Cottage cheese ceilings, also known as acoustic or popcorn ceilings, became popular between the 1950s and 1980s. The cottage cheese texture provided rooms with extra sound dampening features. Without the need for a perfectly smooth finish, these ceilings hid minor drywall imperfections as well. However, maintaining that nicely textured surface means taking into account a few tips when applying a new coat of paint.
Instructions
1. Remove as much furniture from the room as possible. You will need to move easily around the room to reach every surface of the ceiling.
2. Cover light fixtures and recessed lights with newspaper or plastic sheeting. Use painter's tape to stick protective coverings to light fixtures. Keep as close to the edge of light fixtures as possible, so as not to cover up ceiling texture that needs painting.
3. Protect floors and remaining furniture with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Overlap drop cloths or plastic sheets so that they will not separate and form a gap when walked on.
4. Cover walls, windows and doors with plastic sheeting to protect them from paint overspray and splatters. If you plan to paint the walls after the ceiling, you can cover just the windows and doors.
5. Fill an airless paint sprayer with the desired color of latex paint. Refer to your paint sprayer's instruction manual and thin out paint per required ratios. Most airless sprayers require the paint to be thinned for best application so the paint does not clog the spray tip.
6. Hold the sprayer about 12 inches from the ceiling. Spray the ceiling with long, sweeping strokes moving back and forth, so as not to soak an area with paint. Overlap each swipe slightly to provide adequate coverage without missing spots.
7. Apply a second coat of paint when the first coat dries if needed. Missed spots and areas where the old ceiling color bleeds through will need a second coat of paint.
Tags: coat paint, light fixtures, plastic sheeting, cloths plastic, drop cloths
