In this article we will tell you how and how to paint foam ceiling tiles, what tools and materials you will need for this, and show several photo and video materials on this topic. What you have written will be of interest to you if you:
- you are doing or planning renovations and intend to use ceiling tiles made of polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene);
- Are you thinking of giving your existing ceiling tiles a fresher look?
Finding out what you can use to paint old or new ceiling tiles is quite simple, based on the characteristics of the foam itself. This material is resistant to water, but quickly degrades under the influence of acetone, benzene, toluene, white spirit and other solvents, dichloroethane and ketones, as well as their fumes.
Therefore, firstly, any water-based paint will suit you for painting. And secondly, no matter what substances you use in your work, they should not contain materials harmful to the foam and, accordingly, to your ceiling.
Is it possible to paint ceiling tiles?
PPS panels are available in two types:
- Laminated;
- For painting.
There is a thin film on the laminated surface that protects the tiles from fading and damage. To clean the panels from dust, simply wipe them with a soft damp cloth.
When the panels lose their shine, they can be painted. It is not recommended to do this immediately after purchase, as the paint will not adhere well to the laminated surface.
Paintable tiles must be painted immediately. If this is not done, the surface will quickly absorb dust and lose its original appearance. Painting will protect the EPS panels from fading, humid air and damage, and will extend their service life.
Which paint to choose
To work with PPS panels, three types of paint are used:
- Latex;
- Water-based;
- Acrylic.
Not every composition is suitable for polystyrene foam products. For example, oil compositions with white spirit and acetone simply dissolve polystyrene foam.
The compositions listed above are not aggressive towards polystyrene foam, adhere well to the surface, and dry quickly.
Acrylic
This paint is safe for health and can be used for renovation in a children's room.
Among the positive characteristics it is worth noting:
- Fade resistant;
- Resistant to moisture;
- Color saturation;
- No smell.
Acrylic paints are easy to work with because they apply quickly and dry quickly. The ceiling takes on an attractive glossy appearance and can be washed with a damp cloth. The acrylic composition has only one drawback - its high cost.
Water-based
After painting, the tile becomes matte, the seams between the tiles become invisible. However, this composition has many disadvantages: after a short time, the film begins to crack and crumble.
Such panels cannot be washed. In rooms with high air humidity, the water-based emulsion loses its original color: white takes on a gray tint.
Advantages of water emulsion:
- Low price;
- Uniform coverage;
- Sprayers can be used;
- Good vapor permeability.
It is not recommended to use white water-based emulsion in rooms with high humidity.
Latex
Advantages:
- An environmentally friendly product, can be used in a children's room;
- Durable coating - matte or glossy;
- Easy to use;
- Low paint consumption;
- No persistent odor;
- Fast drying.
But there are also disadvantages: if you cover the tiles with a thick layer, they will begin to peel off and crack. Also, this type of paint does not tolerate high humidity; mold fungus quickly develops on it.
The choice of paint depends on the characteristics of the room. For example, in conditions of high humidity it is better to abandon latex and water-based paint. They do not tolerate moisture well, lose their characteristics and spoil the appearance of the room. Acrylic paint tolerates wet conditions well.
Results
Until the paint and varnish composition has dried, doors and windows should not be opened under any circumstances. All the compositions listed above do not have an unpleasant odor, unlike oil paints, so ventilation will not play a big role, and there is no need to arrange the accelerated drying process yourself, since the process should turn out natural
It is important that you manage to protect the newly painted surface from direct rays of the sun, since excessive heating will speed up the drying of the top layer, but this will negatively affect the process. It's better to just close the curtains
Preparing for work
Dust must be removed from ceiling tiles using a brush, broom or vacuum cleaner. If you are working with laminated tiles, you need to sand them first for better adhesion to the paint.
If you need to achieve better contact of the paint with the surface of the tile, it is recommended to apply a layer of primer. The primer should be selected according to the type of paint.
