Walls and Ceilings - Help! need to fix popcorn/stipple on ceiling tiles!

We removed an old fireplace and found the discoloration of the ceiling. Former owners had sprayed some stuff on ceiling tiles and it looks awful.

Do we need to bring this whole huge are down and re-drywall then put on easy to maintain knockdown?

OR is there someway to re-paint this? Imagine we could do a test area. Great forum here. Glad to have found it.

I do have a photo but do not know how to post it here. Rules say no attachments. Thanks.:wall:

Post your picture to a free photsharing site like photobucket.com or similar. Once posted there, post the link in the "Insert Image" icon in the message box.

Ya, a pic would be nice. If you do have tiles that were textured it would probably be best to remove and install drywall........ or prime and paint what you have.

btw - welcome to the forums!

Here is the ceiling. Awful thing. Anyway, I am dreading tearing it down, would rather paint. There is one spot that needs a patch where the chimney was. The rest of the room is really great looking.

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Gailea/?action=view&current=PB180049-1.jpg

I couldn't tell for sure if the texture is popcorn or a heavy splatter coat - either way the texture can be duplicated or atleast close enough for it not to stand out. Popcorn has little tiny stryofoam balls in the texture.

The water stain will need to be sealed with a solvent based primer to keep it from bleeding thru the paint.

I couldn't tell for sure if the texture is popcorn or a heavy splatter coat - either way the texture can be duplicated or atleast close enough for it not to stand out. Popcorn has little tiny stryofoam balls in the texture.

The water stain will need to be sealed with a solvent based primer to keep it from bleeding thru the paint.


It is heavy splatter then not popcorn. What are the steps and recommended products. I don't know if I should trust our local store (not Rona) for their advice saying just thin out ceiling paint with water and double brush (use masking tape to tape 2-4 brushes together and dab).

The splatter texture was applied with a hoper gun [runs off an air compressor - both can be rented] It is made by thinning down joint compound to about thick paint consistency.

On small repairs it is possible to get a decent looking repair by dobbing the mud on with a sponge. You can practice on a scrap piece of drywall or even cardboard. You can also remove it from the ceiling while wet if you don't like how it looks.

I don't think you could get that texture by dobbing with a brush and certainly not by using thin paint!

If you seal and cover up the stain and get anywhere close with the texture the odds are that nobody other than yourself [or a pro that looks for those type of things :D ] will notice anything not perfect. Basically once the dark stain is gone the rest won't jump out at you ;)

Thanks Masksr! That is my Dec project!