Q:
My house has glitter on the ceilings that I’ve grown to like a lot. However, the ceilings are heavily textured and I want to repaint them. If I do, how do I replace the glitter?
David W. Paule, Boulder, CO
A:
Myron Ferguson, author of Drywall: Professional Techniques for Walls and Ceilings and a drywall contractor in Galway, New York, replies: Glitter can be purchased at most large paint-supply or drywall-supply stores. Glitter comes in different sizes, so you may have to shop around to find the size you want.
Glitter is applied to the ceiling while the surface is wet either with drywall-texturing compound or, in your case, paint. A special tool that I call a glitter gun slowly releases the glitter by blowing it out of a spout toward the wet surface. Glitter guns can be purchased from paint or drywall-supply stores for around $50, but a glitter gun can be rented for a lot less from any store that rents texturing equipment.
Applying glitter to a painted ceiling is easier with two people. As with painting any ceiling, first remove or cover all the furniture and floors. Protect walls, doors and windows from spattering with thin plastic sheets. Then one person rolls the paint onto the ceiling while the second person follows with the glitter gun, applying glitter to the wet paint. One note: If the texture on the ceiling is water soluble, it will be necessary to paint it with a high-quality oil-based paint.
