Painting the ceiling with a vacuum cleaner: an interesting way

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No matter how modern the ceiling finishing options have become, many still use old methods of bringing the ceiling surface into proper shape. Such methods usually mean whitewashing ceilings using chalk or lime whitewash.

But the process is quite labor-intensive and tedious. To make their work easier, many people use mechanized painting methods, using ordinary vacuum cleaners or special sprayers for these purposes.

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Home / Secrets of working with a spray gun
At first glance, painting walls with a spray gun may seem like a complicated undertaking, but in practice everything turns out to be much simpler.

The main thing is to adhere to a certain technique and sequence of actions. In this case, you will be able to paint the walls yourself using a spray gun no worse than any professional. We offer you step-by-step instructions, after reading which you can easily master a skill that is still new to you.

Before you start using the spray gun, you need to prepare the walls. If there is old coating on them, it must be removed. The plane of the wall must first be leveled, puttied and covered with a layer of primer.

It is the primer that ensures high-quality “paint adhesion” to the wall surface

It is important that the primer is dry before starting work. Otherwise, after painting, various defects may appear on the wall.

Also at the preparation stage you need to dilute a sufficient amount of paint if you are using color. This is necessary in order to avoid a situation where the supply of the substance is insufficient to cover the entire area of the walls.

In such cases, non-professionals often make a mistake: when preparing a new “portion” of paint, a smaller or larger amount of color is added and the color takes on a different shade from the previous version. Thus, when working with coloring, you initially need to prepare a sufficient volume of the product. If you are using ready-made colored paint, you can omit this preparation step.

Before starting work, you also need to assemble a scaffolding or “goat” so that you can reach the very top of the wall with paint. If the ceilings in the room are low, you can use an ordinary table for these purposes.

Considering that work on the walls is carried out with the ceiling already decorated, make sure that the paint does not get on it. To do this, along the border of the wall, using wide masking tape, you need to glue one strip along the entire perimeter of the ceiling so that it does not extend onto the wall. Note that one strip is enough for professionals, but we recommend that you use the same tape to glue newspapers to increase the protective surface on the ceiling.

Similar work must be done for the floor if it is already decorated (usually floors are decorated after the walls are decorated). If you have already installed a radiator or sockets, they also need to be hidden using masking tape and paper (sockets can be removed during work). In a word, cover up everything unnecessary that may be painted during work.

Advantages and disadvantages of whitewashing with chalk

Like all construction technologies, gypsum ceiling plaster has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

the ceiling turned out to be a nice dull color
environmental Safety
no special tools required
low cost of materials and labor
simplicity and speed of application
the room looks higher if the ceiling is whitewashed

Flaws:

safety precautions must be observed, as gypsum dust can enter the respiratory tract
in appearance, plaster loses out in favor of many modern building materials
the application process is accompanied by dust and drops of solution, so all furniture and household items must first be removed or covered

When applying to the ceiling, you must wear goggles, gloves, protect your respiratory system with a respirator, wear a scarf and work clothes. Although gypsum is environmentally friendly, it has a fine structure that can irritate mucous membranes and skin.

How to properly paint a ceiling with a hand spray gun

Painting the ceiling with a spray gun, as well as with a roller, can be divided into two main stages:

Preparatory.
Painting.

Preparing for work

First of all, you need to remove all the furniture from the room where the renovation will take place. Be sure to cover anything that cannot be moved to another room with plastic wrap and secure it with construction paper tape. If you do not plan to make repairs to adjacent surfaces (walls), it is also recommended to cover them with film to avoid paint from a hand-held paint sprayer.

After this, proceed directly to preparing the ceiling for painting. The old coating must be removed from it, and, if necessary, all flaws and cracks must be plastered.

The next stage of preparation for painting the ceiling with a hand-held spray gun begins with preparing the paint.

Mixing water-based paint with added color

To do this, you need a small container of 2-4 liters, where you will mix the composition. Add the required amount of water to water-based paint (according to the instructions on the paint bucket). It is advisable to mix using a mixer or a drill whisk. This will make it possible to get a good homogeneous mixture without any dry paint particles, the entry of which into the gun nozzle could negatively affect its operation. Also, to avoid clogging the nozzle, it is advisable to filter the prepared paint through a fine-grained mesh to cut off particles that were not mixed with the mixer.

Mixer for electric drill

Adding the desired shade of color will allow you to get the coating color that you want. Perform the process in small doses.

Painting the ceiling with a hand spray gun

After you have prepared the room and mixed the water-based paint, you can easily start spray painting the ceiling. To do this, you also need personal protective equipment, namely goggles and a respirator to protect your eyes and respiratory tract.

Correct movement of a hand spray gun

By painting the ceiling with a spray gun, you can get a better quality finish than using a roller. But for this you need to follow the correct paint application technology:

Make sure the paint reservoir is clean and dry before refilling the gun. When applying the coating to the ceiling, the nozzle must be held perpendicular to the surface. The distance from the ceiling to the nozzle should be within 15-20 cm. The optimal application speed is 4-6 seconds per 1 linear meter. Movements should be smooth and even, without any zigzags and strictly parallel to the ceiling. The optimal amount of coating is 2-3 layers. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has dried, otherwise peeling may occur in the future. The optimal time for applying the coating is morning or evening, since the light falls at a special angle, which allows you to see painting imperfections.

After use, it is important to thoroughly rinse and dry the instrument.

What else can you do to whiten?

In addition to a roller and brush, you can use other equipment for whitewashing. And if you don’t know how to whitewash a ceiling with a vacuum cleaner, it’s time to learn, because it’s a quick and practical way. The only downside is that it is unlikely that you will be able to whitewash the ceiling yourself; you need an assistant - one maintains the pressure in the device, the other whitens it.

As in the previous case, the first stage is surface preparation. To get rid of a layer of old whitewash, you need a spatula and a bucket of warm water with vinegar/citric acid added. It is better to soften and remove old whitewash in stages, dumping it on the laid floor or in a bucket that is in your other hand. Small parts of whitewash can be easily removed with a damp sponge.

Whitewashing with a vacuum cleaner

Don’t forget to cover the treated surface with a special antifungal agent, then with a primer, after which you can start whitening using a vacuum cleaner:

Attach a special nozzle for spraying paint (spray nozzle) to the vacuum cleaner.
Stir the paint in a bucket and pour it into a jar. Attach the nozzle to the vacuum cleaner hose (the hose must be inserted into the hole from which air flows). If the nozzle is securely fixed, you can plug it into the network.
Stand on a stepladder and point the sprayer at a distance of 30 cm to the area to be painted. Before turning on the vacuum cleaner, close the hole on the nozzle with your finger to prevent air from escaping.
Whiten in a circular motion - this is necessary for even application.
Don't forget about a respirator and protective suit - breathing sprayed paint is unsafe!
For even whitewashing, it is important to control the distance - if you bring the sprayer too close, drops will appear.
It is better to start from the corner, moving in the opposite direction. It is important to be careful and not rush.

Successful work!

