The Best Way To Paint An Acoustic Ceiling

Acoustic tile or popcorn ceilings are difficult and messy to paint with a roller and brush. By design, acoustic ceilings have uneven, highly absorbent surfaces. You can purchase special foam rollers to paint acoustic ceilings, but they're time-consuming. The pressure of the roller tends to make the acoustic surface crumble. Use an airless sprayer for the best and fastest way to paint an acoustic ceiling. Purchase an inexpensive small sprayer, which will come in handy for future projects, or rent a large spray rig for a day.

Instructions

1. Clear as much furniture as possible from the room. Take down light fixtures, if possible. Unscrew the canopy (the decorative plate that's flush against the acoustic ceiling), using a screwdriver, and wrap the fixture with plastic if you can't take it down. Take down or cover window coverings, smoke alarms and art work from the walls.

2. Lay dropcloths on the floor, and drape plastic sheeting over the remaining furniture.

3. Vacuum cobwebs and dust from the ceiling with the vacuum wand attachment. Repair holes with acoustic ceiling patch, available in spray cans. Use aerosol can spray primer to seal stains from water, smoke or grease.

4. Mask the walls if you don't intend to paint them as well. Use 8-foot plastic sheeting with tape already attached. It's designed to cover a standard wall from top to bottom. Tape another layer of sheeting below the first if your ceilings are higher.

5. Strain the paint before spraying, even if you're using new cans of paint. Thin it as directed on the label for spraying with up to a pint of water per gallon. Not all paint should be thinned--read the directions to be sure.

6. Pour the paint into the bucket or airless sprayer hopper. Stand on a stepladder to reach the ceiling, instead of trying to do it from the floor. Keep the spray gun between 12 to 24 inches from the ceiling while you work; any farther than that will result in uneven coats and wasted paint.

7. Apply two coats of paint to the ceiling. Allow the first to dry for at least an hour before applying the second coat.

8. Remove the plastic sheeting and tape from light fixtures, furniture and walls before picking the dropcloths up from the floor. This reduces mess, because the dried paint on the plastic will flake off and scatter everywhere when the plastic is removed.

Tags: plastic sheeting, acoustic ceiling, acoustic ceilings, airless sprayer, from ceiling, from floor