I have textured painted ceilings that were done like that over 15 yrs. ago.

Question

They weren't painted right after they were textured. Shouldn't they have been painted? Anyhow, should I paint them now or just let them go. They are still nice and white except for some dirt on kitchen ceiling. How should I paint them or clean them?

Answer 1

If they haven't been previously painted, and you are rolling it on, you will need to use an oil based primer or calcamine recoater.  The reasoning for this is that typical textured ceilings are basically made of a mixture of chalk and water.  When water based products are used on the bare texture, it is often redissolved and becomes a royal pain.  I have experience with Benjamin Moore Calcamine Recoater, which is an oil based flat paint with a fairly thick consistency.  It is designed for doing just this, and is only one coat!  Because it is a flat finish, it acts similar to a primer, so later down the road, a latex may be applied over it.

Answer 2

okay, depends on what they were textured with, if a drywall compound, then you cannot clean them, it will only smear the compound and make it look out of place from the rest of the ceiling.  best thing to do, if they are still nice and bright, is to leave them alone.  most of the time, texture ceilings are not painted unless it is flat paint due to the fact they don't want to mess up the texture.  but yes it can be painted if you like, but they need to be primed first, with a high quality sealer/primer for bare drywall and a thick nap roller(these hold alot of paint to get into the nooks and crannies).make sure you cover any and all surfaces you don't' want paint on.  get a old broom handle and s***w into the bottom of the paint roller frame this way you don't have to keep moving a ladder around, you can stand on the floor, just remember to rest your neck every now and then, listening to music makes the job easier for some reason.  good luck

Answer 3

You can paint them using a very fat roller to make sure the textured parts get painted too. If not really dirty you don't gota clean them first.

If you just want to clean them .... use a sponge mop and use a pressing as you move to mop on your celing but, not too hard. I would just paint them if It was mr because it makes the house smell cleaner and looks better. It is all about what you want! Good luck

Answer 4

To paint them, you have a couple of options. You could use a spray paint system to paint the texture evenly. You can also spray on a different texture if you prefer. If the texture isn't too dramatic (i.e. it's mostly flat with a few bumps), you can probably use a thick roller, just make sure to go over each area in multiple directions. Personally, I tend to paint a big 'w' shape, then go over the 'w' twice, changing by 90 degrees for the second round.

If you're looking to clean them, I'd try a mild detergent. Test it out in a small, unobtrusive spot before you get more ambitious. Having a clean surface is less important to paint longevity on a textured surface than a flat one because you won't get long streaks of dirt causing the area to peel, etc. On the other hand, if you do get a problem, it's much more difficult to fix it easily while staying consistent with the texture.