Improving Textured Ceilings

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

23 Feb 2006 10:07 AM

Do you have "cottage cheese ceilings" in your home? If you do, you may not be thrilled with them. The idea was a good one in its day, and it worked well to cover imperfections and seams, but it just isn't a favored look any more.

If you have textured ceilings and you aren't able to replace them right now, there are a few things you can do to make them more attractive for the time being.

Removing Dust

Textured ceilings are notorious for being dust collectors. The rough texture is prone to holding dust in place. Unfortunately, cleaning the delicate texture can be problematic, since pieces of the material tend to chip away easily during the cleaning process.

While many people attempt to vacuum ceilings, this too can cause damage. The best way to clean textured ceilings is frankly, also the most strenuous and time consuming. A feather duster or other soft duster with a long handle is the best option, but it too must be used gently. Stand on a stool or stepladder to avoid unnecessary stretching. Dust the ceiling gently, shaking out the duster occasionally. You might want to cover furniture with an old sheet before beginning, and shake the sheet outside when finished.

Repairing Damage

Most textured ceilings eventually succumb to cleaning efforts and end up with bare spots. You can purchase cans of spray on texture to repair these spots. You will need to use drop cloths to cover everything in the space, and it is a good idea to wear a mask and to ventilate the space before beginning.

Follow the instructions precisely, and know now that you will likely need more of this product than you might think. It takes a great deal of spray texture to cover an area fully and evenly. Another issue is the fact that your ceiling has probably absorbed things that have changed its color over time, so it may look dingy next to the freshly applied texture material.

You may need to paint the entire ceiling after this process to make it all match seamlessly. If you do decide to paint, use a thick soft roller instead of typical foam roller, do not overload the roller with paint, and apply the paint gently.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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