Today you learned how to whitewash a ceiling with water-based paint using a roller and a vacuum cleaner.

You can also paint the ceiling using a spray gun. The photo shows the principle of its operation

These skills will undoubtedly save you money, because many people know how much it costs to whitewash a ceiling - frankly, it’s not cheap, like everything else in renovation. Thanks to our tips, you will learn how to carry out repair work yourself, and we hope you will share your impressions with us!

Vacuum cleaner

Despite the fact that a spray gun is a simple, ergonomic solution to the problem of painting a ceiling, modern vacuum cleaners are not left behind either. Most of them have a spray function. To do this, you need to move the hose and pipe to another hole (usually it is located at the back of the vacuum cleaner and is marked with a special symbol), then fill the paint into a special tank and start working.

A special sprayer will create the necessary pressure of paint, and the nozzle will prevent it from scattering throughout the room. The telescopic pipe of the vacuum cleaner eliminates the need to stand on a stepladder.

Preparation of the solution

While the ceiling is drying, you can begin to study the lime mortar. In this article we will look at three different firing options (see section “How to remove whitewash from a ceiling: surface preparation”).

Option one - economy

The first option can be classified as economical. To prepare this solution you will need:

Oilcloth;
Capacity;
Waterfall;
Gauze;
Blue;
Polyethylene film.
Plaster;

Like:

You need to purchase gypsum in the form of a dry powder or thick paste in a store. This will be the main material for whitewashing. If the purchased paste turns out to be gray, do not be embarrassed, because after bleaching and complete drying, the surface will certainly become perfectly white.

Despite the fact that the plaster paste is initially gray, the future ceiling will still acquire a crystal white color

The amount of plaster should correspond to the ceiling area to be treated. It’s worth saying right away that it’s better to take the material “with a reserve”, since it practically does not lose its properties. Therefore, you can take quite a lot, because it will be useful for subsequent bleaching.

Then you need to calculate the required amount of solution. To do this, you must assume that half a liter of ready-made lime is enough to treat one square meter of ceiling. It is recommended to practice first to acquire the necessary skills. This is due to the fact that whitening the ceiling surface with a vacuum cleaner is not a very simple process.
Before preparing the solution, it is necessary to sift the gypsum in order to remove large pieces and foreign, not crushed, impurities from it. Then you need to mix the resulting gypsum with water in a ratio of 1: 1.5 (for example, 2 kg of gypsum and 3 liters of water). The resulting mixture must be mixed very thoroughly to eliminate the possibility of lumps appearing that will worsen the appearance of the ceiling.

Approximately this consistency will need to be achieved

Next, you need to strain the resulting solution through several layers of gauze, and periodically rinse the fabric with water to free the pores. The result should be a thick mass, the texture reminiscent of country sour cream (see Is it possible to glue ceiling panels under whitewash?). To get a perfectly white color, you need to add a little blue to the resulting solution.
If there is more solution than needed, do not throw it away. Leave the lime in one container for several days. As a result, the chalk will settle to the bottom and acquire the consistency of a paste. This substance will need to be placed in a bag and stored until the next bleaching.

Option two - lime

Now let's look at a simpler, but at the same time more expensive option - lime mortar. This material has become popular due to its bactericidal properties and ability to hide small cracks.

The calculations will be as follows: to whiten 10 square meters of ceiling, 1.7 limes and about 40 g of blue must be diluted in warm water

It is very important to get the correct consistency, to check it you need to do the following:

Otherwise, you will have to gradually add lime until the solution reaches the required consistency.
Lower the knife or other metal object, then pull it out.
If the glass has turned white from the object without any residue, the solution has the correct consistency.

Option three - alternative

Water-based paint allows you to give the ceiling a glossy tint, which looks very attractive

If a person does not want to spend time preparing decisions, but is willing to pay a more impressive amount, there is an alternative option for him. In particular, water-based paint can be used for whitewashing. Thanks to its properties, it will give the ceiling a more beautiful appearance, but the preparatory work should be carried out more carefully, since this paint is not able to hide minor surface irregularities.

Inventory and tools

The quality of painting depends on the correctness of their choice. To complete the work you will need:

Roller with medium length bristles. A short pile leaves stripes, while a long pile results in a rough surface. Air bubbles form from the velor rollers. Foam rubber picks up little paint, so bald spots may appear. For convenience, it is better to use a telescopic handle.
A set of soft brushes will be needed to paint areas inaccessible to a roller.
A plastic tray (preferably with a textured bottom or mesh) the width of the roller for squeezing out excess paint.
Metal wide spatula.
Fine sandpaper (zero).
Masking tape will be needed for gluing strips of film covering furniture and floors.
Stepladder or sawhorses.
Overalls, safety glasses, respirator.

Features of care

Basically, if there are no stains or other similar contaminants on the ceiling, few people think about cleaning it. Therefore, the process is most often interesting in the presence of contamination or during pre-sale preparation.

As a rule, either leatherette, leather, or fleecy material is used as a material for the ceiling of a car. Therefore, for care in the latter case, a product for caring for material made from fabric is mainly used.

Sometimes shampoo is used, but without wax. First, the ceiling is soaped, after which the composition is transferred from the center of the ceiling to its edges with a special towel.

It is better to use cotton material as a towel, which absorbs moisture well. This could be a waffle towel.

When washing the ceiling, the towel should be moistened in clean water. If there is a stain, as a rule, it will not be possible to wash it off this way, since stains will most likely remain. Therefore, using a washing vacuum cleaner can be effective.

You cannot use gasoline or solvent to care for the ceiling of your car - stains are guaranteed.

Effective cleaning products

To remove stains, it is best to use a carpet cleaner called Vanish. The proportion is approximately this: one liter of water requires three caps of this composition

Despite the effectiveness of this approach, it is important to familiarize yourself with the recommendations on how best to wash the ceiling

You should pay attention to the nature of the contamination. If there are oil stains, Vanish may not help.

Then you should use a special product or folk soap. The ceiling has a structure, so if the rag has lint, it can easily remain on its surface. Therefore, all means and tools must be selected very carefully so as not to cause harm. You should not put too much pressure on the surface, otherwise you can not only damage the structure of the material, but also push through the upholstery, and this is a completely different cost of both time and money, because you will have to either make repairs or change the covering. Can brushes be used? It is possible, but there is a high probability that after such cleaning the surface will become shaggy, which in most cases is unacceptable.

Perhaps experts can help?

If all else fails, the additional video does not answer the question of how to effectively clean the ceiling of a car, perhaps it makes sense to seek help from specialists. Still, experience, skills and special knowledge in difficult situations can give more correct answers to difficult questions. After all, qualified craftsmen can wash the surface most effectively, but at the same time delicately, which is not always possible with your own hands. And most importantly, the risk of damage to the surface is minimized.

Therefore, after the procedure, you can get the car’s interior “like new”

And this is the most important thing

Types of paint

The final choice is made after familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of the varieties of paints on the market. For painting the ceiling the following are used:

The option of painting the ceiling with water-based paint is very popular, as it is easily applied to any surface, is non-toxic and has no pungent odor. Wet cleaning is excluded, but it is easily washed off if necessary.

