How to Paint Acoustical Tile
It is possible to paint your acoustical ceiling tiles and make your ceiling look new again. That's the good news. The bad news is that some acoustical ceilings are easier to paint than others, and no matter what type of acoustical ceiling you have, painting it will almost certainly reduce its sound absorbing properties. So if sound absorption is important it may be a better idea to replace rather than repaint. However, assuming that repainting is still your goal, let's get to it. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Microfiber dust cloth
- Foam roller (split roller)
- Drop cloths
- Latex paint
Instructions
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1
Wipe the entire ceiling with a microfiber cloth to remove as much dust, dirt and cobwebs as possible.
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2
Determine how solid your ceiling tiles are. In other words, can you use a paint roller on the tiles while they are still in the ceiling, or will the pressure of the paint roller pushing on the tiles cause them to shift position? The answer to this question depends on how the tiles were originally installed. If the tiles are solid and can be painted in place, go to Step 3.
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3
Remove as much furniture from the room as possible and cover any remaining furniture and the floor with drop cloths to protect from paint drips.
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4
Roll a thin coat of latex paint on your ceiling using a split foam roller or a roller with an extremely thick nap. Allow the paint to dry completely following the manufacturer's instructions. In all probability one coat will not be sufficient. Once the first coat is dry, roll on a second thin coat and allow it to dry.
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5
Remove ceiling tiles from the ceiling only if they cannot be painted with a roller while in place. Lay tiles on a flat surface with a drop cloth under them and gently roll on a thin coat of paint using a split foam roller. When the paint has dried roll on a second think coat and allow it to dry.
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6
Reinstall the newly painted tiles once they are fully dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Two thin coats are better than one thick coat of paint as two thin coats will not clog the pores of the tiles as much as one thick coat and will permit the tiles to dampen more sound.
Be gentle when painting. Old acoustic tiles can be very fragile.
