Common in mid-century homes, a popcorn ceiling can be difficult to paint due to its many features and grooves. From preparing the textured surface to choosing the right finish, painting a popcorn ceiling doesn’t have to be a difficult task. We assure you that the results will smarten up even the darkest of spaces.
Take a look at our step-by-step guide on how to paint a popcorn ceiling. This will help you achieve the best results when working with this rather difficult surface – leaving you with a smart, professional finish every time.
Do I have a popcorn cap?
Simply put, a popcorn roof is a raised, bumpy surface that has been installed for all kinds of reasons, but mostly to hide any unsightly problems with the surface in question. Could your ceiling ideas be ready for rediscovery? Painting your own popcorn ceiling is a great DIY project that only requires some time, muscle, and minimal spending. However, if you want to remove a popcorn or decorative ceiling, we recommend contacting the experts.
If you have access to a paint sprayer, it will make painting the popcorn ceiling a lot easier and less messy. But if you don’t, a roller is your best bet. Alex Glover, Lake (Opens in a new tab) The DIY specialist recommends using a “roller with a thick pile.” He advises that “an outer roller is best as you can load more paint on it and get away between the grooves.”
If your ceiling has particularly deep pits and grooves, Alex suggests that you consider your options. “Most textured ceilings are usually flat enough to use a roller, if not, a brush is best,” he asserts.
These are the tools you need to have on hand before embarking on your project.
- Cloths and protective covers
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Roller and extension shaft
- Thick snooze cap for your cylinder
- paint tray
- thick ceiling coating
- Angled cutting brush
2, Prepare your surface
Be extra gentle when vacuuming the popcorn ceiling, you don’t want to cut into any bits of texture.
Remember when painting a textured ceiling, you will need to use more paint than usual, so be sure to cover all items in the room with a drop cloth and protective caps before you begin.
And always keep in mind ventilation. Try to open as many windows as possible so that the room has plenty of air. This will help speed up the drying time as well.
3. Put the paint on the ceiling
Start your project by loading the angled brush with paint, cutting it and gently drawing it along the edges of the ceiling.
Once you’re done, you’re ready to move on to the roller. Helen Shaw in Benjamin Moore (Opens in a new tab) “Wetting the roller slightly with clean water to help the paint load onto the roller more easily,” he suggests.
Dip the roller in the paint and use the raised area of the roller tray to get rid of the excess, this will help prevent drips. Apply the paint to the ceiling in a W motion, slowly moving across the wall and blending adjacent areas together as you work.
Do not press too hard on the roller, as this will cause the paint to spread too thinly and may result in the need for additional layers. Roll as close to the cut edges as possible.
Be sure to regulate the amount of paint you load onto the roller sleeve. While popcorn texture needs a thick layer of paint, applying too much of it can absorb the ceiling texture, weaken it, and cause it to fall off.
4. Apply two or three coats of paint
Once the first coat of paint has dried, wait several hours before applying the next coat. Most ceilings require two coats of paint, but due to the thick, bumpy texture of a popcorn ceiling, you may need a third coat. The best thing you can do is wait for each layer to dry and make a judgment afterwards.
5. Finishing and cleaning
Once you’re happy with the result, be sure to clean the brush and roller sleeve with warm, soapy water to remove all of the paint. Let it dry completely before storing it away.