Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Paint Over Popcorn Ceilings

Acoustic ceilings are textured like popcorn, which makes painting over them challenging.


Popcorn ceilings, also referred to as acoustic ceilings, are ceilings that have a rough and stippled texture. As with other types of ceilings, popcorn ceilings can turn yellow, or the paint can fade or get chipped over time. Because of their texture, you may need to apply several coats of paint or paint over several areas to get an even coat of paint on the ceiling. Although spray painting is a preferred method, it is possible to paint over popcorn ceilings with a brush and roller.


Instructions


1. Remove all the furniture from the room. Painting ceilings will cause a lot of drips that could ruin your furniture.


2. Place drop cloths over furniture you were unable to remove, and tape drop cloths to the floor. Taping them will ensure that they don't move and expose the floor while you are painting. Put painter's tape on the top of the wall around the ceiling. This will protect your walls from the coat of paint.


3. Put on goggles and a dust mask. This will prevent the paint from dripping into your eyes or mouth. Cover your head with a cap if you are concerned about getting paint in your hair.


4. Dip a paintbrush into the paint and slide it against the lid of the paint can to remove some of the paint. This will prevent it from dripping as you use the paintbrush.


5. Paint the edges of the ceiling with the brush in a dabbing motion rather than a sweeping motion. You may need to go over the same area several times to ensure that every nook and cranny is coated with paint. Do not apply too much paint, as it will simply drip onto the floor.


6. Pour paint into a 5-gallon bucket and set the roller screen on end inside the bucket. Attach the roller assembly to the end of the roller pole. They simply thread together.


7. Dip the paint roller into the bucket and roll it over the screen to remove excess paint. Start applying paint to the ceiling with the roller at one of the edges.


8. Paint the ceiling by gently pressing the roller onto the ceiling and rolling it until it runs out of paint. Paint in straight lines. The dense nap will get around each piece of popcorn on the ceiling and will completely cover it. You may only be able to paint 2 feet of ceiling at a time.


9. Apply more paint to the roller and continue until you've painted the entire ceiling. Let the paint dry completely for at least three hours. Apply a second coat of paint if the paint job appears uneven.


10. Let the paint dry for a few hours so that it is not wet but is still tacky. Remove the painter's tape. Let the paint dry completely before you put the furniture back in the room.

Tags: coat paint, This will, ceiling with, drop cloths, ensure that, from dripping