Proper preparation of the surface for paintingguarantees a successful result. Painting the ceiling is no exception. Here, the appearance of the ceiling completely depends on how competently the old coating is removed. How to prepare the ceiling for painting, where to start the work? This question worries many homeowners, and the answers to it can be found in the information provided.
Before painting, the ceiling must be cleaned of the old coating and all cracks must be filled with putty.
Rules for removing old coatings
Preparation for painting is often like thisas important and responsible task as painting itself. It is no secret that a new layer of paint applied to old whitewash will soon fall off, and such a ceiling will look unsightly. In order for the paint to last long and firmly, it is necessary to create a perfectly clean surface free of the old finish coating. Before preparing the ceiling for painting, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures that will make the process safer and more convenient:
Tools for preparing the ceiling for painting.In addition, you should prepare special clothing (it should cover the skin as much as possible), a headdress to protect the hair and a cotton-gauze bandage that will protect the respiratory system from dust and splashes when removing the old coating. If desired, you can use gloves. The following tools and materials will be required for the work:
- ladder;
- a basin of water;
- spatula made of metal;
- cushion with long nap;
- A broad brush with dense bristles;
- rags;
- screwdriver;
- primer;
- putty;
- sandpaper.
To prepare the ceiling for painting,It is necessary to wash off the old chalk whitewash. First, wet the brush in water and thoroughly coat the entire surface of the ceiling. The operation must be performed several times. When the whitewash is well soaked, it is removed using a metal spatula. Then the plaster should be wiped with a clean damp cloth, periodically rinsing it in water to remove the remains of the whitewash. The dried ceiling is ready for painting.
Sequence of preparation of the ceiling forpainting: a — cleaning from the solution with a scraper, b — smoothing with a flat, c — smoothing with a hinged float. If the ceilings were painted, the preparation process is slightly different. Here it is necessary to check the entire surface and remove peeling pieces of paint with a spatula. A firmly adhering coating can be left. Oil paint, which was previously often used for finishing works, is especially reliable. It can be simply degreased with any cleaning agent or alcohol, then washed and left to dry. Priming and puttying can be done directly on the old layer. If the ceiling was covered with a water-based solution, it can also not be washed off. It is necessary to conduct a small test, which will indicate whether there is a need to remove the old coating or not. A small area of the surface should be coated with warm water and left for a few minutes. If the paint layer begins to fall off when in contact with the spatula, it must be removed. If the paint holds firmly, it is left. If it is necessary to remove water-resistant water-based paint, a grinder or a drill with a special attachment should be used. This work usually produces a lot of dust and debris, so it is necessary to take care to protect your eyes and respiratory system. The easiest way to prepare a ceiling that was covered with polystyrene tiles. Here, the work consists of removing the tiles and adhesive residue from the ceiling slabs. The adhesive can be washed off with a solvent, but you must be very careful that drops of liquid do not get on your skin or eyes. It is safer to use a chisel or a sharp spatula, which you need to scrape off the adhesive from the surface.
Ceiling priming scheme.Wallpaper is removed in the same way as from wall coverings. First, it is thoroughly soaked in water, to which you can add a little liquid soap, and then removed with a spatula. In addition, it is recommended to use a special composition for removing wallpaper, as it is quite harmless and does not cause negative reactions when it comes into contact with the skin. Return to the table of contents</a>
Pre-treatment of the surface
Once the old ceiling finish has been removed,you can start fresh finishing works. They include a number of activities for leveling and priming the surface. First of all, it is necessary to carefully tap all the ceiling slabs to detect voids and loose plaster. To prevent the plaster from falling off during or after painting, reducing all efforts to zero, it is scraped off with a spatula. Ceiling seams are checked with a screwdriver: if voids are found, careful cleaning is necessary, followed by filling the hole. In this case, it is advisable to put a reinforcing mesh on the seams, which will hold the putty on the surface. Return to the table of contents</a>Rough and finishing works on priming andputty The next stage of work is priming. It is advisable to prime the ceiling for painting with a water-based or alkyd-based compound. Work is carried out using a long-nap roller. It is necessary to apply 2 layers of primer. Each layer dries for about 12 hours, which must be taken into account when planning repair work. After the primer has dried, the ceiling slabs must be covered with a layer of putty and dried well. Since the layer is usually very thin when applied, at least 2 layers are needed for leveling. Then the surface is processed with sandpaper until smooth. In order to better see all the flaws and unevenness on the ceiling, you can use a portable lamp. When illuminated, all the bumps will cast shadows. The final part of the preparatory work consists of finishing priming and putty. When priming, experts recommend adding a little water-dispersion paint to the primer. The composition is applied to the center of the ceiling slabs with a roller, and to the corners - with a paint brush. Just like with rough priming, the solution should be applied in 2 layers. After drying, putty is applied. Here it is necessary to carefully ensure that the work is carried out as carefully as possible, because any irregularities can spoil the appearance of the ceiling slabs. Dried putty is rubbed with fine-grained sandpaper until smooth. The ceiling slabs are prepared, and you can begin finishing painting. Preparatory work for painting takes a lot of time and requires sufficient effort, but at the same time you get an ideal ceiling that will decorate the room and will serve for a long time without requiring new repairs.
