How to properly prepare and paint the ceiling with acrylic paints
Painting walls or ceilings with white acrylic paint is an effective way to transform a room. The acrylic has a dazzling snow-white shade and shine. White color visually expands the space, makes the room more spacious and brighter. Acrylic paint, which is usually used for interior painting, has practically no drawbacks. The composition ideally lies on the surface, quickly sets, creates a smooth coating.
Characteristics of acrylic paint for walls and ceilings
White acrylic paints are usually used to paint the upper part of the room. There are two main types of paints and varnishes (LKM) for interior painting: aqueous emulsions and dispersions. Any acrylic blend contains colorant, acrylic polymers and thinner or water. Water-based paint materials consist of pigments, water and polymeric substances. The composition of such mixtures includes acrylic resin. The aqueous emulsion can be used for concrete, brick, plaster surfaces.This type of painting materials is mainly used for dry rooms.
Acrylic dispersion is available in water or solvents. After applying to the base and drying, the paint forms a hard, at the same time elastic, but breathable film, which has increased resistance to moisture and periodic temperature fluctuations. Acrylic dispersion in a solvent is considered more durable. True, this type of paint has a pungent smell. It is usually used to paint the facade or wet rooms. Ceilings in living rooms can be whitewashed using a conventional acrylic aqueous dispersion.
Characteristics of acrylic paints and varnishes:
- after application to the ceiling, it hardens and dries quickly;
- forms a strong protective film;
- not exposed to moisture, ultraviolet rays, high temperatures;
- does not bleed, roll or crack;
- gives the surface a snow-white color, a glossy or matte shine;
- the coloring agent has an environmentally friendly composition;
- LKM does not emit toxins, does not emit a pungent odor, is resistant to inflammation;
- the basic composition has a snow-white color, but with the help of tinting you can give the paint any shade;
- affordable price;
- ease of application.
Acrylic paint is applied to the surface with a roller, brush or spray gun. It is easy to paint the ceiling yourself, without involving other people in the repair. It is recommended to prepare the surface before painting (cleaning, leveling, coating).
How to choose the right paint
Paint and varnish manufacturers produce several types of acrylic paints.All of them are distinguished by one important property - the ability to form a durable breathable film on the surface, which is not exposed to moisture.
Coloring matter requirements
Criteria that the ceiling paint must meet:
- easy to apply with conventional tools;
- have a snow-white color;
- harden and dry quickly;
- does not drip from the ceiling, does not leave traces;
- self-align after application;
- have no smell;
- does not release toxins;
- does not yellow during operation;
- do not rub, do not wash when wet cleaning;
- have vapor permeability and water-repellent properties;
- contain antifungal ingredients that prevent mold growth.
Suitable varieties
The following types of paint materials are used for painting:
- water-based on acrylic polymers;
- aqueous dispersions of acrylic polymers;
- dispersions of acrylic polymers in solvents.
The most durable and having high indicators of wear and moisture resistance are acrylic dispersions on solvents. Such compositions can be used for painting rooms in which high humidity is regularly observed (baths, saunas). In the kitchen and bathroom, the ceiling can be whitewashed with an aqueous acrylic dispersion.
Water emulsion is used to paint dry parts. Most often, ceilings are painted with a universal acrylic water dispersion. It is a type of non-toxic paint material that creates a durable, smooth, glossy and water-repellent film on the surface.
Acrylic blends can have a matte or glossy sheen. This quality is always indicated on the paint and varnish label. For uneven ceilings with defects, it is recommended to choose matte compositions.Gloss paints are used to paint perfectly aligned surfaces.
Main Manufacturers
For painting the ceiling, acrylic paint materials are used from the following manufacturers:
- the Finnish company Tikkurila;
- Polish company Śniezka;
- the Dutch company Dulux;
- Ukrainian brand KOLORIT based on Tikkurila;
- Russian brand Joker based on Tikkurila;
- Finnish brand Sadolin;
- the German manufacturer Caparol;
- the Slovenian company Belinka;
- Russian manufacturer "Tex";
- Swiss company FARBY KABE.
