Do you have a dingy basement ceiling or an old one and want to spruce up with a fresh coat of paint? Great idea! But before you get started, you’ll want to give this post a thorough read and possibly take some notes.
Here are the steps to take to paint a basement ceiling:
- Prep the basement and ceiling for painting
- Apply a primer
- Apply paint
- Inspect the paint job for flaws
Read on for details on each of these steps, the special considerations you need to make, how much it’ll cost to paint your basement ceiling, and so much more.
Table of Contents
1. Prep the Basement and Ceiling for Painting
Prepping your basement ceiling for painting is a crucial step because it’ll help ensure you get a seamless paint job, and no other surfaces in your basement are ruined by paint.
To prep a basement ceiling for painting, you’ll need to declutter, clean, and cover up any parts of your basement that you don’t want ruined with paint. You may also need to fill in any gaps around the ceiling, so you can achieve an even paint job.
Let’s take a closer look at the steps required to prep the basement ceiling for painting:
Declutter the Basement and Cover Up
The first step in preparing your basement ceiling for painting is decluttering. Transfer everything you possibly can to another space in your home because you’ll be spraying the paint upwards against gravity, and you don’t want the paint splattering onto your items. If you have items that you can’t move out of the basement, consider covering them up with plastic sheeting.
If you don’t already have plastic sheeting, check your local paint store: don’t worry, it won’t cost much. Be sure to get a size that’s large enough to cover everything you don’t want to paint. Consider adding some sheeting to your windows, too, to prevent wind from blowing debris onto your paint job or blowing the paint away when you’re spraying. Also, consider covering your walls to protect them from overspray.
If there’s one area you don’t want to cover with plastic sheeting, it’s your floor. There are two reasons for this:
- Plastic sheeting is dangerous to walk on; it’s almost as slippery as a sheet of wet ice.
- It easily tears when stepped on, exposing your floor or carpet to paint.
For your floor, use canvas. Alternatively, get some old newspapers and spread them over the floor. If you have old boxes lying around, you can also open them up and use them for this purpose.
Clean the Basement
After decluttering the basement and covering everything up, proceed to vacuum every inch of it. If you’re like most homeowners, the basement will have sat a fair bit of time without cleaning and will need about three rounds of vacuuming. The purpose of vacuuming is to make the place clean enough to work in. You don’t want to come out of your DIY painting project sneezing now, do you?
After vacuuming the floor, turn your attention to the ceiling. If you have an open beam basement like most people, there’ll likely be cobwebs on the hidden parts of the joists and beams. Remove these and any other kind of grime on the ceiling.
If you notice mold on any parts of the ceiling, get a spray bottle, fill it with undiluted vinegar, and spray onto the affected parts. Wait for about an hour, and then wipe the surface clean with water and let it dry. You don’t want to paint over mold because it’ll reappear soon after.
Extra Prep Steps for Open Beam Basement Ceiling
An open beam ceiling requires additional preparation on top of what we’ve discussed above. Being one of the most common types of basement ceilings, it’s worth special attention.
Here’s what you’ll need to do if you have this kind of ceiling:
Inspect Venting and Pipes, and Secure Loose Parts
Houses can shift over time through a phenomenon known as differential settlement. When this happens, it often first manifests through structural changes in your basement. The most commonly affected parts are the piping and vents. These become loose, requiring adjustment and refastening.
That’s why you want to check these and fix them before you paint. Doing this will help achieve and maintain a uniform coating and help address vent and plumbing issues proactively.
Secure and Bundle Wiring
Open beam ceilings tend to have wiring running in all kinds of directions. Inspect the various wires and secure any loose ones (especially those that run along wooden beams) using wire staples. If you have various wires running in the same direction, bundle them with zip ties to tidy things up.
Trim Protruding Nails
In many open beam ceilings, you’ll find protruding ends of nails. Typically, these are from the floor above一the underlayment, to be specific. You’ll need to trim down these nails before you paint for a more uniform surface.
To do that, you’ll need a rotary tool and a suitable attachment. For the attachment, I recommend using the 1¼” cut-off wheels instead of the standard cut-wheels. For the sake of compatibility, you’ll want to buy your cut-off wheels from the same manufacturer you bought your rotary tool from.
Important: Wear protective gear when trimming nails with a rotary tool. If you lack anything in this regard, it should never be protective goggles.
Fill Gaps in Your Ceiling
Most commonly, gaps develop at the point where the ceiling meets the wall and around basement window wells. They may also form around the exposed beams, so be sure to inspect these areas.
If you notice any gaps, fill them with foam insulation. Let the foam dry before trimming off any excess for a clean look. Not only does doing this provide a more uniform surface for painting, but it also improves your basement’s energy efficiency.
Mask off Parts of the Basement You Don’t Need to Paint
For the most part, where to paint in a basement ceiling comes down to personal preferences. However, there are parts you should paint out of necessity. For instance, while you can paint the pipes and vents around your water heater and furnace, the furnace and heater should never be painted.
Other parts you might want to avoid painting include:
- The electrical box
- Electrical outlets
- Shut-off knobs
- Junction boxes
- Wiring connections around the fuse box
For some people, the above list may also include light fixtures. Whatever makes your list, mask it using painter’s tape.
