| SPRAY-TEXTURE A CEILING
Spray texture is great for hiding unsightly drywall seams, patches,cracks, and other imperfections. It also adds some soundproofing to the room. The spray texture commonly used is similar to joint compound with small beads of plastic mixed in. The texture goes on gray, turns white as it dries, and takes 3 or 4 hours to dry. A 40-pound bag will cover about 200 square feet. Thinned joint compound can also be sprayed on. Once it's applied, you can knock down the peaks with a knife to produce a flatter "orange peel" effect.
The equipment you need to spray-texture a ceiling—spray gun, a hopper (to hold the texture), air hose, and compressor—is available at most rental stores. Be careful not to strain your back and shoulders. When fully loaded with texture, a hopper can weigh 20 to 25 pounds. Use both hands to steady the gun and hopper.
How Is It Done?
- Mix the texture with water with a hand mixing tool until it looks like runny oatmeal. Let it set for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Texturing is messy. Use plastic sheeting to protect the walls, floor, and yourself. A hat and goggles are a must.
- Extend the spray onto the plastic sheeting to be sure that you evenly cover the edges and corners with texture.
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Removing Ceiling Texture
How do I remove old ceiling texture to get a smooth finish?
Test a small area first: Spray the area with water, wait an hour for it to soften, then try scraping it smooth. If water doesn't work, try rubbing alcohol. If the alcohol works, you can use a commercial texture stripper. To use the stripper, simply roll it on, let it work for a few hours, then scrape it off. If alcohol doesn't work, consider calling in a pro or covering the ceiling with drywall.
Be warned: Once the texture is removed, you'll have to finish the joints and repair any damage that the texture previously covered up.
How Is It Done?
Roll on a chemical stripper if the textur made or covered with latex paint.
To convert a wallpaper scraper to a texture remover, simply reverse the blade. |
SAFETY CHECK
Think Before You Scrape
Pre-1978 textured ceilings may contain asbestos and should not be sanded or scraped. A safer solution would be to cover the old ceiling with drywall.
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