How to Fix a Peeling Ceiling

A peeling ceiling can ruin the look of a room. Repairing the peeling paint requires some elbow grease and work at awkward angles over your head, but the result is a finished ceiling that can greatly improve the look of your room. Repair is necessary, though, because however you decide to refinish the ceiling, it needs a clean and repaired surface to adhere to.

Scraper
Sandpaper, 100-grit
Sandpaper, 220-grit
Patching material
Putty knife
Plaster washers
Joint compound
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape away loose paint from the ceiling that's peeling. Use a scraper for this job, or 100-grit sandpaper. This may be a big undertaking, but it is necessary, as new finish won't stick to peeling paint.
- 2
  Apply a thin layer of patching material to any small cracks in the ceiling using a putty knife. Allow the material to dry and sand smooth with 220-grit sandpaper. Sand around the edges to ensure they're smooth with the rest of the ceiling.
- 3
  Screw plaster washers through the ceiling, for larger cracks, and into the wood lath above it, all around the cracks. Apply joint compound with a putty knife, covering the washers. Press a piece of screen material into the compound and remove, then smooth the compound with a trowel. Smooth with 220-grit sandpaper after the compound has dried for 24 hours. Repeat if necessary.
- 4
  Wipe the repairs with a damp sponge to remove any debris from sanding. Finish the ceiling as desired.

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