How to Cover Stippled Ceilings With a New Layer of Drywall

Prepare the room by removing any furniture in it and laying down drop cloths over the floor. Put on safety glasses and gloves, as well as a mask. While you can use a ladder to install ceiling drywall, scaffolding makes access easier. You can rent scaffolding from your local hardware store.

Locate the ceilings joists. Use an electronic stud finder to pinpoint the joists in the ceiling. Mark the joints with a pencil.

Attach the drywall. Even if you have scaffolding, it helps to have someone else with you to lift the panels up to the ceiling. Each drywall panel typically weighs more than 40 pounds. Lift up the first panel and drill 2- to 3-inch drywall screws into the joists. Screw them in hard enough to dimple the drywall. Place the screws every 12 inches. Repeat until the entire ceiling is covered.

Tape and mud the joints. Use self-adhesive drywall tape over all of the joints on the ceiling. Cover this tape with a layer of drywall mud. Scrape off any excess mud, as you work, to avoid excess sanding later on.

Sand, prime and paint the ceiling. Sand down the drywall mud until the surface is smooth and even. Apply a coat of primer over the drywall and then at least one coat of ceiling paint.