If your home is like a lot of older homes from to 70s and 80s, a popcorn ceiling was probably installed. These might be outdated now, but completely removing a popcorn ceiling or covering a popcorn ceiling with a stomp texture can a tough project that isn’t for everybody. With a fresh coat of paint, your dated popcorn ceiling can look as new and fresh as the day it was installed. But if you’ve ever touched a popcorn ceiling on accident, you know well how delicate the popcorn texture really is. Pieces of popcorn ceiling will end up everywhere if you’re not careful. Use these simple tips and techniques for painting a popcorn ceiling and prevent the troubles and mess that can be associated with painting a popcorn ceiling.
- · Prep- Cover or move everything under the ceiling to be painted. Drop cloths, plastic and painters tape are all essential items for prepping your popcorn ceiling for new paint. You’ll also need to remove any dust or cobwebs that often hang onto popcorn ceilings. Use a feather duster to lightly remove any debris prior to painting.
- · Tools- There are several must-have tools that you need to paint a popcorn ceiling effectively and without mess. The most important of these products is the paint roller. No ordinary roller cover will do. Only a foam segmented roller cover will do the trick. This soft and pliable roller cover prevents pulling loose delicate popcorn texture. Another important tool is a paint roller shield. This prevents dripping paint from falling down onto you and your floor.
- · Stains- Many ceilings that need to be painted are done so because of heavy staining. While it’s important to cover these up with paint, it’s more important to fix any roofing or HVAC problems that caused the stain first. Use a can of stain covering spray paint that matches the color of the ceiling as closely as possible to cover the stain so it doesn’t bleed through after you paint the ceiling with the final coat.
- · Painting- Once you’ve covered any stains or damages, you’re ready to paint the ceiling. Load the roller cover with paint and begin rolling out small strips at a time. Never roll the roller cover more than once or twice over the same area. Once the popcorn texture is wet, it’s easy for it to peel off of the ceiling. Once the paint has dried for at least 4-6 hours, you can add a second coat to cover any spots the first coat missed.
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