Perfect leveling of the ceiling surface is possible with drywall sheets. To give such a ceiling structure a complete look, painting is one of the possible options. How to accomplish it - this is our article. Painting a plasterboard ceiling is the most flexible design method: in addition to paint of various colors, any drawing or application can be applied to its surface. Nevertheless, despite its simplicity, such work requires special attention in compliance with a number of rules, the implementation of which will lead to the desired result.
The choice of paint for a plasterboard ceiling
The choice of one or another paint for a plasterboard ceiling depends on the purpose of the room and its operating conditions - humidity, temperature, etc. In most cases, the use of water-based paint materials is an acceptable option.
Usually they are completely white, and to give such compositions the desired shade, various pigments are used, which are added to the paint in certain proportions, depending on the desired color intensity. However, the colors of liquid and dried paints on the ceiling will be slightly different. Therefore, specialized stores use devices for the preparation of paint and varnish compositions of specified shades. They independently select the amount of the desired pigment, while taking into account the final result of this operation in the form of a dried ceiling coating.
Water based paint can provide both a glossy and matte finish to the ceiling. The methods of caring for such coatings are slightly different, this must be taken into account when they are installed in a particular room. A feature of this paint is the ability to provide a different texture of the finished surface when applying the last layer of material. These can be decorative irregularities applied by the nap of the paint roller, or drawings made by its carved rubber analogue.
When self-preparing the paint composition with the addition of pigment, it is recommended to check the future result of the work on trimming the plasterboard sheet treated with putty. After a couple of hours, you can see the shade of the paint after it dries.
Any water-dispersible and water-based materials are suitable for painting plasterboard ceilings of living rooms. However, when carrying out painting work in bathrooms and other wet rooms, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to the resistance of the paint in relation to water condensation. For bathrooms and kitchens, special water-based, moisture-resistant compounds are used.
An alternative to them can be enamel or oil paint, but in this case it must be borne in mind that they have a specific smell, and some of their types are toxic.
In addition to paints based on water emulsions, acrylic enamels are often used. They also give a glossy and matte surface, but it will be problematic to diversify its texture with such a composition. Acrylic enamel is ideal for a bathroom, given the occasional appearance of condensation on its walls and ceiling during bathing. Such paint is already known to be resistant not only to moisture, but also to water. Its use also allows the use of various pigments to create the color of the painted surfaces.
The consumption of any paint depends on the method of its application. Details of this are indicated on the product packaging. On average 5 m2 the area of the ceiling or walls is consumed 1 kg of paint.
Methods for applying paint to a plasterboard ceiling
Plasterboard ceilings can be painted with a spray gun or paint roller and brush. The use of a spray greatly facilitates the painting process; its use should be carried out in accordance with the instructions attached to it.
Working with a roller is also quite productive, but you shouldn't use it if its working surface is made of foam rubber. Otherwise, bubbles and paint streaks on the ceiling are inevitable. Therefore, when performing painting work, rollers with natural or synthetic bristles are used, the length of which is selected depending on the type of paint and the desired texture of the finished coating.
Roller pile up to 4 mm long is suitable for working with a glossy finish, 4-8 mm pile is used to create matte surfaces, and a long pile of 8 mm or more gives a noticeable and clear texture of the painting material on the ceiling. In the design of the paint roller, it is possible to replace the pile on the working part of the tool, the length of which is 150-200 mm.
With the help of a roller it is very difficult to paint projections, corners and edges of the ceiling, it is indispensable for processing only solid surfaces. In other cases, an ordinary brush comes to the rescue. Thus, for high-quality and fruitful work on painting a drywall ceiling, you need to use a symbiosis of these two tools.
Features of painting a plasterboard ceiling
The quality of the painted surface of the ceiling directly depends on the technology of painting work, the correct sequence of its stages and the selection of quality materials. So let's get to work.
Materials and tools for applying paint to plasterboard ceilings
When preparing a plasterboard ceiling for painting, you should pay attention to the materials and tools necessary for the work, a list of which can be found below:
- Putty … Experts advise using fine-grained finishing putties, which, after drying and sanding, allow you to achieve a perfectly flat surface.
- Ribbon or fabric "serpyanka" … It is used to reinforce joints between drywall sheets.
- Acrylic primer … Serves to increase adhesion between coating layers, is characterized by deep penetration into the pores of the material.
- Water-based paint … It is odorless and allows for even coloration. The packaging with the material always indicates what type of premises it is intended for.
- Color (pigment) … Used in paint to create the desired color.
- Roller … To paint the ceiling, it must be planted on a long handle. The roller is bought new in fur or velor.
- Ditch for paint … This is a plastic tub. The design of the paint ditch allows you to collect paint on the roller and squeeze out excess paint. Naturally, its width should not be less than the length of the working part of the roller.
