Cover popcorn ceilings using decorative tiles.
A "popcorn ceiling" looks like someone painted popcorn onto the ceiling. It is actually the result of a type of gravelly texture applied to the drywall of the ceiling. According to the website servicemagic.com, were most popular in the 70s and 80s. They were typically used to act as a sound barrier, to add textural interest to a ceiling and, perhaps, to hide workmen's mistakes. Because popcorn ceilings are textured, they often collect dirt and stains and are difficult to keep clean. Therefore, many homeowners choose to cover or replace popcorn ceilings with ceiling tiles.
Instructions
Preparing the Room and Ceiling
1. Dress in protective clothing and wear gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask.
2. Cover the floor, fireplace, windows and doorways with canvas or plastic tarps kept in place with painter's tape. Cover the furniture too, or remove the furniture altogether.
3. Turn off the electricity in the room in which you are working.
4. Remove any light and fan fixtures from the ceiling.
5. Dust the ceiling thoroughly using a feather duster. Make sure the ceiling is clean and free of loose popcorn pieces.
Covering the Ceiling
6. Locate the center of the ceiling by snapping diagonal chalk lines from opposite corners of the room to create four rectangles of equal size.
7. Use a putty knife to apply to the back of each ceiling tile. Apply the adhesive in a pattern of five dots--one on each corner and one in the center, in a layer at least one-inch thick. Do not spread the tile adhesive. If your popcorn ceiling has large popcorn pieces and lots of big spaces, you may need to apply extra dots of tile adhesive.
8. Place the first tile in one corner where the chalk lines meet in the center of the ceiling. Press the tile firmly so that it adheres to the ceiling.
9. Continue placing the rest of the tiles in the same manner, following a pattern of parallel rows. Make sure the tiles are placed as closely as possible to one another, leaving no gaps between tiles.
10. Use a tape measure to determine the size of the partial tile that will fill the space between last full tile and the wall. Once you have the measurements, use a tile cutter to cut the tile to size.
11. Place the cut tile on the ceiling to check that it fits the space. If the fit is accurate, apply several dots of tile adhesive on the back and place the tile on the ceiling. Re-cut the tile if the fit is inaccurate, then place it. Do this to fill all remaining spaces between the last full tiles and the wall.
12. Apply a thin strip of clear caulk between the tile joints (spaces between the tiles) using a caulking gun. Remove any caulk residue from the surface of the tiles with a wet sponge.
13. Replace all fixtures and restore the electricity once you've covered the whole popcorn ceiling with tiles.
Tags: popcorn ceilings, tile adhesive, popcorn ceiling, adhesive back, between last