Acrylic paint is resistant to abrasion and sunlight, odorless, and can cover small cracks. Due to its high moisture resistance, it can be used in rooms with high humidity and subject to frequent washing.

Latex paint is economical because it has a high degree of coverage. It is resistant to abrasion and moisture, so it can be washed even with brushes. Hides cracks up to 1 mm wide. After application, it forms a porous layer that does not interfere with the “breathing” of the ceiling. Among the shortcomings, insufficient color fastness should be noted.

Silicone paint has good vapor permeability, antiseptic properties and a water-repellent effect, so it does not require frequent maintenance. When painting, you can hide 2 mm cracks. The silicone resin included in the paint significantly increases its service life. The only drawback is the high price.

What primer to use

A primer is required for better adhesion of the paint to the surface being painted. Avoid cracks and bubbles after the paint has dried. If there is no primer, this can happen. Everything will have to be cleaned and puttied again. Therefore, in order for painting the ceiling with water-based paint to be of high quality, it is necessary to prime the surface well.

The base primer should match the base paint. Under acrylic paint, water-based paint needs the same primer, under silicone paint based on silicone, etc. And it is advisable not to save: the quality of this composition depends on the fluidity of the ceiling’s water emulsion.

Acrylic primer for the same water-based paint

There is an inexpensive method of priming - the base paint is diluted with water (1-2), and the surface is painted with this mixture a couple of times. It's definitely better than nothing, but the primer provides a more secure hold.

Using a vacuum cleaner

Not every vacuum cleaner will do. You need a model that has a blow-out hole for air where the hose will be connected. In this state, the vacuum cleaner becomes not a dust-suction unit, but a compressor.

The nozzle must be put on the jar with the solution. It must first be strained through gauze folded in three layers.

The better this is done, the less often you will have to clean a clogged spray nozzle. In addition, if it is possible to adjust the nozzle diameter, you can choose the smallest one that provides the highest quality spray of the composition.

Inside the can there will be two tubes, one of which must be immersed in the sprayed composition. On its upper part, you can find another hole, which serves to allow you to interrupt the painting process without turning off the vacuum cleaner. This will come in handy if you need to move work from one section of the ceiling to another.

The end of the hose leading to the blow-out hole of the vacuum cleaner is inserted into the cylindrical hole of the nozzle.

You can turn on the vacuum cleaner and test the assembled device in action.

Using a hand sprayer

If the required model of vacuum cleaner is not at hand, and a special electric sprayer turns out to be expensive or there is simply nowhere to buy it, you can also use a mechanical model. The principle of operation will be the same, but a second person will act as the unit pumping up the required pressure.

Very often, mechanical modifications of this device are equipped with a long rod on which the nozzle is installed. It is also called “fishing rod”.

General principles

First of all, you should decide on the general sequence of repairs in the room. It is recommended to paint the ceiling first, and only then proceed to arranging the walls and flooring. Otherwise, you will have to take additional measures to protect the floor and walls from drops of paint falling from above.

The ceiling painting technology itself also involves dividing the entire complex of work into several stages

It is important to adhere to the most appropriate sequence of actions to get the desired result.

The work plan is as follows:

Selection and purchase of paint.
Purchasing the necessary tools.
Preparing the premises for renovation.
Cleaning and puttying of concrete ceiling.
Primer treatment.
Carrying out painting work.
Correction of errors.

These are the main stages of painting the ceiling. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Working in the bathroom

Whitewashing the ceiling in the bathroom with water-based paint is a different story and a number of additional difficulties due to high humidity. First you need to choose the right paint intended for painting in such rooms. It is better to paint with a roller rather than a brush and apply paint only to the prepared surface.

When painting a bathroom ceiling, the main thing is to properly prepare the surface and choose a good roller

If the ceiling was previously painted with oil paint, there is no need to rip it off, just clean it until matte, then wash it with water. If you are satisfied with the appearance of the ceiling, you don’t have to do anything with it, just start painting, otherwise you will have to fill up the unevenness with moisture-resistant putty, prime everything and only then paint.

How to choose?

In order to choose the right paint, you need to pay attention to its characteristics indicated by the manufacturer on the can with this composition. Typically, manufacturers indicate the composition of the paint and the type of material for which it is intended.

There are different types of emulsions for surfaces made of concrete, brick, stone, wood and plasterboard. The most versatile is acrylic paint. It is suitable for treating any surface, including painting ceiling tiles. After all, it is not always possible and willing to change the ceiling surface completely; sometimes it is enough just to update it, and paint with acrylic resins will cope with this task perfectly.

Typically, manufacturers indicate the composition of the paint and the type of material for which it is intended. There are different types of emulsions for surfaces made of concrete, brick, stone, wood and plasterboard. The most versatile is acrylic paint. It is suitable for treating any surface, including painting ceiling tiles. After all, it is not always possible or desirable to change the ceiling surface completely; sometimes it is enough just to update it, and paint with acrylic resins will cope with this task perfectly.

Manufacturers always indicate in the annotation for which rooms the paint is suitable. Here, the level of humidity in the room and the degree of required resistance of the surface to detergents play a big role. Antiseptic and antifungal components in the emulsion are of great importance if the ceiling is located in a room with high humidity, which includes the bathroom. The presence of these components will protect the ceiling surface from mold and will extend its service life.

The choice of paint also depends on how you can care for the ceiling surface after painting. Manufacturers produce three types of composition, on which the method of caring for the ceiling surface depends.

The composition that forms the washable coating is unsuitable for wet cleaning, so care for such a ceiling can only be carried out with a dry cloth or vacuum cleaner. The remaining two types of leave-in compositions tolerate wet cleaning well. One type of composition does not tolerate the effects of detergents, so the ceiling surface is cleaned with plain water. And the other composition is resistant to cleaning agents, so the ceiling can be washed using a suitable product.

Manufacturers produce a wide variety of paints that give the surface a matte, semi-matte, deep matte, glossy and semi-gloss finish.

It also helps hide some small flaws in the ceiling. But it is worth remembering that caring for such a ceiling is somewhat more difficult than caring for a glossy one. A glossy surface has a more presentable appearance, lasts longer, but any defect on it is noticeable. The golden mean is to choose an emulsion that gives a semi-matte or semi-gloss surface to the ceiling.

When buying more than one can of paint, you should pay attention to the batch number: it affects the shade of the mixture. All purchased cans must have the same number to eliminate different shades on the ceiling surface

How is whitewash applied?

The solution is applied, regardless of the device used, from a distance of 50 - 80 centimeters from the surface to be painted. The required value depends on the power of the unit used and on the quality of the solution.

Whitewash is sprayed from a nozzle in a cloud called a “torch”. For optimal spraying of the composition, the “torch” should have a length of 70 to 100 centimeters. The pressure in the system should correspond to 3 - 4 atmospheres.

If the whitewash turns out to be too liquid, then in order for it to spray and apply in the best way, you need to reduce the pressure in the system. Conversely, if the solution is thick, the pressure must be increased.

