Tips on Painting Old Damaged Sheetrock for Ceilings

Water Stains

• Water stains will reappear if you don’t seal them with an oil-based primer or paint. If much of the ceiling has water damage, you’ll have to coat the entire ceiling. If the stains only appear in a few areas, buy a small amount of oil-based primer and apply one or two coats. Once the stains are sealed, you can use other types of interior primer and paint to finish the ceiling.

Primer

• Apply one or several coats of primer that is specifically designed for hiding slight blemishes. Retail hardware stores carry many varieties, so read product labels to find a product suitable for hiding the types of drywall damage on your ceilings. Primer creates an effective bonding surface, ensuring later coats of interior paint have even coverage across the ceiling.

Texture

• Add texture to paint to mask rough surfaces. The thicker the texture, the more you can hide. Sand is a common additive available at most retail hardware stores. The fine particles uniformly coat surfaces, masking tiny divots and protrusions. Heavier textures, such as popcorn, might require special spraying devices that provide even, expansive coverage. Nappy and patterned rollers also can help hide surface blemishes.

Considerations

• Two major problems accompany texturing. First, texture will not hide drywall cracks. You must seal these with joint compound and paper drywall tape. Otherwise, the paint and texture will crack later. Second, texture mixed with paint is difficult to remove. If you change your mind later, you’ll have to apply multiple coats of joint compound over the entire ceiling to smooth over the texture. Despite these disadvantages, painting with texture remains a speedy and cost-effective way to hide damaged drywall.