Get rid of industrial grey and white. Paint your panels to give your ceiling a whole new look.
Suspended ceilings can appear dull and featureless, consisting of a basic grey grid with off-white acoustic tiles. There's no need for it to remain in such a condition, though. With a bit of paint you can change the color of grid and tile, creating an accent for the rest of the room.
Instructions
1. Place your ladder within easy reach of the ceiling tiles on the edge of your suspended ceiling grid.
2. Put on a pair of safety goggles and a particle mask to protect against accumulated dirt and debris above the ceiling level.
3. Climb the ladder until you can comfortably reach the . Remove the tiles from the grid by pressing upward on a corner of the tile, then reaching up above the grid hole, grasping the tiles and pulling them back through the grid opening at an angle. Continue this process until you've removed all of the tiles except for any containing lighting. You can bend the tile slightly to get the edges through the opening of the grid.
4. Turn off the electricity supply to the room before removing the lighted panels. Pull the panel from the ceiling and remove the lighting fixture.
5. Clean the surface of the grid with soap and water. Use a sponge and rinse with clean water. Pat dry with a piece of cloth after you've cleaned all rails.
6. Cover the floor with a layer of drop cloths, and then place a strip of masking tape along the walls adjacent to the grid molding.
7. Roll a self-etching primer over the surface of the grid with a small paint roller on the end of an extension pole. Use long even strokes to apply the primer. Apply the primer to the grid molding nailed to the walls using a paintbrush. Allow the self-etching primer to dry thoroughly.
8. Apply the top coat of paint in the color of your choice using the paint roller. Wait about 24 hours for the paint to dry and then apply a second layer for full coverage.
9. Clean the tiles using the soap and water mixture. Rinse with water and then dry with a cloth.
10. Paint the tiles in the color of your choice, using spray paint for a quick even coverage. No primer is necessary for acoustic tiles. You will, however, need a layer of the self-etching primer for tin tiles, followed by two layers of topcoat paint. Place masking tape around the edges of the lighting fixtures before painting those tiles using the paintbrush. Allow all painted surfaces 48 hours to dry.
11. Return the painted tiles to the grid by bending them slightly to pass them through the grid openings and then dropping them back into place. Screw the wires back to the lighting fixtures before replacing lighting tiles. Restore the electricity.
Tags: grid with, self-etching primer, acoustic tiles, ceiling tiles, choice using