How to paint the ceiling with acrylic paint
Surface painting begins with preparatory work. During the preparation process, it is recommended to purchase the required amount of acrylic paint. First of all, you need to calculate the area of the painted surface in square meters. To do this, the length of the ceiling is multiplied by the width. The consumption of any paint is indicated on the label in grams or liters per square meter. It is recommended to purchase paint materials of the same brand for painting the ceiling.
Preparatory work
Before painting, it is necessary to prepare the surface, that is, to clean the top of the room from the old coating, dust, dirt, if necessary, level the ceiling with putty or plaster. The previously applied layer of paint is removed with a spatula, scraper, brush. If the old coating is persistent, even and difficult to remove, you can leave it and apply a new coloring composition on top of it. True, during the preparation process, it is recommended to lightly sand the surface, that is, to roughen it.
Small defects on the ceiling can be hidden by putting putty on separate areas.If the surface is uneven, it is recommended to level it with gypsum plaster.
After leveling the ceiling, it is recommended to reapply the primer. Impregnation will reduce the consumption of acrylic paint. The primer will improve the adhesion of the paint to the surface. After the floor is dry, it is advisable to treat the ceiling with fine-grained emery paper. The roughness will provide better adhesion of the paint to the surface.
Tool Selection
To paint the ceiling, you need the following materials and tools (optional):
- long-handled foam roller (for aqueous dispersions);
- short-haired roller (for solvent-based paints);
- wide synthetic or natural brushes;
- painting bath;
- spray gun for spraying the coloring composition;
- spatulas, scrapers, rasps, trowels (for leveling the surface);
- putty or gypsum plaster;
- polyethylene oilcloth (for the floor);
- ladder;
- sponges, rags.
Obtain a mixture for the dye
The base color of any acrylic mixture is white. If desired, you can give the snow-white composition any shade you like. Usually, tinting services are offered by stores that sell paint. The acrylic composition can be tinted in any color according to the proposed catalog (range).
Immediately before use, acrylic paint materials are mixed and, if necessary, diluted with water or the solvent specified in the instructions. The consistency of the finished mixture for painting with a roller or brush should resemble sour cream. If you use a spray gun to paint the ceiling, you can make the solution thinner.
Streak-free paint technology
A perfectly uniform coating is obtained when using a paint sprayer. If this device is not available, you can paint with other tools (roller, brush). True, the staining process will be more laborious.
Before painting the ceiling, a certain amount of paint is poured into a ditch. A roller is dipped into this container so that it is saturated with the coloring composition.
After that, the tool is sent to a paint bath with a ribbed surface for rolling. Excess must be removed from the roller, otherwise the paint will flow onto the floor. Ceiling painting steps:
- dip the brush in the solution and paint the corners and seams;
- collect the coloring composition on the roller and apply it to the ceiling;
- staining starts from the side wall;
- the painting is carried out in wide regular stripes in the direction of the window light;
- paint strips should overlap by 2 cm;
- it is forbidden to paint the surface with chaotic strokes;
- the strips of the dye composition should lie on the ceiling in even parallel strips;
- the surface is painted in 2-3 layers;
- after applying the first coat, you have to wait a few hours (about 4 hours) for the paint to dry;
- after application of the finishing coat, it is necessary to wait several days (at least 3 days) for the polymerization to take place (until the paint dries, it is forbidden to operate the part).
Features of work on a whitewashed ceiling
Often the ceiling is whitewashed with the same composition. After a few years, the surface is refreshed with a fresh coat of paint. The old coating, if it is not cracked and has a smooth surface, can be left.If cracks appear, the paint has crumbled in places, then it is better to check the strength of the base, that is, walk with a brush or a synthetic scraper. It is advisable to expand, putty and level defects. It is recommended to sand a perfectly flat surface with sandpaper. Before applying the paint, the ceiling must be treated with a primer.