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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Is there any advise other than "don't do it" that anyone can give me for painting older popcorn ceilings? I have done maybe 5 so far with no problems but my luck ran out :rolleyes: this one was never primed first by the builder :censored: I now have to repair a 12" section that pulled away. I was wondering if anyone uses the foam nap that Wooster has for this type of ceiling. I hate having to do them, but I get to do the walls too :)

Thanks
 

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We spray popcorn lids with the airless.
Using a roller puts it on too wet, and the force upon the roller can suck it off the ceiling.

Or, use a hopper and texture over it, if it's stable...
 

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Discussion Starter · #4 ·
Tim

I read the other thread the other day. Only 1 post mentioned "painting" an existing popcorn ceiling. Thats why i'm asking now. I want to know if there's a way to paint it without it failing. Not how to fix it after it fails :rolleyes:

Thanks
 

· FT painter/FT dad
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Only 1 post mentioned "painting" an existing popcorn ceiling. Thats why i'm asking now. I want to know if there's a way to paint it without it failing. Not how to fix it after it fails :rolleyes:
The best way is to spray it, but you could also roll it-you need to use an oil (or BIN) type primer, nothing water based...that's the whole issue. If it's not primed this is the key, if it is use any paint you want.

Fixing it after it fails is FUN! not....

I think you should definitely check out this thread...
http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=499&highlight=popcorn
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Thanks guy's thats what I have been trying to tell the person I do these jobs for, "spray" I'm thinking about trying to prime the rest of the ceiling in the morning with Bin's 123. The only time I need to do it is when there has been a water stain in a condo unit or when there is a unit that has been on the market for a while and it's vacant. I hate doing them. I feel like each time I do one i'm rolling the dice. The only good thing is if it fails i'm not eating the job. They know what's involved too.

Tim I knew you knew that. I just figured you were taking it out on me for being from Patriot country! ;) In case you didn't see it on my other post Brian StPierre is from my town and he is "So much better than Ben" :yes:

Joe thanks for getting right to the point :thumbsup:
 

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Water based paint on stipple will actually eat away at it. Therefore like everyone has said use an oil based. Zinsser has some good products for this type of job. I have used split foam rollers on stipple before, its not fun but does the job. If you have a choice spray. IMO it is the highest quality and more efficient for you.
 

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Tim I knew you knew that. I just figured you were taking it out on me for being from Patriot country! ;) In case you didn't see it on my other post Brian StPierre is from my town and he is "So much better than Ben" :yes:
I did miss your other post. I like Brian St. Pierre, i feel he never had the chance to prove himself. I do not agree with your statement that he is better than Big Ben. As for you being from Patriots country,seems like 9 out of 10 people on this site are from that area.
 

· FT painter/FT dad
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I'm thinking about trying to prime the rest of the ceiling in the morning with Bin's 123
I think you mean Zinssers 1.2.3 and DONT use that...it's water based. You need an oil primer! Water based paints re-activate the popcorn, that's what causes it to roll off or fail.
 

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SPCarpentry&Painting said:
Is there any advise other than "don't do it" that anyone can give me for painting older popcorn ceilings?
Another area where I get jobs because others are skeered...
I've even done "whole house ceiling only" jobs
I don't have a problem with them at all
BUT...I do bid them alright (haven't hosed myself yet)

First, I don't even bid them w/o a test area
I check a section, in each room if need be, until I am satisfied I know the condition of the ceiling
Then I'll bid, working in the worst case scenario which might include the fact that I read it wrong and need to oil-prime when I didn't think I'd need too
I even have a "popcorn waiver"...and have it signed...just in case...it's standard on any iffy popcorn paint
Then I start each ceiling slow and careful until I'm sure of the condition

SPCarpentry&Painting said:
I was wondering if anyone uses the foam nap that Wooster has for this type of ceiling.
No foam
Foam is good for faux, that's about it
Just a good quality 1/2 nap sleeve
 

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I'm a little late to this party, but for what its worth- I've done plenty of scraping popcorn and I've done plenty of painting the cr :censored: p as well. I've had good results with a healthy dose of oil based primer (no-odor, by the way, works just as well as the old stuff IMO). I even tried an alcohol based primer a few years ago. I do not recommend this- you spend all day high as a kite and when the stuff starts peeling 12 months later that high becomes a serious low. Hey, it was worth a try :jester:

I like Slickshift's waiver idea. You just never know what the builder did or didn't do. Or what subsequent homeowners have done for that matter. Popcorn can be a mess but I've made some money helping folks deal with it so I can't complain. If painting was easy everyone would do it!

Take care!
 

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I even tried an alcohol based primer a few years ago. I do not recommend this- you spend all day high as a kite and when the stuff starts peeling 12 months later that high becomes a serious low.!
True, it has a strong odor but, I prefer it to the odor of a quick dry oil any day. As for the peeling, I've never seen that problem occur in the 20 or so years that I have been using shellac for first coating popcorn. I just finished a 1200 sq ft ceiling this week.
 

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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
I ended up using SW oderless oil based primer and it looks good. The small area that I needed to repair due to pulldown (latex) looks ok, but it looks a lot better with the lights on :rolleyes:

Thanks again to all
 

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I like Slickshift's waiver idea.
Thanks
I'm pretty sure it's borrowed from someone on one of the forums

I can't seem to upload the file but here's a copy & paste of the text:


POPCORN CEILINGS
Painting popcorn ceilings can result in failure of the entire ceiling texture. Yarmouth Painting and Home Repair will do it's best to assess whether or not ceilings of this type will hold up well once painted by applying test patches using water or paint and then testing for adhesion. Popcorn ceilings are made with a chalk base and are not always as strongly adhered to the underlying ceiling surface enough to be painted because moisture in paint can loosen it's bond. Although we can generally tell if a texture will hold through proper testing, final decision to paint these surfaces is up to the homeowner. Yarmouth Painting and Home Repair assumes no liability for failures due to painting of any popcorn ceilings.
 
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