The sprayer must be held strictly perpendicular to the surface being treated. You can select the best distance from the plane to the spraying part of the device experimentally, but usually it is no more than 100 centimeters.

If you bring the sprayer too close, streaks will form on the surface, and if it is too far away, a significant part of the whitewash will not reach the surface and will be lost.

The entire ceiling is treated in an even layer. You can combine the use of a brush and a mechanized method of applying whitewash.

In this case, you should first use a brush, and then, when the coating has dried, use a spray gun to whitewash the ceiling with the finishing layer.

How to avoid stains

Everyone wants to get a streak-free ceiling; beginners worry about painting more than experts. But if you adhere to painting technology, and also take into account the recommendations below, then getting the desired coating will not be so difficult:

Heating devices should be removed from the room and batteries should be turned off. Lighting fixtures on the ceiling should also be removed;
Make sure that there are no drafts in the room during painting;
You should check the quality of the coating using light, or looking at it from the other side;
The work should be carried out continuously to obtain uniform drying;
Coloring directly below the head should be avoided;
Do not move from one area to another.

The work should be carried out continuously to ensure uniform drying.

The article described in detail how to paint a ceiling with water-based paint without streaks. Following basic rules will allow a non-professional to get the perfect coating. The main thing is not to rush and act step by step. And then the resulting result will please the owner of the premises for a long time.

Preliminary preparation and treatment of the ceiling

Before you start painting with a water-based solution, the ceiling must be prepared for subsequent work.

To achieve a positive result, do not paint the ceiling with a water-based emulsion over the old layer. It must be removed with a spatula using an alkaline cleaner, then rinsed with clean water and allowed to dry.

To make things easier, use this simple technique:

Wet the ceiling with plenty of water (you can use a spray bottle or foam roller for this).
After half an hour, repeat the procedure. The old coating will be well saturated with moisture.
The next step is to create a draft in the room. Open all the windows and doors and bubbles will form on the surface of the ceiling. Such a wet layer of old coating can be easily removed with a spatula.

After such pre-treatment, inaccuracies may be visible on the ceiling surface. They are quite easy to get rid of: open all the cracks and treat them with finishing putty. After drying, the surface should be cleaned with sandpaper, and dust should be removed with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner.

When preparing the ceiling for painting, it may be necessary to eliminate minor errors

Now let's start priming the ceiling. To do this, use a deep penetration primer. After drying, the paint can be applied to the surface.

How to paint a ceiling with water-based emulsion with your own hands

Each of the water-based paints has instructions for use on the can. The operating procedure is described there. Some compositions just need to be stirred well before use: undissolved polymers may settle at the bottom of the jar. Some formulations require dilution. The amount of water added is also specified in the instructions and depends on the application method. For spray guns, the dilution is stronger; when using a roller, thicker formulations are required.

Paint tray makes the job easier

When diluting the emulsion with water, add it in small portions. Stir thoroughly and try on a surface area. If the paint goes on evenly and almost completely covers the base, you can paint.

It is more convenient to pour the paint into a special container with a tray and a ribbed platform. You can use a regular basin and a clean piece of oilcloth spread nearby. It's not as convenient, but less expensive.

Which roller to choose

A roller for painting the ceiling with water-based emulsion is needed with dense short pile. You need to examine him carefully. The pile should “sit” firmly and under no circumstances should it “climb out”, even if you pull on it. Then inspect how the seam is made. Under no circumstances should he stand out. It must be difficult to find. It is best if it is made obliquely.

Rollers for painting the ceiling with water-based emulsion

Pay maximum attention to choosing a roller: the quality of painting - the absence of stripes on the ceiling - largely depends on how good a tool you have chosen. It is more convenient to whiten the ceiling with water-based emulsion not from a stepladder, but from the floor. To do this, the roller is placed on a long handle and secured well.

How to paint without streaks

To avoid streaks on the ceiling, painting the ceiling with water-based paint should be completed no later than in 20 minutes. Immediately after application, water begins to actively absorb/evaporate and stripes appear at the junction of the dried and “fresh” paint. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare the room. It is necessary to turn off (wrap up) the heating radiators and prevent a draft. It is also advisable to wash the floor immediately before whitewashing; even if you work during the day, turn on the lighting, this will allow you to better control the quality of the paint. Afterwards you can start working.

Ready-to-use water-based paint is poured into a container, a roller is dipped into it, then rolled well over the site, achieving uniform distribution over the entire surface. When the roller has a uniform color, they begin to paint.

The corners are painted first with a brush. After applying a little paint, take a small roller and roll it out well. Then they begin to paint the main surface. The first layer is applied parallel to the window, the second - perpendicular.

You need to stand so that you look at the area to be painted at an angle. This will give you a good look at how evenly the paint has spread, as well as where you have already painted and where you haven't. Move systematically, without jumping from one piece to another.

It is more convenient to paint from the floor, and to do this, the roller must be attached to a long but light handle

The width of the strip painted at a time is slightly larger than the width of the roller. After wetting the roller, place it approximately in the middle of the strip. Quickly roll the paint in both directions from one wall to the other. Don't waste a lot of time: you don't have much of it. On average, the water emulsion dries in 10-20 seconds. If you didn’t have time to apply the strip next to it before, the border will be clearly visible, which you won’t get rid of. Having distributed the paint more or less evenly over the strip, dip the roller into the paint and roll it out again from the middle of the ceiling. At the same time, go beyond the already painted strip by about 10 cm. All this at a good pace without stops and smoke breaks. The edges of the painted strip should not dry out. In general, these are all the rules.

After applying the first coat of paint, some areas may not be painted as well. You need to wait for it to dry completely and paint it a second time. This should already be enough to obtain a flat surface. If even after the third layer of water-based paint you still have streaks and stains on the ceiling, you will have to redo it again. It is necessary to level the surface with sandpaper, prime it again and paint again.

What color

The easiest way to achieve perfect evenness is to use “snow-white” paint. All pigments clearly highlight even small irregularities, so the process of puttying the ceiling should be given maximum attention or use an acrylic or silicone-based water-based emulsion.

Preparing for painting

The sequence of creating a pattern on a plasterboard ceiling

In order for self-painting of the ceiling with water-based paint to be high-quality and uniform, preliminary preparation of the ceiling is necessary. Uniform coloring can only be achieved on a flat, puttied surface. Therefore, before starting work, you need to clean the ceiling from any previous coating (with the exception of water-based emulsion, which holds up very well).

How to remove whitewash

If you have whitewash on the ceiling - chalk or lime - you need to moisten the ceiling with water and remove the coating with a spatula. They clean everything down to concrete. Even the smallest fragments must be removed. Sometimes it is very inconvenient to scrape small areas with a spatula; it is easier to do this with a wet cloth.

It is easier to remove whitewash by wetting it with water.

In any case, after removing the whitewash, the ceiling must be washed with water and detergent. After complete drying, prime and putty with gypsum or cement (preferably white) putty until smooth, which is also called “egg-like.”

