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Covering Up Ceiling Stains
Before you tackle the stain, identify
and repair the cause. A water problem will keep coming back
until you fix the moisture problem. This could be a roof leak
or a build-up of condensation. To determine the type of water
stain you're dealing with, see our section called "Identifying
a Roof Leak."
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A
tip for small stains
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Try covering with white
shoe polish or chalk. For nicks or dents in a
textured ceiling, apply white tub caulk. Contour
the caulk to match the texture.
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Lighter stains can sometimes be removed
with undiluted laundry bleach. Before you begin, be sure to
place protective coverings over your carpet, drapes and furnishings.
Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin and safety glasses
to protect your eyes. Using a rag or sponge, dab the area
with bleach until the stain is gone.
Severely discolored areas and grease
stains will require sealing and painting. Ceiling panels damaged
by fire must also be sealed.
Materials you'll need:
Masking tape, latex primer, pigmented shellac sealer (Kilz,
Bins or XTM), latex paint, brushes, roller or paint pad.
Painting
Ceiling Tiles
 STEP
1: Before You Begin
To protect moldings, cover with masking tape. Also cover the
battens between panels if they are decorative or wood grain.
Test first to be sure the tape won't pull off the finish.
If there is a ceiling light or fan, turn off power to the
work area and remove the ceiling fixture.
STEP 2: Apply Sealer Over Stain
Brush on sealer to cover stain. For uniform color, you might
want to seal the entire ceiling. Let dry. For severe stains,
add a second coat.
 STEP
3: Apply Primer
With a brush, roller or paint pad, cover the ceiling panels
with primer. These panels are very porous, so a primer coat
will make the paint go on quicker and easier. Let dry. Some
primers are also available in spray cans. If you have a small
stain, you can easily cover it with sprayed-on primer.
STEP
4: Apply Paint
Brush or roll paint over the ceiling. Remove masking tape.
Let dry. Put back ceiling fixture.
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