Staining on the ceiling can occur due to various reasons including water leaks, smoke, and mold.
- Before painting the ceiling, it is essential to address the underlying staining issue to ensure the paint adheres properly and the stains do not show through.
This process describes the steps required to address ceiling staining before painting including the necessary steps to identify the type of staining, remove it, and prepare the ceiling for painting.
1. Gather required materials
- Stain Blocker
- Bleach
- Spray Bottle
- Brushes
- Paint roller
- Tray
- Tape, poly, drop clothes
2. Discover and repair the cause of the stain
- It is very important to discover the source of the staining before beginning repairs
- If you paint the staining without fixing the problem, it will continue spreading
- Look for a leak above the source, drippings pipe or connection, leaky toilet, leaking roof, condensation from a poorly insulated wall... there could be many causes, be sure to repair promptly.
3. Bleach wash the stained area
Bleach wash the stained area
- Use a spray bottle and a diluted bleach solution to spray the area
- Use a cloth or towel to dry the area,
- If on a popcorn ceiling dab or press do not wipe( wiping could remove the popcorn ceiling)
- Let dry
4. Prepare the area for painting
- Tape off and cover with drop clothes or poly anything below the area being painted
- Cover any furniture that cannot be removed
- See the process How to Prepare a Room for Painting
5. Prime the area before painting
Although tempting to skip straight to paint, acrylic paints will not stop a stain from spreading through the new paint
- Use an oil based stain blocker primer like Kilz.
- Zinsser also makes a shellac based primer that will also lock in odors from fires, smoking and pets if the staining is not from water.
- Using brush or roller cover the stained area using the stain blocking primer.
- Let dry as directed by paint manufacturer then apply acrylic paint
- Over night is great however some primers can be painted in as little as an hour.
- If covering a stain on stippled ceiling use a deep roller (20mm) to get into all the crevices,
- If covering a stain on a smooth ceiling use a 10-15 mm roller.
- Once dry, give the primer a light sanding to knock off any bumps or ridges
6. Paint the ceiling
- Stain blocker is usually a couple of shades darker or lighter then ceiling paint
- Use an acrylic ceiling paint to cover the primer.
- Choose a color that matches your ceiling to keep a consistent look
- For a professional look make sure to paint the entire ceiling not just the area that had the stain.
- Let dry as recommended by manufacturer
- Apply a second coat of paint.