2. Apply a Primer
If you’re working on an open beam ceiling, you’ll need to apply a primer to the ductwork, pipes, wires, and rafters. Doing so makes for better adhesion between the paint and these surfaces.
You’ll also want to prime any wooden parts of your ceiling. Most types of wood you’ll find on a basement ceiling naturally ooze pitch. If you paint over such woods without priming, you’ll soon be dealing with unsightly bleed-through discoloration.
Bare drywall ceilings, too, need priming. That’s because they’re typically porous with an uneven texture at the point where the wallboard meets the joint compound, making them prone to uneven gloss (AKA flashing) if painted without priming.
There are a few instances when you can skip priming. One of these is if you recently applied texture to your ceiling. The same goes for any basement ceiling with a coat of latex paint. However, that can’t be said for someone looking to apply a coat of latex paint over existing oil-based paint. In this case, you’ll need to prime before applying the new coat.
To check whether your existing ceiling paint is latex or oil-based:
- Dip a clean rag into alcohol.
- Rub it on a painted spot on the ceiling.
If some of the paint comes off, the ceiling is coated with latex paint. Oil-based paints are never affected by alcohol.
Okay, so we’ve established that you need a primer. How do you apply it?
The application process isn’t any different from how you apply paint, whether it’s with a sprayer, a brush, or a roller. The most important thing is to ensure you apply two coats, letting the first coat dry before applying the second one.
Once the second coat of the primer has dried in, proceed to paint your ceiling. Whether you’re using a sprayer, roller, or brush, you’ll want to observe the above pro tips when painting for an even coat.
Speaking of coating, you’ll need about three coats if you’re painting an unfinished ceiling. With a finished ceiling, you might be able to get away with one or two coats depending on its condition.
Pro tip for those using a sprayer: Move your sprayer’s nozzle at a quick, steady pace; spraying one area too long will cause drips. You’ll also want to move your whole arm when doing this as opposed to moving just your wrist. Doing this helps apply an even coat throughout the ceiling.
Pro tip for those using a roller or brush: Roll or brush each coat in a different direction for a smooth, even finish. Do this when applying the paint, too, for similar results.
3. Apply Paint
Once your primer has completely dried, it’s time to apply your paint. This can be done using the same methods as before.
While painting with a brush or roller may save money, both methods are time and labor-intensive. Using a sprayer is much faster and easier but costs slightly more than the other two methods.
Sprayers make it easier to paint the hard-to-reach parts around pipes and beams in an open beam ceiling, thanks to their long hoses. They also provide a smoother, more even finish than rollers and brushes, not to mention the added convenience of not having to refill your paint bucket frequently.
Is It Hard to Paint a Basement Ceiling?
Painting a basement ceiling is not too hard for the average DIYer. However, the ease with which you do it depends a lot on the method you choose. For example, using a handheld brush or roller may be easier for some to maneuver, while others prefer the speed and convenience of a sprayer.
As always, opt for the tools that you feel most comfortable using, especially if you’ve got a big job on your hands.
4. Inspect the Paint Job for Flaws
The last step in painting your basement ceiling is inspecting your work for flaws. Look for spots that need more coverage and touch these up with a paintbrush. Precision is more important than speed here, so stick to the brush even if you used a sprayer throughout the project.
Once you’re done touching up areas that need more coverage, turn your attention to the edges.
Sloppy edges are a common problem for many DIY ceiling painters. If you notice any, get some painter’s tape and tape along the edge of the ceiling. Just to be clear, the tape should cover the painted part of the ceiling, detailing exactly how and where the edge should be and exposing the part of the wall/trim where the ceiling paint bled into.
Next, get paint that matches the color of the wall or trim where your ceiling paint bled into. Paint over the unwanted patch of ceiling paint on the wall or trim, let the paint dry, and remove the tape to reveal a clean edge.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Basement Ceiling?
It can cost anywhere between $500 to $4,500 to paint a basement ceiling. Factors, such as the type and size of your ceiling can also affect the price of painting a ceiling.
Here’s a breakdown of the factors that affect the cost of painting a basement ceiling:
- The type of your ceiling. Open beam ceilings cost more to paint than finished ceilings because they require extra preparation.
- The size of your ceiling. The larger the surface area, the more paint you’ll need.
- What you use to paint. Painting with a sprayer will cost more than using a brush or a roller.
- The number of coats you apply. The more the coats, the more paint you’ll need.
For a more precise estimate, use a paint calculator to determine the amount of paint you’ll need. In most cases, you’ll need an equal amount of primer to paint, especially if you apply the same number of coats of primer and paint.
Once you determine the cost of paint and primer, add the cost of sprayer/paint/roller and other equipment and materials you’ll need to estimate the cost of your DIY project.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for today’s post. Hopefully, I’ve given you a better understanding of how to go about painting your basement ceiling. If you choose to make this a weekend DIY project, consider enlisting the help of a friend. It’s more fun and easier that way.
See also: How to Soundproof a Basement Ceiling