How to remove old water emulsion

If the ceiling has already been painted with water-based emulsion, you won’t be able to simply remove it. The procedure depends on how the paint adheres to the ceiling. If it just changed color and you need to renew the ceiling, there are no swelling, cracks or other similar problems, you can get by with a little blood. First, remove the dust (with a cloth and water), dry it, then prime it. After the primer has dried, you can paint it

But once again we draw attention to the fact that this procedure is used only if the water-based emulsion holds well and there are no defects

Cleaning waterproof emulsion from the ceiling is still a pleasure

If there are cracks or swellings on the surface of the water-based emulsion, it must be cleaned off. There are two ways - dry and wet. Dry means cleaning with sandpaper (manually or using an angle grinder), wet means rinsing off. This method must be used for paint that is not afraid of water. But it is very difficult to remove such paint. If water-based paint holds up well, no tricks help, but there are surface defects and putty is needed, take sandpaper with coarse grain and make the surface rough. After this you can putty. Next - according to technology: we prime and then paint.

Wash off the ceiling painted with water-based emulsion by moistening it twice with plenty of hot water. The water should be almost boiling water - about 70°C. After wetting part of the ceiling, wait 10 minutes, then wet the same area again with hot water. After about five minutes you can remove the paint with a spatula.

Removing old paint is a lengthy process

You can repeat this procedure several times, gradually removing loose paint from the ceiling. Small residues can be sanded off, and then the ceiling can be washed, dried and primed. You can putty and sand over the primer, smoothing out imperfections.

Features of whitewashing the ceiling using a vacuum cleaner

If you have a vacuum cleaner of a suitable model and find a special attachment, you can assemble a homemade spray gun and start whitewashing

It is important that all parts of the sprayer, especially if a homemade device is used, are tightly connected to each other. When applying the solution, the sprayer must be kept at a distance of 50 - 80 cm from the ceiling perpendicular to its surface

A pressure of 3 - 4 atmospheres is considered close to ideal with an average density of the solution. If the whitewash is thick enough, then the pressure should be increased, and for a solution that is too thin, on the contrary, reduced. The distance to the surface to be treated should not exceed 1 meter to avoid excessive dispersion of the solution, and should not be less than 0.5 meter to prevent the formation of drips.

Applying the solution to the ceiling using a sprayer, as shown in the video, is carried out in an even thin layer in small areas. To achieve the best result, it is recommended to apply several layers of whitewash, with each subsequent layer being sprayed onto a dry surface.

You will need an old, Soviet-style vacuum cleaner, to the outlet of which you can attach a hose. The fact is that previously all ceilings were whitewashed using a vacuum cleaner, so all the outlet holes from which air blows were equipped with threads for attaching a hose. Modern vacuum cleaners do not have exhaust pipes, since they usually have filtration systems at the outlet, which prevents the free movement of air.

Next, take the required vacuum cleaner, attach the hose to the side where the air blows, attach a spray can with paint or whitewash, and point it at the ceiling.

Painting the ceiling with water-based emulsion... what could be simpler?! Take a roller and paint! But are you satisfied with everything in the end? In order for you to be satisfied with the result, you need to know how to whitewash a ceiling with water-based paint correctly. To do everything right, let's look together at the most common defects of painted ceilings and try to avoid them.

Do you already know how to paint a ceiling with water-based paint?

Types of vacuum cleaner attachments used for whitewashing

Professional sprayers that are used to apply whitewash can have different designs and features. In hardware stores you can find a fairly wide range of spray guns, which differ in the method of air supply, operating principle, location of the paint tank, and also in the amount of operating pressure. However, in the absence of a powerful compressor, a special attachment for the vacuum cleaner is used, which you can either buy or make yourself.

Three main types of attachments are most often used for applying whitewash:

A spray gun with a vacuum cleaner attachment (for example, Intertool PT 0303). This device is equipped with a 200 ml paint tank with a top location. From the tank, the whitewash falls onto the spray head with a nozzle diameter of 0.5 mm and is pushed out by a stream of air.
Attachment in the form of a lid for a glass jar. Previously, domestically produced vacuum cleaners were equipped with similar devices, but in some cases they can be found on sale separately. This nozzle has a hole for connecting a hose with a diameter of 30 mm and is placed on an ordinary glass jar into which the whitewash solution is poured.
Homemade sprayer. The attachment for a vacuum cleaner in the form of a lid on a jar has a simple design, so it can be made independently. To do this, two thin tubes are inserted into the nylon cover, one is long, which should reach almost to the very bottom, the other is slightly shorter. A short tube is connected to the funnel-shaped attachment on the vacuum cleaner hose.

Useful tips

Painting a ceiling takes a lot of time, so every person wants the process itself to be completed without additional waste of money and effort, and to be pleased with the result. But excesses sometimes still happen. In order to prevent some mistakes, there are a number of recommendations, following which you can avoid many problems.

After this time, the water contained in the emulsion begins to evaporate rapidly, and visible transitions may form at the joints of the dried layer.

Having good lighting makes it possible to view the painted surface from any angle. You need to turn on the lights even during the daytime. This way you can control where the paint is applied without missing even a small area. It is also worth remembering about the heating system; it is better to cover the radiators.

But sometimes the paint is unevenly distributed over the surface, after which areas with shades different from the rest of the surface are formed. To avoid such an error, it is imperative to observe the direction when painting.

Repeated painting is not always able to correct the situation, so sometimes you have to clean problem areas with sandpaper. Only a new coat of paint will help to refresh the surface. If all efforts are in vain, then you will have to repaint the ceiling again, and clean and wash the surface again before painting.

To learn how to properly prepare and paint a ceiling with water-based paint, watch the following video.

What is a spray gun

Technology does not like to sit still, as does the creative process of inventors who invented a fairly simple and inexpensive device that greatly facilitates the process of applying paint to surfaces. This device was called a spray gun.

A spray gun is essentially a spray gun that uses pressurized air. Air comes out through the spray nozzle with great speed and force, carrying with it paint particles that are deposited on the surface being painted.

Previously, a regular vacuum cleaner was often used for these purposes. Many of them even had special hose attachments, allowing the unit itself to be used as a large blower. The nozzle was placed on a vessel with a sprayed solution.

In the video below you can see how to vacuum or spray. This method has not lost its relevance even now, so if necessary, you can easily assemble something similar at home by making a spray gun yourself.

Since then, the spray gun has changed in appearance, but the principle of its operation has not changed. It can be inflated manually to the required pressure or using an electric motor to provide the required pressure in the system.

Inventory and tools

The quality of painting depends on the correctness of their choice. To complete the work you will need:

Roller with medium length bristles. A short pile leaves stripes, while a long pile results in a rough surface. Air bubbles form from the velor rollers. Foam rubber picks up little paint, so bald spots may appear. For convenience, it is better to use a telescopic handle.
A set of soft brushes will be needed to paint areas inaccessible to a roller.
A plastic tray (preferably with a textured bottom or mesh) the width of the roller for squeezing out excess paint.
Metal wide spatula.
Fine sandpaper (zero).
Masking tape will be needed for gluing strips of film covering furniture and floors.
Stepladder or sawhorses.
Overalls, safety glasses, respirator.

