how to texture a ceiling

Repair the ceiling's plaster, making sure there are no cracks, holes, etc. Texture the compound using one the following techniques. Depending on the look you’re going for, you might want a somewhat thicker consistency. Be sure that you open windows and get adequate air circulation in the room while you paint. But to really pull a room together, it ought to be stylishly topped off—and putting a textured effect on the ceiling is a great way to add impact to your décor. There is a special brush made for this application. Also try different drying times between coats. The ceiling is usually the most exposed part of a room. Choose a paint primer close to the color you’ll be using to texture your ceiling—a dark primer for dark paint and a light primer for light paint. If you only need to cover a small area, such as making a repair to an existing textured ceiling, consider textured spray paint. You may choose to spray the texture on, but each sprayer is different, so you need to consult … You can add texture to the ceiling using a cloth or sponge. Knockdown texture type for ceiling This type of wall and ceiling texture is slightly different than the skip trowel technique we have discussed before. You can create specific, detailed or repeated patterns using a stencil and applying the texturing by hand. To apply the spray to the ceiling, hold the gun approximately 18 inches (46 cm) from the ceiling. Practice with both thin coats and heavy coats. [1] X Research source First, remove as much furniture as possible from the room. You can achieve this kind of ceiling texture by painting the ceiling with a drywall mixture using a roller and slap brush. Struggling to get a new job? Get expert advice, now. Before you apply texture to a ceiling, paint a layer of primer over the whole ceiling and let it dry. Do a small batch first to practice getting it just right. But if you’re aiming for more depth or special effects, mix your own by combining paint with drywall mud. Yes. Applying texture to a ceiling can also be a good way to conceal imperfections in the drywall. Doing Alternative Texture. Roll the paint toward the wall and stop just before it touches. Choose a paint primer close to the color you’ll be using to texture your ceiling—a dark primer for dark paint and a light primer for light paint. As you can see in the picture below, there's a small sliver of light between the squeegee and ceiling. Before the mud dries, pick the roller with desired texture. In case there are too many patch works on the ceiling, consider priming before you add texture.*. Can I re-texture an existing textured ceiling? When you’re ready to paint, either choose a pre-textured paint or you can mix a special sand into latex or oil-based paint. This step will make application easier and give lasting results. By Amy Lynch and Bob Vila. It all too easy to slap a coat of white paint on your ceiling and consider it done. Just use a drywall blade or putty knife to lightly scrape across the surface. The standard rule of thumb is one part drywall mud to 10 parts paint. Cover remaining pieces of furniture and the entire floor with drop cloths. The popcorn texture will come off completely, leaving the ceiling smooth. The ceiling texture is one part of the room that you need to consider. In this step, you can use contrast paint. If you want the ceiling to be more textured, add another layer after the first one has dried. Cover a flat trowel loosely with a plastic … You may want to paint a textured ceiling with a spraying machine so that you don't have to make contact with the texturing and risk damaging it. The exact technique (and subsequent tools you’ll need) depends on your desired effect. To come up with this figure, measure the length and the width of the ceiling, then multiply the two numbers together. Just like the name, tree bark ceiling texture resembles the tree bark look. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You might think that because textured paint is part drywall mud it will adhere to any surface, but for a quality job, you still want to prime first. However, transforming your boring ceilings can also be a trick to uplift your house’s mood. Continue applying the texture onto the ceiling, rolling from the wet edge onto the unpainted portions. Dip the paint roller into the texture, roll it across the screen and begin applying it to the ceiling about 2 feet from the wall. Another plus? Very few ceilings do not come with light fixtures, ceiling fans or vent covers, so make sure they are either removed or well covered before starting to texture. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. This is a very common and basic texture, named because of its resemblance to the dimpled skin of an orange. Ahead, a simple step-by-step guide for how to texture your ceiling, your way, without sending your budget through the roof. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 238,769 times. There are many types of ceiling textures that you can choose to apply in your room. Texturing With Paint Prime the ceiling with one layer of a stain-blocking primer. Dry the ceiling according to the primer manufacturers’ instructions. After the texture has dried, you can choose to knock off any rough points that hang down too much. Position your ladder there and make sure you can work from a reasonable angle without arching backward. But to really pull a room together, it ought to be stylishly topped off—and putting a textured effect on the ceiling is a great way to add impact to your décor. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. A stipple brush or a texture roller. Last Updated: October 8, 2020 Spray the ceiling evenly in a back and forth motion. How To: Texture a Ceiling It all too easy to slap a coat of white paint on your ceiling and consider it done. Whichever technique you choose, the end result will lend extra punch to your space’s style. The purpose of this process is to sharpen the appearance of the texture on your ceiling. It’s always wise to start in the least noticeable part of the ceiling when applying the texture—perhaps the darkest corner of the room, or the edge of the ceiling closest to the door. Scrape a textured ceiling with a drywall knife Round the corners on a drywall knife and use it to scrape the texture off acoustical or popcorn ceilings. Make sure the squeegee is clean, and holding it at a 45 degree angle, lightly wipe across the ceiling. Yes, you can paint Styrofoam ceiling tiles, but make sure that you are using a water-based paint only. Adding a little texture to the ceiling will go a long way towards giving a new and refreshing look to the room. If you buy pre-textured paint, make sure that it is for ceilings. The cost to Texture a Ceiling starts at $1.26 - $1.52 per square foot, but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. You can find them at Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sherwin Williams. Remove the light fixture and anything else attached to the ceiling. These cans last only a few seconds, so they are generally only appropriate for use in small areas or for doing repairs. If you have acoustical or popcorn ceiling texture, remove it by spraying it with water, letting it soak in for a minute, and then carefully scraping it … Can I scrape off a popcorn ceiling and leave just a little texture? Orange Peel. If the paint won’t go on your roller (because it is too thick), you can try putting it on a trowel or similar tool first, spreading it in the general area you wish it to go, and then switching to a roller to even the texture. Cover all remaining furniture, as well as your floors, with drop clothes. Some are designed only for walls. By using our site, you agree to our. If the texturing is subtle, you may not have to thin at all. For those of you who like the intricate appearance of the room, you might need to look at the knockdown ceiling texture. Some cracks and inconsistencies can be fixed with spackle, but others may be structural and should be addressed by an inspector or contractor. I recommend drop cloths because the plastic will become slippery, but use your own judgment. This way you will apply the textured ceiling evenly. If you design your room in farmhouse style, this ceiling texture can be a perfect texture for your room. Protect your walls and furniture. Besides, different applicators will give rise to different texture effects. Here are the steps: Mix the joint compound (drywall mud) Using the roller apply the sufficient thickness of joint compound on to the ceiling. References. Watch as home remodeler Kevin Charlton teaches how to texture an old ceiling. If you’re looking for a subtle texture, you’ll get good results with pre-mixed textured paint. This works out to roughly 1 ½ cups of texture for every gallon of paint. 12 Ways the Home Changed for the Better in 2020, Replace Dated Popcorn Ceilings with This New Texture. How do I make a sunburst textured ceiling? Applying the Texture to Your Ceiling The easiest way to apply a texture to a ceiling, especially if this is your first time, is to roll it on using a paint roller. % of people told us that this article helped them. Roll the mud onto a small section of the ceiling. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Finally, tape plastic sheeting around the ceiling’s perimeter to protect your walls. However, this is an extremely messy process. Keep an eye out for holes and cracks, and repair those before doing anything else. This type of texturing can be tedious and time consuming if you don't have enough stencils to cover a large portion of the ceiling at once. Wall texture effects can vary depending on how the material is applied and rolled. Learn the products needed for texturing and prepping a ceiling, how to tape off a room, how to fill inconsistent holes in a ceiling, different texturing techniques, when to use the texture compound, and how to clean up after texturing a ceiling. A plain white, smooth ceiling may seem boring after awhile. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Keep reading to learn how to create different textures by using a rag or a paintbrush. Adjust to get the consistency you're looking for. Follow the steps below and you'll soon have a lovely textured ceiling. … When painting your ceiling in the future, make sure to use a thick pile roller, as a short one will not be able to properly cover the texturing. Before you can come up with an accurate estimate for a ceiling texture job, you need to know the exact square footage of the ceiling. This ceiling texture can draw attention more to your ceiling. All it takes is a mixture of paint and drywall mud—and a little ingenuity. Get a spray can of texture, mask off the surrounding area, then try to match it the best you can. Basically, the material and the tool are still the same; a hawk and a wall knife or a trowel, however, for a larger area like wall or ceiling you may want to use knockdown tool. Textured ceilings perfectly camouflage imperfections like cracks or evidence of water damage. The fumes are not good for you and can cause headaches and dizziness. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 238,769 times. Moreover, there are thousands of options you can try to your ceilings, and all options mean that you need to texture them! Texture compound applied to an unprimed ceiling dries very quickly, causing lap marks where wet compound is applied next to dry compound. Can I texture a ceiling using drywall mud and regular paint? wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Some people choose to paint the ceiling with a bright ceiling white, or just leave the dried compound “as is”. See typical tasks and time to texture a ceiling, along with per unit costs and material requirements. This ceiling texture can be installed by using a heavy roller. For best results, use a texture sprayer and compressor with specific popcorn ceiling texture mix from the hardware store. Generally, you will mix 1 part of the additive to every ten parts of paint. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The process involves spreading several layers of joint compound with a drywall knife and scraping each layer smooth. Yes, 1 part drywall mud to 10 parts of whatever paint you want to use is a good place to start. 2. Some texturing techniques are easier than others, but there's no easy way to skim coat a ceiling to make it smooth. Thin your paint slightly to make it easier to push into all the nooks and crannies of the finish. This article has been viewed 238,769 times. Tape off or otherwise cover ceiling fixtures. Finally, apply painter’s tape around the edges of the ceiling, right where it meets the wall, being careful to keep it stick-straight all the way across. A texture sprayer is a type of blowgun that sprays the texture material directly onto the ceiling. If you want to paint a whole textured wall or ceiling, you can with a little care and preparation. The array of colors and effects is endless, so have fun and aim for a look that captures the personality of the room and those who live in it. https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-paint-a-ceiling/9ba683603be9fa5395fab9054a1ea11, https://www.familyhandyman.com/painting/tips/how-to-paint-a-ceiling/, https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/paint-a-ceiling, https://www.familyhandyman.com/drywall/ceiling-texture/how-to-apply-knockdown-ceiling-texture/, http://www.startrightstarthere.com/paint/interior/decorative_techniques/add_texture_to_your_walls.aspx, http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Wall---Ceiling/Ceiling-Texture/how-to-apply-knockdown-ceiling-texture, http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/drywall/drwl_7.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Remove everything from the room, and cover the floor with drop cloths or plastic. No. Next, take off any faceplates, vent covers, ceiling fans, and/or light fixtures. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Practice the technique on scraps of drywall or even sheets of cardboard before moving to your walls and ceilings. Try to avoid overlap where these blocks meet, but don't worry about a little overlap. You have to tape the stencil in place using painting tape and wait for each area to dry before removing the stencil to tape it to the next area. The easiest way to enhance a ceiling, and sometimes change the entire look of the room, is to texture it. The ceiling then has to be primed before you can do any texturing. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Empty the room as much as possible, which will also give you space to move around. Most textured ceilings are coated in a material called spackle, and the two most commonly used application methods to texture a ceiling are hand application and using a tool called a texture sprayer. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Texture-a-Ceiling-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Texture-a-Ceiling-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Texture-a-Ceiling-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1098887-v4-728px-Texture-a-Ceiling-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"