House Painter Forum

Professional Painters => Professional Painters and associated Trades Forum => Topic started by: saltydog806 on May 31, 2009, 10:30:29 AM

Title: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: saltydog806 on May 31, 2009, 10:30:29 AM
I have a small job (420 sq') and it is a medium textured popcorn ceiling. What type of cover do you recomened. I was thinking a 1/2" nap might work. Should I go up to a 3/4" and what about those split foam covers that claim they are for popcorn ( I have never used one)? If I don't go foam should I use lambswool?

Thanks
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: the PAINTSMITH on May 31, 2009, 11:50:28 AM
First off, if that ceiling hasn't been previously painted, you may want to invest in a shower cap, 'cause that stuff is going to rain down on you.

When rolling a raw acoustic ceiling you need to remember to get it right on the first pass, as laying off will start pulling the styrofoam chunks off in---chunks. The foam rollers work, but if you use any pressure whatsoever that shower cap will be serving a second purpose.

a half inch nap will not hold enough paint to be practical, use at least a 3/4.

Expect a lot of debris. Spray if at all possible.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: tallpaul on May 31, 2009, 12:22:50 PM
Spraying would be the way to go in my opinion but since you asked about roller covers I would have to say go with a minimum of 3/4". I agree with paintsmith that the 1/2" would not be a good idea. I use lambswool rollers on most everything I paint but I have found that they don't work very well for popcorn ceilings. I've seen but never tried the split rollers you mentioned but it might be worth a try.
And as mentioned, wear a hood and cover the floor good.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Jared on May 31, 2009, 05:42:50 PM
Also, you might want to consider a tip that I read from rmichael a few years ago:  use an oil-based primer.  This will help if the popcorn's bond isn't up to par.  Using a water-based coating on an unpainted popcorn ceiling can sometimes lead to the popcorn releasing in roller-width sheets, if the popcorn's bond is tenuous.  The oil-based primer will at least help out in avoiding this problem.

And if you want some more reading on the subject, do a general search here for "painting popcorn" and you'll find about 20 existing threads which discuss different aspects of the job.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: saltydog806 on May 31, 2009, 05:52:21 PM
Yup, spraying is out of the question.Thanks for the info on the covers all (for me and the rollers)  ;) . Jared, many thanks on the oil primer point, I happened across a couple of sites that said the same thing and it made sense so I was going with it. Confermation is always great. I will try the "Split Foam" and let you know what I think. Buy the way I'm charging my regular rate for painting (.79 sq'). Should I have added a premium?

Thanks all
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Jared on May 31, 2009, 05:59:12 PM
Adding a premium is up to you.  It is ceiling work, which nobody likes to do, and it will be messier than usual.

But I would CERTAINLY warn the client about the possibility of popcorn delamination & damage, and any associated costs for repairs that become necessary.  In most cases, you'll finish the job without incident - but when that one bad popcorn ceiling comes your way, you'll have your butt already covered.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: saltydog806 on May 31, 2009, 06:07:16 PM
 0)-(0 Got it covered though it is to late to add a premium (checking so when I get onother one in 8 years I'll know). I'm brining touch up and reserved the right to quit the job at any time with no charge or penalty.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: CarlThePainter on May 31, 2009, 07:07:06 PM
I would say rolling a popcorn ceiling takes twice as long as rolling a smooth one.  More dipping, your dips don't go as far and you use more paint....plus you have to take into account the time it takes to pick the little painted popcorn kernels out of your eyeballs.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: LJ on May 31, 2009, 10:12:51 PM
Just a couple thoughts....

I have used the split foam covers with good success, but in my case, the acoustic ceiling had been coated previously.

If you plan to do two coats, I would suggest rolling one one direction and the rolling one the other.  Maybe you'd do that anyway. :)

Good luck,

lj
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: saltydog806 on June 01, 2009, 07:24:01 PM
This site is great  ;)/;, I can't thank you all enough (though I will have a beer in your names). One last question, do I load the roller as I would for any other job or should I load less paint?
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: BrushJockey on June 01, 2009, 08:23:50 PM
IF the ceiling has already been painted previously, I like to thin the paint a bit so it gets in all the little places. Makes a huge difference in effort.

If not, really safest to spray.

And I personally usually use a 1/2". The wet paint is the difference. And don't dry roll. Load er up.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Jake on June 02, 2009, 07:59:17 AM
Couple things you might want to consider....

How old is the popcorn ceiling?

Have you ever heard of asbestos?

Maybe it's just me but I always think about things like that  :-\

I'm pretty sure there was a thread around here not to long ago about asbestos in pc ceilings.

Good thing to be aware of at least.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: saltydog806 on June 02, 2009, 04:20:23 PM
Couple things you might want to consider....

How old is the popcorn ceiling?

Have you ever heard of asbestos?

Maybe it's just me but I always think about things like that  :-\

I'm pretty sure there was a thread around here not to long ago about asbestos in pc ceilings.