How to whitewash a ceiling

For whitewashing, chalk, slaked lime and water-based paint are used. Each option has its own advantages, so to decide, you need to learn about the basic properties of these materials.

Chalk

Chalk for whitewashing

The chalk solution is easy to apply, has good covering power, and is almost odorless. Chalk is a very cheap material, and therefore whitewashing will cost pennies. But at the same time, the chalk gets very dirty, preparing the solution takes time, and the surface may acquire a yellowish tint. To prevent this from happening, blue is added to the solution.

Blue

Lime

Lime has bactericidal properties, covers small cracks well, lasts a long time, and has a low cost. The disadvantages include the sharp unpleasant odor that appears when diluting the solution and the caustic nature of the material. When whitening with lime, you must wear gloves, otherwise it will corrode the skin on your hands.

Water-based paint

Water-based paint is the best option. Its cost is higher than that of chalk or lime, but its covering capacity is much greater. It does not smell, is easy to apply, is sold ready for application, and the painted surface does not get dirty. There is a washable paint that is especially suitable for wet areas.

The reasons for the appearance of streaks, spots, streaks and how to avoid their appearance

Stripes and stains on paint are a common and, to some extent, common occurrence. The reasons for this may be different:

Uneven base.
The paint is too thick.
Inappropriate tool.
Wrong application technique.

It should be borne in mind that most often
spots or stripes when painting a ceiling appear for several reasons at once
, which forces all necessary operations to be carried out with special care:

Choose the right paint.
Carefully prepare the ceiling surface.
Select the method of applying the material.
Choose the most suitable tool.
Apply the paint coat correctly.

Preparing a solution for whitewashing the ceiling with chalk

The solution for chalk bleaching is prepared as follows: add 30 g of wood glue, 15 g of blue glue (to make the solution white) and 3 kg of gypsum to 5 liters of water. The prepared solution is enough for 10 square meters.

You can check the consistency of the solution with a knife. If the solution flows freely over the knife, the solution has insufficient viscosity. Then you need to add more plaster there, but gradually, in small portions, so that the solution does not turn out to be too thick.

Preparing a solution for whitewashing the ceiling with lime

The lime bleaching solution is prepared as follows: mix 2-3 kg of lime with a liter of water, add 100 g of salt, 200 g of aluminum alum. Mix thoroughly and then dilute with warm water (up to 10 liters). If you want to change the shade, you can add 200-500 ml of dye.

When bleaching with lime, the surfaces must be moistened so that the lime spreads evenly without leaving streaks.

How to determine what the ceiling or walls were whitewashed with before renovation

Sometimes we don't know how the walls or ceiling were previously whitewashed, in which case it's easy to check. We moisten any area with water; if the lime was lime, the wet surface will darken, and if you rub this area with your finger, the stain will not remain.

How to properly whitewash the ceiling (walls) with your own hands

When whitewashing, use auxiliary tools - a brush, roller or vacuum cleaner. It is easier to work with a roller, and the surface is white and smooth (experience with a brush and vacuum cleaner is also required).

Before starting work, it is necessary to thoroughly mix the solution, then apply lime with a roller at least twice. Let the first coat dry and then reapply.

How to prepare the ceiling base and room before renovation?

Before you uncork a can of paint and begin work, it is worth properly preparing the surface that will be decorated, as well as the room where the finishing will be done. Be that as it may, the second operation will be reduced to removing from the room the maximum amount of furniture and other products located in it with which this can be done (exceptions, as a rule, are a wardrobe, a massive bed, etc.). Those pieces of furniture that could not be removed will need to be covered with protective plastic film or an old blanket.

As for preparing the ceiling plane, this process is much more troublesome and complicated - this includes the following:

a) removing old plaster that has begun to peel or crumble. Moreover, if the base of the ceiling is affected by a fungal coating, then all defective areas (i.e. those with dark greenish-gray spots) must be thoroughly cleaned until the concrete surface appears. A steel spatula will help you perform this procedure efficiently;

how to paint a ceiling yourself

b) primer treatment. having antiseptic properties. If the room being repaired is characterized by high humidity in the prevailing air in it, then in this case it would be better to be careful and play it safe by covering the entire surface with the mentioned composition, and not individual affected areas. Fungal diseases can be neutralized using any mixture that uses chlorine as an active substance (in addition to many modern drugs, today there are a lot of domestic ones that are noticeably effective; one of them is Belizna laundry bleach);

c) covering the ceiling surface with a penetrating primer, which is performed after the antiseptic liquid has completely dried. Such a solution will strengthen the base by an order of magnitude, as well as improve the quality of adhesion of the putty mass to it;

Read: Do-it-yourself slatted ceiling installation

d) treating the ceiling with starting putty. Applying a “starting” layer of putty is necessary in order to repair all the unevenness that is noticeable to the eye. After the putty coating has completely dried, it is polished (grinded) with a coarse abrasive mesh and a stone;

e) finishing the ceiling surface with finishing putty. This composition must be applied in 2 thin layers with full setting of each of them. After this, it is customary to perform fine grinding with “thin” mesh wheels based on synthetic fiber with abrasive grain, followed by priming.

Surface preparation

First, remove the peeling plaster with a steel spatula. If there are dark spots on the ceiling, it means it is affected by fungus. They are removed down to the concrete floor. The resulting depressions and cracks are sealed with putty. In order for the plaster to peel off without problems, the surface of the ceiling should be thoroughly moistened. Thanks to this technology, the room will not be covered with dust.

First, use a starting putty, which is made from lime and coarse gypsum. After drying, it is sanded with coarse sandpaper. Using modern tools and technologies, you can quickly and easily whitewash the ceiling with water-based paint, without leaving streaks. It is better for an amateur to use a foam roller. Experienced painters work with brushes and also use spray guns.

After filling all defects with putty, the surface is treated with an antiseptic primer. If you only have regular primer material, then treat the ceiling with any liquid that contains chlorine. This could be the well-known domestic “Whiteness”. Now wait until the surface is thoroughly dry and begin applying the penetrating primer. It is designed to strengthen the base and improve the adhesion of paint to the surface.

At the final stage, finishing putty is used. It has water-repellent properties. Does not contain lumps, lays down in an even layer, dries instantly and is stored in a tightly closed tube for several months. It is applied with a wide spatula in two layers, then carefully sanded with fine-grained sandpaper.

Now all that remains is to treat the surface with another layer of primer and you can cover the ceiling with water-based paint. For this work you will need the following tools and materials:

Foam roller. Even an untrained person can work with such a device, since the roller does not leave streaks.
Painting tray. Paint is poured into it and the roller is saturated, moving it back and forth. Rolling out this device is required so that it does not leave stripes. This cannot be done on the ceiling, but in a tray you can roll out the roller without touching any surfaces. Those who don’t know how to paint a ceiling with water-based paint without streaks using a brush can use a foam roller
Water-based acrylic paint. The surface coated with this composition can be wiped with a damp cloth in unlimited quantities.

