How to Sand a Drywall Ceiling
Drywall panels offer a smooth ceiling surface, suitable for painting or texturizing. The panels, composed of tightly compressed gypsum particles and covered with paper, attach to the ceiling with special drywall screws. After installing the panels, and applying tape and joint compound to fill the seams where the panels connect, you must sand rough spots left behind. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Protective eyewear
- Protective clothing
- Respirator mask
- Drywall sanding pad
- Drywall sanding screens
- Extension pole
Instructions
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Put on protective eyewear. You'll be sanding overhead, and drywall dust and debris can easily fall into your eyes. Because drywall sanding is very dusty, you'll also need a respirator mask.
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Attach a drywall sanding screen to a drywall pad. The rectangular screen is slightly longer than the pad, so wrap the edges around the back of the pad. Secure them tightly with the attached screws.
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Screw the extension pole into the drywall pad handle. You can use a solid extension pole or an adjustable one that allows you to lengthen the pole to suit your ceiling height.
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Start in one corner of the ceiling. Sand back and forth with the sanding pad, focusing most of your effort on the seams and the areas over the screw holes, where joint compound was applied.
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Work your way across the ceiling to the opposite side, sanding a 3-foot-wide swath. When you reach the other side, repeat, going in the opposite direction, on the next 3-foot section.
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Continue going back and forth across the ceiling, until you've sanded the entire area.
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Tips & Warnings
Sweep away drywall dust that can stick to the ceiling with a household broom before painting.
For the cleanest ceiling, wrap a piece of tack cloth around the sanding pad, and lightly pass over the entire ceiling. The tack cloth removes the last traces of drywall dust.
To reduce neck and shoulder strain, take frequent breaks when sanding overhead.
Cover carpeting with a drop cloth and remove upholstered furniture from the room before sanding drywall. The fine dust covers everything in the room and can work its way into fabric.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
