How to Paint Suspended Ceilings
Suspended ceilings are often installed in homes to cover old cracked plaster. As they age, they may become grimy and stained, but can be rejuvenated with a coat of paint. The fastest way to paint the entire ceiling is with an airless paint sprayer---but this can be inconvenient if the room is full of furnishings because you'll have to move or cover everything. Your other option, if you have the space, is to lift out the ceiling tiles, paint them with a roller and reinstall them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Roll of plastic sheeting
- Drop cloths
- Duster or broom
- Airless sprayer
- Latex paint
- Sawhorses or work bench
- 1/4-inch nap roller
- Roller pan or bucket and grid
- Painter's tape
- 4 or 6-inch trim roller
- Paint brush
- Stain-blocking primer
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Instructions
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Spraying a Suspended Ceiling
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Prepare the room by removing everything possible, including furniture, art work and window coverings. Cover what you cannot remove with plastic sheeting, and protect the floor with drop cloths.
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Clean the ceiling with a feather duster or broom to remove spiderwebs and dust. Prime water stains with stain-blocking primer (a spray can is most convenient) and allow it to dry according to label directions.
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Spray the ceiling with two coats of latex (water-based) paint. Apply the first coat in one direction, working back and forth across the ceiling. After it has dried for at least four hours, apply the second coat in the opposite direction. Avoid trying to paint acoustic ceiling tiles with one heavy coat. Two even coats of paint will give you a more uniform finish.
Rolling Ceiling Tiles
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Remove the ceiling tiles. Be careful, as it's easy to bend and break the corners. Number the irregularly sized tiles you take down from the perimeter so you can easily put them back up in the right place. Use permanent marker and write the number on the back---it will show through latex paint.
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Set the tiles up on your work bench and roll them with a light, even coat of latex paint. Carry them carefully by the edges to another area where they can dry. Count on this process taking about two days, unless you have a lot of space to set all the tiles out to dry at once.
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Roll one coat of paint on the backs of the tiles, and two coats on the fronts. Don't worry about painting the edges; they'll be hidden once you reinstall them.
Painting the Grid
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Paint the ceiling grid in between coats of tile paint. Use 2-inch blue painter's tape to protect the wall around the perimeter. Roll your chosen paint color on the metal grid with a 4 or 6-inch trim roller. You should be able to roll right up to the wall if you have taped it.
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Use a small paint brush for corners and areas the roller won't reach. You may have to paint two or three coats on the grid, depending on the color you choose. Skip this step if the grid is in good condition and you don't mind the color.
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Allow both tiles and the grid to dry for at least 8 hours. Being careful not to scratch the grid, drop the tiles back into place and remove the painter's tape.
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Tips & Warnings
Rolling the tiles in place is impossible unless they're attached to the grid---the pressure of your roller will push them out of place.
You are not constrained to white paint for the ceiling. Consider a color to complement the rest of the room, or even faux painting your suspended ceiling.
Painting a suspended ceiling will lessen the sound-dampening acoustical qualities, according to the Armstrong Company. It may also void your warranty.
