How to Coat a Ceiling
Contents
– Step 1: Clear the room
– Step 2: Scrape off the rough edges of the ceiling
– Step 3: Wash the ceiling
– Step 4: Prepare the coating knife
– Step 5: Apply the plaster
– Step 6: Smooth the plaster
– Step 7: Sand the coating
– Step 8: Finishing
It’s helpful to renew the ceiling regularly to keep the room looking clean and new. A clean roof provides comfort and calmness.
Coating a ceiling can be done alone in a few steps.
Caution: use safety glasses for all direct operations on the ceiling.
Materials needed to coat a ceiling.
Tarpaulin
Masking tape
Step ladder
Scraper
Alkaline detergent
Bucket
Sponge broom
Coating knife
File
Sharpening stone
Protective mask
Protective goggles
Sanding block
Sanding paper
Cloth
1. Clear the room
To work safely and with peace of mind, you must not be hindered by objects and furniture. It would help to:
– Empty the room: furniture, paintings, carpets, etc.
– Cover other objects (electrical installations, door handles, etc.) and non-moving furniture with protective tarps.
– Also, protect the walls with tarpaulins that you have attached to the wall with masking tape.
2. Scrape off the rough edges of the ceiling
– Climb the stepladder or ladder carefully.
– Using the scraper, scrape away any unevenness or roughness in the ceiling to remove crumbling elements.
This operation is completed when all ceiling unevenness is removed.
3. Wash the ceiling
– Prepare a mixture of detergent and water in the bucket.
– Soak the sponge of the broom with the product.
– Thoroughly clean the entire ceiling, making sure to remove all dust and cobwebs.
– Rinse the ceiling with clean water.
– Let dry by opening windows.
4. Prepare the spackle knife
If your coating knife is not new, it is necessary to prepare it to obtain a very smooth coating:
– Place your knife on a wooden block or workbench.
– Bevel it with a flat-file.
– Once bevelled, sharpen it with a sharpening stone: the movement is always from top to bottom to not damage the bevel.
5. Apply the plaster
Take a good quantity of smoothing compound with the plastering knife. Stand on the step ladder and carefully spread the filler:
– Hold the plaster knife at an angle to direct the plaster outward.
– Press firmly and evenly to achieve a smooth coating.
– The plaster layer should be about 0.5 mm.
– Work in small square areas of about 60 cm.
– Move gradually from one side of the room to the other.
Be sure to spread the plaster evenly and smoothly so that no knife marks are visible.
6. Smooth the coating
Once the plaster has been applied to the entire ceiling:
– Change the plastering knife or wash the first one thoroughly.
– Apply the sharp end of the blade facing the ceiling.
– Smooth the plaster in parallel strips.
– After the first strip, start a second one by overlapping the first one by a few centimetres: this method allows optimal smoothing.
– Let the plaster dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Note: if the surface of your ceiling is large, smooth it as you go along, as soon as a substantial part of the ceiling is filed. Then resume the application of the plaster and continue like that.
7. Sanding the plaster
The ceiling plaster is applied and dry. If you wish your ceiling were initially in terrible condition, you can repeat this operation using a second coat of coating (step n°4).
Once the coating is finished and dry, protect yourself with a mask and goggles and lightly sand the ceiling with a sanding block equipped with fine-grained sandpaper.
Note: It is possible to use a circular sander for large surfaces, but remember that the sanding must be light and even!
Dust the ceiling with a dry, lint-free cloth. Finish with a damp cloth and let dry.
8. Finishing
Coating a ceiling is enough to restore its shine. However, you may decide to paint it. In this case, wait at least 24 hours before applying the paint to the coating.
