How to Replace Stippling on a Ceiling

Ceilings are adorned with a variety of different texture finishes and relief, including stippling. Stippling is created by applying drywall mud to the ceiling surface. While still wet, a plastic bag, trowel or brush is stamped into the surface repeatedly. The result is a texture with many ridges and peaks. Removing the stipple texture is difficult, but can be achieved.

Drop cloths
Tarps
Painter's plastic
Masking tape
Painter's tape
Water pump or spray bottle
Putty knife or metal blade
Medium grit sand paper
Joint compound
Roller
Brush
Plastic bag
Trowel
Acrylic paint

Instructions

- 1
  Move all furniture and decor items out of the room. Cover and protect all remaining surfaces, from walls to floors, with drop cloths, tarps and painter's plastic. Tape together large sheets of plastic with masking tape and hang on walls with painter's tape.
- 2
  Spray sections of the stippled ceiling and allow the water to soak in, if the ceiling is not painted. Wait about 15 minutes while the ceiling fully saturates. If the ceiling is painted, directly begin scraping the wall. Use a putty knife or metal blade and begin to scrape and loosen the stipple texture. Continue until all plaster is removed.
- 3
  Sand the entire ceiling and then wipe down with water. Use a medium grit sanding block. Skim joint compound into any holes or gauges in the ceiling. Allow to dry.
- 4
  Roll on or trowel on drywall compound with a drywall trowel. Cover large sections at a time. Work back into the wet plaster to create a stipple effect by stamping the surface with a brush, plastic bag or the flat portion of the trowel. Allow to the surface to dry and then coat with one to two coats of acrylic paint.

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