A training video on how to properly whiten a ceiling with water-based paint will allow you to make cosmetic repairs without any problems. From it you will learn that the entire room or just the walls are painted in one step. Everything must be done quickly, since even the slightest drying of the paint should not be allowed, otherwise the next layer will form a sagging. If you notice that some area is poorly painted, there is no need to touch it up. Better continue to work on the intended technology. The next layers will do the trick.

A video on how to paint a ceiling with a roller without streaks makes it possible to do this type of work correctly and quickly. If you used a paint brush and left streaks, it will be impossible to paint over them. They will still be viewed. You will have to wait for the paint to dry completely, then carefully sand the entire surface and paint again.

Painting procedure

The first supply of paint from the spray gun is carried out away from the ceiling. This is done because at first the electric device may throw out an excessive amount of the color mixture, and this can significantly spoil the desired result. The spray nozzle must be moved to the side and wait until it sprays evenly. After this you can start painting. The spray gun should be kept at a distance of 30-50 cm from the ceiling surface. The nozzle of the device should move at a speed of 1 meter in 5 seconds. The stream of paint must be directed perpendicular to the ceiling.

For convenience, the plane to be painted is conventionally divided into squares equal to the length of the arm. The resulting areas are painted alternately with transverse and longitudinal movements. You cannot keep the spray gun on one square for a long time. Otherwise, the paint layer will be thick and will flow down in drops. It is best to maintain a steady pace throughout the entire process.

Experienced painters advise painting the ceiling with a spray gun in three layers, each of which is applied after the previous one has dried. Do not apply paint to a layer of uncured primer or water-based emulsion. A fresh ball of paint will lie unevenly and will soon simply peel off. The work will have to be redone from scratch.

It is better to apply the first and third layers of the coloring composition in the morning and evening. At this time, the room is well lit and sunlight does not fall directly.

How to prepare the solution

Thinning water-based paint is often not particularly difficult, which cannot be said about preparing a solution from gypsum or lime.

The solution is prepared based on the approximate calculation that for every square meter of ceiling painted in one layer, half a liter of the mixture will be required. But most often the compositions of the components are provided on an area of 10 square meters. The finished mixture can be stored for no more than 36 hours, and dry ingredients for several years without deterioration or loss of their properties and quality. If possible, the solution is mixed with a construction mixer.

To prepare a gypsum solution you will need from 30 to 100 ml of glue (PVA or carpentry), a piece of laundry soap grated on a fine grater weighing 50 g, and 3 kg of gypsum sifted through a sieve (sifting is a necessary step to remove waste and larger particles from bleaching material) and 10-20 g of ordinary blue to improve the whiteness of the color and prevent possible yellowing of the coating. First, soap flakes and glue are dissolved in warm water, then plaster, previously mixed with blue powder, is poured in in a thin, even stream with constant stirring.

The lime mixture is prepared somewhat simpler: 1.75 g of lime puree, 100 g of sodium chloride and 40-45 g of blue are diluted in warm water. However, this mixture does not produce rich white light, compensating for it with its masking properties.

The amount of water is taken arbitrarily. Approximately 1 kg of gypsum or lime requires 2 liters of hot water. To determine the optimal consistency of the dough, the following technique is used: a metal object with a smooth surface (a pin or a knife) is lowered vertically into the solution; if, after removal, the dough flows without leaving traces, the solution is not thick enough and chalk or lime should be added. In this case, the concentration of the mixture is gradually increased, and after each addition the quality of the solution is checked.

The finished mixture is left for 10-15 minutes, after which it is filtered through a sieve or a layer of rags. A well-prepared mixture has no lumps and, flowing down, paints the metal white. Immediately before bleaching, the solution is mixed well.

Types of water-based paint

Water-based paint is a water-based emulsion that contains polymer particles undissolved in water. The composition also includes pigments and various additives that change the characteristics of the final product. After applying the paint, active evaporation of water occurs and a thin polymer film remains on the surface.

Painting the ceiling with water-based paint begins with choosing the composition. They use four types of polymers:

Acrylic. An aqueous emulsion based on acrylic resins allows you to obtain a smooth surface, has good hiding power, and hides small surface defects, even cracks up to 1 mm wide. Its disadvantage is its high price, but it is easier to work with. In their pure form, acrylic compositions are hygroscopic and can only be used in dry rooms, but they do not interfere with the passage of steam. To create a waterproof film, latex is added to the acrylic water-based emulsion. The same additive increases the elasticity of the dried film. Such compositions can be used in damp areas.
Silicates. This type of water-based paint is based on liquid glass. The coating is resistant to precipitation and does not interfere with the release of vapors, has a long service life (10 years or more), and can be used for outdoor work.
Minerals - lime or cement. Mineral water-based emulsions have good adhesion to any surface, but are quickly washed off. As a result, they are gradually losing popularity.
Silicone. Silicone-based water emulsions are the latest achievement in the industry. These compositions are good because they “tighten” cracks up to 2 mm thick. As a result, the surface painted with them, even without excellent preparation, turns out to be even and smooth. The film turns out dense, but vapor-permeable. Silicone water-based emulsion can be used to paint ceilings in bathrooms and other wet areas. The disadvantage of this type of paint is its high price.

Latex can be added to any of the compositions. Latex water-based paint is water-repellent. It is not afraid of moisture and can be used in damp rooms.

Based on the main characteristics of these compositions, you can choose the best type of water-based paint for yourself. Each case requires its own properties and the “best water emulsion” is different each time.

Reasons for appearance

Methods of painting the ceiling
Basically, the appearance of stains on the ceiling surface is due to the fact that the previous finishing was done using oil paint. Previously, such a coating was considered very durable and beautiful. Therefore, oil paints were often used when painting ceilings.

Nowadays there are more modern materials and paints, but almost no one uses oil paints. However, if applied earlier, they can cause a lot of trouble. The oil penetrates very deeply into the floor slab and can come out over time. Even after complete removal of the old painted layer, the oil that was part of it may appear on the surface of the newly repaired ceiling.

The second reason for streaks is moisture. This may be the consequences of recent flooding by upper neighbors. If the interfloor slab is not completely dry, they may appear after some time.

When the house is old enough, rust may appear around the pipes in the thickness of the ceiling. Gradually protruding on the surface of the ceiling, it will spoil its appearance. Often, such stains can appear after flooding from above.

The last reason for the appearance of such artifacts will be mold and mildew. These are the most dangerous of all manifestations of this kind. Fungal spores can harm the respiratory tract of those who are constantly in this room and require an immediate response to their appearance.

