How to Repair A Textured Ceiling – Do It Yourself

While the ongoing fad is for smooth ceilings, a large segment of houses still have textured ceilings and if you are one of those souls who shudder at having to repair a patch in your textured ceiling, then look no further! Gharpedia brings to you through this blog four simple steps for repairing a textured ceiling…

More often than not, ceiling damage is caused by water. We have all gone through this experience at some point in our life – The bedroom ceiling looking like a wet diaper when the shower of the bathroom located above it leaked. Therefore, a golden rule to remember here would be to fix plumbing problems before taking up the ceiling repair DIY Project!

Gharpedia, through this blog, shares with you detailed steps on how to repair a textured ceiling, as these are relatively more rampant in houses than their ‘smooth’ counterparts.

DIY Project- Repairing a Textured Ceiling

• How to Identify Textured Ceilings?
• Tools for Patching Textured Ceiling
• Time Required to Repair Textured Ceiling
• Pre-preparation of Repairing Textured Ceiling
• The Process: How to Repair a Textured Ceiling
• Clear the Damaged Area

1. Clear the Damaged Area
2. Test Out Spray Pattern
3. Spray the Texture onto the Ceiling
4. Repaint Textured Ceiling

• Important Cue

Let’s have a detailed look –

How to Identify Textured Ceilings?

Well, it’s quite simple. You can identify it according to the type of textured ceilings finish. A textured ceiling will have either a popcorn-like finish or something called ‘knock down’, which means the surface has some texture – almost like the craters of a moonscape – but not quite the nubby look of popcorn.

Tools For Patching Textured Ceiling

The following textured ceiling repair tools are required for patching textured ceiling:

• Ceiling Texture Spray
• Taping Knife
• Whisk Broom
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Primer
• Respirator
• Safety Glasses
• Drop Cloths or Plastic Sheet
• Scrap Piece of Cardboard
• Step Ladder

Before you have starting your repairing work make sure, you have all the above-mentioned textured ceiling repairing tools, as it reduces your hassle to find tools when needed.

Time Required to Repair Textured Ceiling

The time required for this project cannot be specified because the most challenging and time-consuming part of this job will be protecting everything in the room and then cleaning up. The rest is just point and spray.

Pre-preparation for Repairing Textured Ceiling

Luckily, the market is flooded with readymade products that make repairing textured ceilings a snap. However, prior to embarking on this ambitious project, do remember to cover the floor and furniture that can’t be moved out of the way with drop cloths or plastic sheets. Also, wear a respirator and goggles so that you don’t inhale any dust (especially, as it may contain asbestos) or get a piece of ‘popcorn’ in your eyes as you are looking up at the ceiling.

The Process: How to Repair a Textured Ceiling

Here is the solution to your question ‘how to fix a textured ceiling’ or ‘how to patch a textured ceiling’. Follow these four simple steps to fix it.

1. Clear the Damaged Area

Before you start patching the textured ceiling, spread the drop cloths or plastic sheets. Use the whiskbroom to clear away any loose particles in the damaged area. Go ahead and use the taping knife to scrape the area down a bit.

2. Test Out Spray Pattern

With your stylish safety glasses and respirator in place, test out the spray pattern of the canned texture on a scrap of cardboard. This will enable you to judge how far away you should be standing and how much product you should use to match the existing finish.

3. Spray the Texture onto the Ceiling

Spray the texture onto the ceiling with a back-and-forth motion. Use a light touch. It is always easier to add material than to scrape it off and start over. To match the knock-down texture, take your taping knife and hold it almost flat against the ceiling surface after you’ve sprayed it. While the material is still wet, lightly draw your knife across the texture in a smooth movement. For popcorn texture, leave the material alone.

4. Repaint Textured Ceiling

Now, time to repaint textured ceiling. In case you have doubts about how to repaint textured ceiling, follow this process. Let the texture dry completely before priming and painting. Popcorn likes to pop off the ceiling when it is wet. So, it’s best to dab on small quantities of primer and paint and let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next.

Important Cue

If your house was built before 1980, the popcorn may contain asbestos. Send a sample to a lab for confirmation first, as breathing asbestos dust may prove to be hazardous to your health.

For, textured ceiling repair do it yourself, is just a four simple step project and now you all know about how to repair a textured ceiling. With this, there you are, the patch on your textured ceiling has been repaired and is as good as new! Perhaps observing the result, your neighbour may just pop up with a request to do up their patch too … and hey this could turn into community service or a new livelihood opportunity!

With this DIY project knowledge, I am sure you would love to know more about false ceilings as it puts a feather in your home interior.

Things to Know About False Ceiling for Your Interior!

Image Courtesy: Image 2, Image 3(g), Image 3(i)

Author Bio

Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.