Ceilings·4 questions

Ceilings: how to prepare a ceiling for painting and eliminate cracks?

Answer

Preparing a ceiling for painting and effectively eliminating cracks is a labor-intensive process that requires compliance with technological steps and precision. Regarding ceiling preparation, start by creating a simple action plan that includes defining the final goal, calculating the budget, allocating time for layers to dry, and compiling an exact list of required materials. Do not try to do everything in one day; proceed in small iterations and thoroughly check the obtained result at each individual step.

Before applying primer or putty, you must completely clear the room or reliably protect the furniture with plastic film. Remove old peeling coatings, whitewash, or wallpaper using a putty knife and warm water. If there are traces of leaks, mold, or fungus on the surface, they must be treated with special deep-penetrating antiseptic compounds to prevent defects from appearing on the new layer of paint.

Eliminating cracks requires special attention, as regular filling often leads to re-cracking. To reliably repair cracks, follow these steps.

Widen the crack using a narrow putty knife or knife, slightly deepening and widening its grooves for better adhesion with the repair compound.
Thoroughly clean the resulting groove from dust and prime it in two layers for maximum adhesion.
Fill the crack with elastic repair putty or acrylic sealant if the ceiling is subject to shrinkage.
Reinforce the repaired area with fiberglass mesh or fiberglass tissue, embedding it into a fresh layer of putty and smoothing the surface.

After the repaired areas have dried, perform a general sanding of the ceiling with fine-grained sandpaper, using a bright side light to identify irregularities. Thoroughly remove all construction dust with a vacuum cleaner and apply a finishing primer. Such a step-by-step approach guarantees a perfectly flat ceiling surface without cracks, which will serve for many years without the need for repeated repairs.

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