Painting the ceiling

Painting technology consists of a sequence of simple operations:

The paint is prepared in accordance with the instructions (it may need to be diluted with water), mixed thoroughly and poured into the tray.
First, brushes are used to paint areas that cannot be reached with a roller.
Painting with a roller begins from the windows to the opposite wall in strips of 0.5 m. Each subsequent strip should overlap the previous strip by a few centimeters. To avoid the appearance of stains, the process is carried out without interruption.
To paint the ceiling without streaks, you need to wait until each layer is completely dry. Stripes of the second layer are applied along the windows. After it has dried, the quality of the paint is assessed and, if necessary, another layer is applied.
The stripes of the third are applied in the direction of the first layer. It is recommended to avoid matching the joints of the strips of the first and third layers.

Painting a plasterboard ceiling is done in the same way with preliminary puttying and sanding the joints between the sheets. The heads of the screws are recessed and also puttied. After which the surface is primed.

Defects in painted ceilings

Stains and stains

They can darken not only the surface of the ceiling, but also the beauty of any interior. The reason for the appearance of stains is a violation of the painting technology. And the point is not even that you chose domestically produced paint rather than foreign - there is not much difference, the main thing is not to buy an outright fake. It probably depends more on the roller. As practice shows, you can whiten a ceiling without streaks using a roller with long threads (usually yellow). In this case, it is better not to use velor - it absorbs little paint, work with its use is very slow, and foam rubber leaves bubbles.

Stripes

If you didn’t know how to whitewash a ceiling with a roller, but decided to do it anyway, get ready to face streaks of paint. They are formed due to a slight rolling of paint with a roller. To avoid this, you need to roll the roller over the painted surface when there is practically no paint on it.

Activities to prepare the ceiling for painting

When figuring out how to paint the ceiling yourself, you first need to study the list of tools and materials required for this work:

a roller corresponding to one or another type of paint;
wide paint brush;
ceiling paint;
narrow brushes;
tray intended for paint;
glasses for protection;
a cap or helmet equipped with a visor for protection;
special clothing;
putty knife;
masking adhesive tape of different widths;
ladder.

To properly paint the ceiling with your own hands, you first need to prepare the base for painting (for more details: “How to paint a ceiling correctly”). To do this, you need to clean the ceiling from old materials - whitewash, paint (more details: “How to clean the ceiling from old paint”). Any irregularities must be smoothed out with sandpaper, and small cracks and cracks, after pre-wetting them, must be treated with putty. If there are large cracks in the ceiling, they should be slightly widened so that the applied mixture can penetrate into them without difficulty. Apply the putty using a small spatula. The surface should also be cleaned of dust generated during the work.

Cleaning the ceiling

This process is labor-intensive and messy. We take out everything that can be taken out of the room, and cover the rest with plastic.

To remove you will need: a scraper (spatula) and warm water to which vinegar or citric acid has been added. Do not treat the entire area at once, it will dry out quickly and this will only complicate the work.

When the moisture is absorbed, carefully remove it with a spatula. You can (if convenient) hold a plastic tray in one hand, into which we will immediately collect the cleaned pieces.

Lime residues are removed with a damp sponge. We treat the cleaned surface with a special antifungal solution (to prevent the appearance of mold), putty and, if necessary, level it.

Next we coat it with primer. When the primer dries (in a day), you can begin bleaching.

How to whiten

There are two popular options. The first option is chalk bleaching, and the second is lime bleaching. These options are hygienic and environmentally friendly. Lime can compress small cracks and seal them, and also has germicidal properties.

Video: recipe for lime bleaching

Gypsum differs from other materials used to cover ceilings in its deep whiteness.

Preparation of chalk solution

To whiten plaster, take: 5 liters of warm water, dissolve 30 g of wood glue in water, then add 3 kg of gypsum (sifted) and 15-20 g of blue.

Blue is added to avoid a yellow tint and enhance the whiteness of the coating. The prepared composition is enough for about 10 - 12 square meters.

To check the thickness of the solution, lower the knife blade. If it drips down, exposing the blade, there is a lot of water in it.

You can add more chalk. The solution should not completely drain from the knife blade. To avoid adding too much, add a little chalk.

Preparation of lime mortar

Take 2-3 kg of slaked lime and dilute it in a liter of water. Add 50-100 grams of pre-softened salt, 150-200 grams of aluminum alum, 400-500 grams of dye (if necessary).

Mix the ingredients well and add warm water. We carry up to 10 liters. It is advisable to apply white lime on a damp surface, it will spread better and there will be no streaks.

Problem ceiling

Before finishing painting you need to eliminate the following defects:

microcracks or peeling paint - remove everything that can be removed with a spatula or sandpaper. Remove dust. Prime the surface with a deep penetration primer. After drying, sand again and apply another layer of primer;
complex stains are leveled with primer-paint;
The cracks need to be repaired and the entire surface of the ceiling treated with primer. Then fill the cracks with filler. Sand the area with the crack with sanding paper, prime it, and seal it with sickle tape. Next, finishing putty is applied to the ceiling, sanded, and primed. After applying each layer of materials, it is dried!
old oil or alkyd paint on the ceiling is treated with No. 80 sanding paper. Dust is removed. The surface is primed.

Features of ceiling spray guns

Reasons why experts recommend using a spray gun when applying paint to the ceiling:

Process automation significantly increases labor productivity. The work that would be done with a roller or brush in one day will be done with a spray gun in 1-2 hours.
When working with a sprayer, the likelihood of drops and streaks appearing is much less, since the liquid is evenly distributed over the surface.
There is no need for a brush even in hard-to-reach places, since the spray gun can be sprayed onto any surface.
The device comes with manufacturer's instructions. So even if you have questions, the answer can be found within the pages of this technical guide.

Spray gun design
This method is not without its drawbacks:

Compared to a roller or brush, the cost of a spray gun is high. However, it is worth considering here: if the surfaces to be painted are large enough, it is better to purchase a spray gun, which will save a lot of time and effort.
The operation of the spray gun is characterized by the release of paint particles into the environment, therefore it is necessary to take measures to protect the eyes and respiratory system.

General characteristics of the work ahead

We all know that the best way to correct a mistake is to prevent it from happening. Therefore, the answer to the question of what to do with an uneven ceiling in a room can be simple and unambiguous - level it.

Modern technologies allow you to level the ceiling in various ways. You can resort to using suspended ceilings, you can install a glass suspended ceiling, or you can choose plasterboard. This is a broad topic that deserves its own article, so we won’t cover it in detail now.

But, nevertheless, if you decide to resort to painting, then most likely you will use ceiling plasterboard for leveling. The fact is that leveling a ceiling, which is initially uneven, without the use of drywall (or other technology) is a difficult task, requiring enormous labor costs on your part.

Yes, the floor and walls are leveled using beacons - this is normal, this is correct. But with the ceiling, things are somewhat different: gravity simply interferes with the alignment process. Therefore, using technology that is used to adjust floors/walls is an impractical solution.

However, it is not so important what is on your ceiling. Now our topic is painting an uneven ceiling

Of course, maybe yours is even. But there are general rules that everyone who decides to pick up a roller or brush needs to know.

In addition, after poor-quality painting of even a smooth ceiling, unevenness, bumps, craters, spots may remain on it - there really are a lot of options. How to hide uneven ceilings after painting? That's what we'll talk about now.