Wife is tired of waiting for me to skim coat our bathroom ceiling and suggested the following: Why not just spray up a knock down texture over the existing ceiling? I’m concerned about the humidity in there affect adhesion and paint. Anything I need to worried about?
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Replies
I don't know why not.
I have seen a number of them with popcorn texture.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
orange peel would be better in the long run...
no so course... easier to clean...
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If you repaired as many bathroom ceilings as I have, you wouldn't even consider a textured finish.
Most of the repairs I have done have been due to a bathroom above leaking or a skylight, but some have been due to high humidity and condensation. If none of these situations apply, I guess there's no reason not to do a texture finish. Personally, I prefer a traditional smooth finish. But why the need to skim coat the entire ceiling?
I'm concerned about the humidity in there affect adhesion and paint.
I would be more concerned about a sprayed-on texture finish than I would be about traditional paint.
The existing ceiling is in pretty bad shape. I think someone skim coated it once before with something that isn't holding up too well due to (I assume) moisture. I was thinking that I could scrape most of it off and just spray texture over the mess and be done with it.Now I'm thinking maybe I just want to screw a layer of 1/2" MR drywall over the mess and start over...
Now I'm thinking maybe I just want to screw a layer of 1/2" MR drywall over the mess and start over...
Now you're starting to think clearly :-)
By MR drywall do you mean the old greenboard?
If so, I was under the impression, from my building dept., that you can't use it on a ceiling. No one has ever explained why - just don't do it.
Is that an old wives' tale or should you not use greenboard on the ceiling?
Yeah, MR is moisture-resistant, AKA greenboard.
And you're not supposed to use it on ceiling because it's not rated to span 16" without the possibility of sagging. I've never seen it sag, but it's always safer to follow the manufacturers recommendations.
The OP will be adding a layer of greenboard. With a little bit of glue between the joists, sagging won't be an issue.
"If you repaired as many bathroom ceilings as I have, you wouldn't even consider a textured finish."The guys around here have repaired so many textured finishes that they don't blink an eye on any texture repair. You can buy a can of texturing materials in a spray can and be done with a typical small bathroom in ten minutes and $10. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Our bathroom is 10x10 with an adjacent closet that is about 6x10. I'd prefer a smooth finish, but wifey wants something fast. Orange peel is something I could live with. I suppose I'll go take a look at some texturing products.
Out of the frying pan into the fire? Be careful here....texturing shouldn't be done over an ugly surface. It should be relatively smooth...so you're still maybe going to have to do some skim coating. Finishing a 160 sf foot should only take you about 1/2 hour per coat, with each successive coat getting faster. You'll spend more time shopping for the texture spray than you would putting a smooth finish on that small of a room unless the room is really bad to start. If it's really bad, you'll still have to finish it before you texture, so there's really no savings in time or effort. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
OK, forget the texture then. The existing ceiling is plaster on wood lath. What should I skim with? Set-type compound like Durabond 90 or what?
Thanks.
I don't know the answer to that. If the surface is painted, I'd degloss it. Then, I'd probably work with something much easier to sand. I'd probably use a topping rather than the 90. Thats just me. I'm lazy. I don't like scrubbing the high spots. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Skim it ! A teen taking showers will have a pop-corn ceiling drooping in a month, your level of humidity may have differing results
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Here in TX they do some form of textured ceiling everywhere. I don't think that smooth finishes are a common skill like they were back in MI where everyone did it smooth and not too many knew how to texture.
Just paint the ceiling with a good latex finish and don't worry about a thing.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07