How to whitewash a ceiling with your own hands

Despite the wide range of materials and options for decorating the ceiling, whitewash confidently retains its leading position. This method is especially relevant for small budgets, and a flat, pure white ceiling will in any case give the room a well-groomed and aesthetic appearance.

But in order to do a high-quality whitewash yourself, it is important to study the technology, purchase the appropriate tools and properly prepare the surface. The whole process includes the following steps:

1. Preparation (cleaning, grouting, eliminating defects, leveling).
2. Selection of tools.
3. Preparation of the mixture.
4. Initial application (basic).
5. Final application.

How to whitewash a ceiling correctly

Every homeowner wants their renovation to be not only stylish, but also high-quality and durable. That’s why it’s so important to follow the basic rules of whitewashing - this will help avoid peeling of materials and ensure long-term use of the room.

Ceiling preparation

You cannot immediately begin a new application: when wet, the previous layers of pigment will begin to crumble and stick to the brush and roller. Therefore, first you should prepare the area, and only then proceed to whitewashing. Stages:

1. Surface cleaning.If you remove the old pigment without first wetting the ceiling, a lot of dust will form in the room. It is much more convenient to do this by thoroughly moistening the surface. However, you should not treat the entire ceiling at once: the pigment will dry out. It's better to visually divide the space into small pieces and wet them as you go.
2. Wiping out defects. There are always small gaps between the floor slabs. Over time they begin to increase. To prevent them from being visible, the defects need to be expanded, filled with putty, and a layer of serpyanka applied. When the latter has dried, apply another layer of putty, then carefully level it with a spatula.
3. Removing dirt and grease stains. Over time, traces of various contaminants form on the ceiling. Getting rid of them even with the help of special cleaning products can be problematic, but it is better not to skip this step. Otherwise, the spots will show through the coloring pigment. This can be done using bleach or another cleaning product containing chlorine. The sponge is dipped into the solution, then the contaminated area is thoroughly treated. Copper sulfate will help remove rust stains. The mixture should be prepared as indicated on the package. Then apply it to the stain, leave until completely dry and repeat. This must be done until traces of rust become barely visible. To avoid damaging the skin of your hands with chemicals, you need to wear rubber gloves.
4. Alignment. After eliminating the defects, a building level should be applied to the area to be painted: with its help, the presence of unevenness and differences is determined. Identified holes are leveled with putty.It is applied with a spatula or trowel, and after drying, the remaining area is processed. The resulting sagging must be removed with sandpaper. The last step is wiping with a dry cloth and applying primer.
   

Whitewashing tools

After completing the preparatory work, you can proceed to applying the solution. For this you will need:

1. Whitewash roller. It is optimal to choose a tool with medium bristles 20–25 cm wide. Using a brush is a rather labor-intensive option and takes a lot of time. In addition, it requires experience and a certain dexterity, and even a beginner can handle this tool.
2. Primer roller. The parameters are the same as for the painting tool.
3. Brush. Necessary for painting hard-to-reach places.
4. Plastic tray. This is a small bath into which lime is poured, after which a roller is dipped into the pigment. It helps the coloring matter to be distributed evenly over the surface of the instrument.
5. Telescopic tube. Allows you to whitewash without using a stepladder.
6. Rags, newspapers. Needed to protect neighboring objects and the floor.
7. Latex gloves.
   

Reference. If there is no telescopic tube, you can use a stepladder or chair.

Do-it-yourself ceiling whitewashing technology

When the preparatory stage is completed, you can proceed directly to the process. This is done as follows:

1. Preparation of the mixture. PVA glue is dissolved in water at room temperature, then chalk is added. All this is mixed well, the resulting lumps are broken up. Then you should drop a little blue. Stir again until a solution of uniform color is obtained. Substances are taken at the rate of 10 m²: sifted powder - 3 kg, blue pigment - 20 g, PVA - 30 g.If lime is used, the proportions will be as follows: for 1.7 kg, take 40 g of pigment and 6 liters of warm water.
2. Basic application of the mixture. First, paint the joints in the corners and near the walls. This is done using a narrow brush. The composition must also be applied to decorative moldings, if any. Then, using a roller, the paint is applied to the entire area. The stripes should overlap, that is, the next one should step slightly on the previous one (3–5 cm is enough). This is necessary so that the surface is evenly painted and the ceiling does not look striped after the work is completed. Then the applied composition is left until completely dry. The manufacturer usually indicates the time on the packaging of the dye; on average, it takes one and a half to two hours.
3. Reapplication. Usually one layer is not enough: as the lime dries, streaks from the roller or brush will appear. Defects can be removed by applying additional. Moreover, this must be done across the first one. For example, the first layer was applied in the direction from one wall to another. This means that the second should be applied moving from window to door or vice versa. It is important not to forget to stir the composition, because coloring substances may settle to the bottom.
   

Reference. It is necessary to carry out the work with the windows closed: due to a draft, the whitewash may lie in stripes.

The second method is coating with water-based paint.

In order not to complicate the task by diluting lime or chalk, you can use a modern option - water-based emulsion. This substance allows you to paint the area more evenly and give the ceiling additional attractiveness.

However, coating with water-based emulsion requires careful preparatory work. The process itself is also carried out in two stages:

1. First, the base layer is evenly distributed. The substance is allowed to dry, focusing on the time indicated on the packaging.
2. Then a second layer is applied, perpendicular to the base one.
   

Reference. After completing the work, it is important to ensure that there are no drafts in the room, and that the updated areas are not exposed to direct sunlight. Otherwise, the composition will disappear. Also, while the whitewash is drying, there should be no dust in the room, and any drops formed on the floor must be removed with a damp cloth. You will start sweeping the room only later, otherwise the dust will settle on the ceiling.

What is suitable for whitewashing the ceiling

You can renew the surface using various compositions. Each has its own positive and negative sides, knowing which makes it easier to make the right choice:

1. Chalk. The solution is easy to apply, has no pronounced odor, and hides imperfections well. In addition, this is a very inexpensive option - repairs will cost mere pennies. However, the substance is highly soiled, preparing the composition takes a lot of time, and the treated areas may turn yellow after staining. To prevent this, blue must be added to the chalk.
2. Lime. It can “boast” of a pleasant price tag, convenient application, the ability to hide defects and dirt stains well, and excellent antibacterial properties. Disadvantages - unpleasant, pungent odor, causticity of the finished composition. You should wear gloves when working with lime mortar, otherwise you may get chemical burns.
3. Water-based paint. The most optimal solution is a water-based composition. The substance has no distinct odor, dries quickly, and is sold ready for use. The painted surface does not fade or get dirty.For wet rooms there is a special option - washable water emulsion. Disadvantages include cost. No other disadvantages were identified.

Having learned how to properly whitewash a ceiling and following the recommendations, even an inexperienced person will do it efficiently, after which re-finishing will not be necessary for the next five years.