes may need replacement every 5–7 years, Texturglas® can last for at least 40 years with basic repainting every decade, dramatically reducing lifecycle costs.

Why Texturglas® Works for HUD Housing

Lightning-Fast Installation

• Minimal Surface Prep
  
  • Patch Only the Essentials: Instead of full drywall removal, installers need only address loose paper, fill large holes, and apply a basic pre-wallcovering primer. In many cases, existing painted drywall or even aged paneling can receive Texturglas® with little more than a wipe-down and spot repairs.
  • Skip Demolition & Disposal: Because you’re reinforcing rather than replacing, there’s no need to tear out entire wall sections, haul away debris, or reframe damaged studs. Every hour saved on demo and cleanup directly shortens your project timeline.
• Paste-Behind Application
  
  • Paste the Wall, Not the Textile: Crews brush or roll on a standard vinyl-over-vinyl adhesive onto the primed wall. They then unroll Texturglas® and embed it into that adhesive using a plastic smoother—no complicated alignment tools or specialized machinery required.
  • Drying & Paint Ready in 24 Hours: After embedding the textile, simply allow it to dry (roughly 24 hours). Once dry, apply a primer coat and two finish coats of paint. In most light-to-medium traffic areas, units can be completed, cleaned, and returned to service within 48–72 hours of starting prep.
• Faster Turnover for Occupied Units
  
  • Less Disruption for Tenants: Because the work zone is limited to surface prep and paste-embed steps—without dust from demolition—many installations can proceed while residents remain in place, or vacant units can be turned quickly.
  • Streamlined Crew Coordination: One or two trained installers can tackle an average 10′×12′ room in a single day (including primer and finish painting the next day). Compare that to multi-day tear-out, drywall hanging, mudding, sanding, and multiple paint coats—Texturglas® dramatically shrinks labor hours.

Simplicity of Placement

• User-Friendly Materials
  
  • Pre-Designed Rolls: Texturglas® rolls come in standard 39.4″ widths, ready to install. Each bolt is clearly labeled, and installer instructions are straightforward. No trimming edge beads or furring strips—just measure wall height, cut to fit, and butt-join on-site.
  • Built-In Seam Guides: A dark horizontal thread runs across the glass textile, guiding installers to align adjacent panels seamlessly. This reduces wasted material, eliminates pattern mismatches, and ensures a clean look without overthinking.
• Straightforward On-Site Workflow
  
  • One-Step Embedding: Once adhesive is rolled onto the wall, the textile is pressed into place with a plastic smoother. Installers simply work top-to-bottom, smoothing out bubbles as they go—no specialty tools, no fragile handling.
  • Easy Repairs & Patches: If a corner or section gets damaged later, maintenance staff cut out the small affected area, apply a matching patch, and repaint—no full-wall removal. That same simple “cut-paste-paint” routine keeps repair cycles fast and low-cost.
• Easy Install
  
  • Easy Learning Curve: General handyman teams can learn Texturglas® installation over a half-day workshop. The process—prep, prime, paste, embed, paint—is intuitive, making it easier to staff projects or train in-house maintenance crews.
  • Consistent Results, Every Time: The standardized approach to alignment (dark thread guides) and the forgiving nature of a woven fiberglass substrate mean that even less-experienced installers achieve professional-grade finishes.

Affordability That Fits Tight Budgets

• Lower Material & Labor Costs
  
  • Eliminate Drywall Replacement: Traditional wall renovation projects often require tearing out drywall, hauling debris, restudying, rehang new drywall, multiple mud/sand cycles, and paint. By contrast, Texturglas® goes over existing substrates, avoiding disposal fees and extensive labor.
  • Fewer Tradespeople Needed: Instead of coordinating drywall hangers, tapers, sanders, and painters, your crew can be just one or two multi-skilled technicians handling the entire process—significantly reducing labor invoice.
• Reduced Lifecycle Expenses
  
  • Paint-Only Refreshes: In high-wear public housing corridors or apartments, a fresh coat of paint every 5–7 years is all that’s needed to renew Texturglas®. Because the fiberglass backing never needs replacement, ongoing maintenance costs remain low.
  • Durability Saves Money: Texturglas® walls withstand dings, scratches, and minor impacts more effectively than plain drywall. That durability translates to fewer reactive repair calls, fewer touch-ups, and ultimately fewer complete overhauls down the road.
• Budget-Friendly Design Flexibility
  • Standard Patterns at Standard Prices: Texturglas® offers a range of architectural textures—linen, basketweave, herringbone—at affordable per-roll pricing. You don’t pay extra for specialty substrates; you choose a classic weave that suits your brand palette and keep costs predictable.
  • Paint Any Finish—No Premium Coats Required: Unlike expensive decorative wallcoverings or specialty panels, Texturglas® is compatible with basic latex paints. Use standard in-house paint brands or budget-friendly color selections—no need to source costly proprietary coatings.

Consider using Texturglas for your next project

For HUD agencies and developers focused on public housing, Texturglas® Architectural Wall Finish Systems offer a compelling combination of durability, cost savings, and design flexibility. By reinforcing walls against daily wear, preventing mold/mildew, and enabling easy repainting, Texturglas® supports both the residents’ quality of life and the owner’s budgetary goals.

If you’re planning a new HUD-funded development or renovating existing public housing units, consider Texturglas® as an integral part of your interior specification. Reach out to a Texturglas® representative or your local distributor for samples, mock-ups, and installation guidelines tailored to your project requirements. With minimal surface prep, rapid installation, and a lifetime of performance, Texturglas® will not only save thousands in labor and replacement costs but will also create healthier, more attractive living spaces for low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Ready to see how Texturglas® can transform your next HUD housing project? Contact your local distributor or visit Roos International’s website to request technical data, pattern samples, and project case studies—then make the smart choice for affordable, sustainable, and long-lasting wall finishes.