Prepare tools for painting the ceiling:
- Long hair roller;
- A narrow brush for painting corner joints;
- A stepladder to reach the ceiling;
- Drawer for paint.
To work with paints and varnishes, personal protective equipment is required:
- Safety glasses to prevent paint from getting into your eyes;
- Gloves for hands;
- Clothes covering the entire body;
- Headgear to protect hair from splashes.
You also need to remove furniture from the room or cover it well with film.
Required tools and materials
To paint figured tiles, you need a long-haired roller.
Paint the surface with a brush or roller. The tile has a relief on the surface, so you can use a brush without fear of getting marks from the bristles. It is better to use a roller with long pile so that it reaches into the recesses. If the terrain is very convex, it is better to work with a spray gun. Paint is applied to ceiling friezes with a brush, gluing the edges with masking tape before work.
Other tools needed:
- rubber spatula for preparatory work;
- foam sponge;
- paint tray with wringing surface;
- stepladder or scaffolding.
The materials you will need are deep penetration soil; it is better to take a concentrated one, which is diluted according to the instructions (more economical). Paint is taken at the rate of 120 g/m², this amount is used for 1 layer. The color composition is prepared so that it is enough for the entire area, since it will not be possible to repeat a similar shade if there is not enough paint.
Finishing putty is used to partially seal defects. It is diluted from dry powder or taken ready-made in small jars. The putty must dry before painting, then it is sanded with fine sandpaper.
Progress
Painting the ceiling is carried out as follows:
- First you need to paint all the corners and edges of the tile with a thin brush.
- Then, using a roller or wide brush, apply the first layer of paint to the ceiling surface. If the tile has a convex pattern, then paint all the indentations with a thin brush.
- You should not apply the paint in a thick layer so that it does not start falling off the ceiling. A thin layer is enough to make the tile look painted.
Repair professionals advise starting painting perpendicular to the incident light from the window. This way you can immediately see all the defects (unpainted areas, etc.).
As soon as the first layer has dried well, you can reapply the paint, but this time parallel to the light flux. This way you will achieve uniform coloring of the entire work surface.
On a note! The water-based emulsion is applied in three layers, acrylic in two.
Do not forget to thoroughly rinse your working tools after finishing work, so that when re-painting, dried bristles do not scratch the tiles.
After painting, you cannot open windows and doors; you can ventilate the room after the surface has completely dried.
Theory
You probably guessed it, but you always doubted whether it was possible to paint tiles fixed to the ceiling. Some manufacturers do this intentionally and sell foam ceiling tiles already painted in various shades, so some people are actually interested in whether they can paint foam ceiling tiles themselves or not.
The answer to this question is clear - yes, it is possible . But the problem is that there is a special technology for this, developed over years of practice. Without taking into account a number of rules, it will be difficult to achieve a result suitable for a home interior.
Painted objects may not tolerate painting well, and it is impossible to obtain a good quality ceiling covering based on intuition alone.
If you want to paint the ceiling perfectly, watch this video
To do this, you should take into account the physical characteristics of the material being painted, its chemical composition and a number of other details. For example, some may come up with the idea of painting the tiles on the floor, and only then gluing them to the ceiling.
But there are more practical solutions that do not require such careful design of each foam element.
note
Not every ceiling tile is allowed to be painted. For example, from the point of view of physics, plastic tiles with a polymer coating (laminated) cannot be painted, since the paint will roll off of it and it will not be possible to paint the surface properly.
As for chemistry, there are a number of questions about the compatibility of the coloring matter and the tiles themselves.
Adviсe
Before starting work, check the color shade on the unwanted tiles: sometimes after drying the paint looks darker/lighter than expected.
- If the final color is not satisfactory, the paint is diluted with water or mixed with another. Sometimes 2 or 3 paints are mixed to obtain a shade. You can add color.
- To paint volumetric elements well, you can use a foam sponge or sprayer.
After applying the finishing layer, it is necessary to test the quality of work: inspect the ceiling using a lamp or flashlight. If there are bald spots, they need to be eliminated.
