Have you ever wanted to take on a painting project but worried it may be to difficult to do on your own? Stop worrying, and start doing! Learn how to paint a popcorn ceiling yourself with one of these two techniques that will get the job done in no time.

Method 1: Hand Painting a Popcorn Ceiling

First, make sure to cover all flooring and furniture because the paint will splatter. Cover the entire room with heavy-duty plastic sheeting and remove any items that cannot be properly covered. Next, add a large quantity of paint to the basin of the tray. Try to move the roller in a single direction instead of moving back and forth. This prevents the ceiling from becoming saturated in paint and reduces the risk of peeling. Make sure the paint has completely dried before painting the next coat.

Method 2: Spray Painting a Popcorn Ceiling

Since spray painting can get quite messy, this method involves a bit more preparation than hand painting. In addition to covering the floor and all furniture, drape heavy-duty plastic on the walls to prevent overspray. You can use 2-inch masking tape to hold the plastic in place and to provide a definite edge for the paint. For easy application, you should use an air spray pole gun. These are available at most hardware stores and come in various lengths. Paint can be added directly to the holding compartment of the airless spraying device. Usually paint will spray without any problems, but if the material is not flowing well, try adding 10%-20% water. Paint should be applied in two separate coats. Complete the first coat by spraying in one direction until the entire ceiling is complete. Be sure to slightly overlap each individual line of sprayed paint to prevent dry edges appearing. Allow the ceiling two hours to dry before applying a second coat of paint. The second coat should be sprayed in the opposite direction to the first in order to promote maximum coverage and a consistent finish. Remember that popcorn ceilings that have never been painted before can be extremely porous and several coats could be necessary before an even texture of paint is achieved.

If you experience any difficulty with this job, you should consider hiring a professional to help you out. Use TalkLocal to connect you to a highly rated, local painter within minutes. Simply enter a brief description of your service needs along with your location and availability, and TalkLocal will do the rest.

This entry was updated on Thursday, June 11th, 2015 at 10:45 am. This entry was originally posted on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Painters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.