- Brush … It is used in those places of the ceiling where the use of a roller is difficult - joints, corners, etc.
- Metal spatulas … Designed for applying putty on any surface.
Preparing to paint a plasterboard ceiling
To obtain a uniform surface of the painted ceiling, it is necessary to prepare it before painting.
It is as follows:
- It is necessary to seal the seams between the sheets of plasterboard ceiling. In this case, a reinforcing tape-serpyanka is used. Its use will eliminate cracks in the dried layer of putty and reduce the consumption of paint and varnish material.
- Do not leave the fastener caps sticking out above the surface of the drywall sheets. If there are any, the screws must be tightened. All places where the sheets are attached to the ceiling frame are carefully putty.
- After sealing the seams and attachment points of the sheets, they proceed to the continuous putty of the entire ceiling surface. Work starts from the corner, you need to move towards the opposite wall, applying a 2 mm layer of putty using a wide metal spatula. It takes 24 hours for the first layer to dry. After this time, a second layer of finishing putty is applied.
- After complete drying, the surface of the ceiling is smoothed out with a float with a fine-mesh abrasive mesh. This process is accompanied by circular movements along the entire plane of the structure. The quality of the grout determines the smooth surface. This moment is the most important in the entire preparation of the plasterboard ceiling for painting. Before starting this work, it is recommended to cover the windows and the floor of the room with a film.
- Dust-like filler that has settled on the ceiling must be removed with a damp cloth.
- The preparatory process is completed by priming the surface. This will speed up the coloring and make the consumption of its material more economical.
If only the ceiling is to be painted in the room, the upper edges of the walls must be protected from accidental paint roller strokes. For this, strips of plastic film, glued to the wall with masking tape, are useful. It can also help in painting a structure in different colors by dividing sections of its surface. This is especially true when painting a two-level plasterboard ceiling.
Separating lines are drawn on the plane with a pencil or chalk. Then, on the outside of the area to be painted first, masking tape is glued. After the painted area dries, its edge is covered in the same way, and the process is repeated for the rest of the ceiling.
Plasterboard ceiling paint
The ceiling is painted in several layers of water-based, acrylic or other material. After applying the first layer of paint, sections of the ceiling that differ from each other in color or texture will still be visible. Subsequent layers will even out the color of the ceiling and form its final look.
The work is performed sequentially:
- You need to open a container with paint and thoroughly mix its contents using a drill equipped with a special spatula nozzle. If the instructions allow thinning the paint with water, this can be done.
- At the initial stage of work, a brush is used. It should be flat and 60-80 mm wide. Along the perimeter of the room, the places where the walls adjoin to the ceiling are painted over with abrupt movements. This will eliminate the appearance of streaks after the ceiling has dried. The brush marks provide some margin for the future passage of the paint roller in order to avoid rubbing against parts of the ceiling that cannot be painted - the base of the chandelier, the protrusions of the ceiling levels, etc.
- Then a roller is used. The paint is poured into a paint ditch, in which it is convenient to roll it in. With a portion of paint and a roller, it becomes convenient to move around the room while working. The ribbed inner surface of the cuvette helps to evenly distribute ink on the roller and remove excess ink. Ceiling painting begins in a parallel direction relative to the location of the room window.
- The second layer of paint is applied after the previous one has dried, while the roller moves from window to door. This mutually perpendicular arrangement of the paint layers ensures a uniform coating.
Painting technology provides for the following rules:
- Large surfaces are painted in stripes with a working width of 60-80 cm.
- To evenly distribute the paint, it is enough to roll the strip 3-4 times.
- It is not recommended to roll those parts of the ceiling where the paint has begun to dry.
- Each new paint coat should start by brushing the ceiling perimeter and overhangs.
Assessment of the result after painting the plasterboard ceiling
After the ceiling has acquired a finished look as a result of painting, it is necessary to remove unnecessary details from it. The masking tape must be torn off very carefully, taking care not to damage the painted surface. If the paint holds it tightly, you can use a utility knife to peel off the tape. The joints of the painted sections of the ceiling, if necessary, are closed with decorative platbands. Skirting boards can be installed along the upper perimeter of the walls.
A portable luminaire is used to control the quality of the ceiling covering. By illuminating the ceiling surface with a slight inclination, you can see all its flaws. If there are significant differences, they are localized, combed and repainted. Therefore, it is better to monitor the quality of installation, putty and painting of the plasterboard ceiling from the very beginning.
How to paint a plasterboard ceiling - watch the video:
That's all! We hope that our material will be able to motivate you to action. After all, painting a plasterboard ceiling perfectly done with your own hands can become a decoration of the house, and for some it can be the envy of others.