Good thing to be aware of at least.
Yes I have heard of asbestos, though that is a VERY good point. House Is 10 years old. No asbestos. ;D
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Georgie Wood on June 03, 2009, 03:00:41 PM
Popcorn ceilings can be a grab-bag of fun and surprises.

Spraying- sometimes the weight of a healthy coat of primer/paint alone can cause a popcorn ceiling to sag in sheets.

Sometimes, although it may not be apparent by looking at it, some areas of a popcorn ceiling may not even be adhering to the sheet rock/plaster to begin with. Apply too much pressure with a roller and you break the brittle bond of the section that isn't adhering with the areas which are....it rolls off onto your roller in sheets.

etc etc etc

IMO, the best scenario is to spray a light coat of oil based primer...not too weighty. Then roll a coat of ceiling paint, while avoiding over-rolling...hit one section and move on. The oil primer offers a seal so the waterbased paint can't break the bond of the popcorn texture to the ceiling.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: LJ on June 03, 2009, 11:36:44 PM
Why not suggest removing the popcorn...rather than paint?
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Georgie Wood on June 04, 2009, 12:55:26 PM
I'm with you on that. But removing the popcorn drives up the labor/cost required. 99% of all customers who I have made the suggestion to remove the popcorn ceiling have passed on the idea. Some I even get the feeling that they think I am making the job too complicated, or that I am trying to drive up the labor charge. I've actually had customers say with a smile, something to the effect, "Oh, I know you aren't looking forward to painting that popcorn ceiling. It would probably be easier for you to just remove it and start over". Yeah, right, easier.

I'd never heard of until recently, here in this forum, that popcorn ceilings can contain aspestos. Kind of scarey....as if our trade doesn't already have enough potential health risks.

All things considered, I think i'll continue to risk painting them as is...making the customer aware before hand of the risk of problems, of course.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Roadog on June 04, 2009, 03:41:56 PM
http://www.asbestos.net/asbestos-products/acoustical-finishes.html
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: BrushJockey on June 04, 2009, 05:05:49 PM
Roaddog- When I see an older house that has a popcorn ceiling, it is always because they were trying to hide cracks. Usually unsuccessfully, because the cracks weren't fixed.
 To tell those clients that the tex is not architecturally correct to the house, and the ceiling would look so much better with the cracks fixed correctly, gives me a chance at the sale. Because it's true.
  Around here newer (1970's +) suburban houses almost all have popcorn, so a flat ceiling is the exception.

And that link is really scary. I've scraped tons of the stuff.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Roadog on June 04, 2009, 06:17:59 PM
LOL.....yep, cracks or invented by drywallers cause they hate ceilings! My part of the country is mostly flat walls and ceilings. Dont see a lot of popcorn.
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: Jared on June 04, 2009, 07:22:55 PM
Yep, I've previously preached here about the importance of lab testing of popcorn before removal.  I've even seen houses built as late as 1989 that contained more than 5% asbestos in the popcorn.

Around here, painting a popcorn ceiling seems to be the exception.  Perhaps it is because I got really good at selling popcorn removal services.  Regardless, 99 out of 100 popcorn ceilings I've dealt with were removal jobs.  Not a fun job, but it has always brought in a decent profit margin for me.

I use techniques very similar to the asbestos abatement companies, whether the popcorn contains asbestos or not.  It surely makes post-removal cleanup a breeze, if you plan out the job well.  Probably removed 50,000 sq ft or more in the last 4 years, so I've done tons of popcorn removal.  Probably 90% of the removal I've done has exposed drywall joints which weren't even taped... 

Pretty much everything stated in that article is true.  Good link, Roadog!
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: PainterJan on June 04, 2009, 08:52:05 PM
Around here, painting a popcorn ceiling seems to be the exception.  Perhaps it is because I got really good at selling popcorn removal services.  Regardless, 99 out of 100 popcorn ceilings I've dealt with were removal jobs.  Not a fun job, but it has always brought in a decent profit margin for me.

Here too Jared - in Florida the popcorn is probably the most common ceiling I deal with in homes built between 1970=1990-ish, and at least with the people I've dealt with they want it gone - we have it in our house too and one day it's coming out, I hate it. Thanks for the good advice as always. I never even thought about the asbestos factor!
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: the PAINTSMITH on June 05, 2009, 06:40:53 AM
"Acoustic" ceilings were definitely created to hide the sins of inadequate drywall work. So were the earlier forms of drywall texture, until they caught on and became trendy. Heavy textures created a lot of lazy drywallers, just as the airless pump created a lot of lazy spray guys who wouldn't know which end of a roll of tape went up their butts... ;D
Title: Re: Painting a popcorn Ceiling which roller cover should I use???
Post by: PainterJan on June 05, 2009, 07:35:31 AM
....heavy textures created a lot of lazy drywallers, just as the airless pump created a lot of lazy spray guys who wouldn't know which end of a roll of tape went up their butts... ;D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D