What to do with 'cake icing' ceiling?

Question

What can we do with our ceiling? It is plaster/sheetrock compound swirled and looks similar to what might be found on a cake. The big problem is the '70s radiant heat wiring that is more or less embedded in or just under that nasty looking 'frosting.' Has anyone got any thoughts or maybe dealt with a similar situation?

Lavende · Answer

You can have the old ceiling texture scraped off (or get a kit from home depot if you're a DIY-er), then retexture with an orange peel or someting more modern. It might be the opportunity to remove or update the wires while you're up there.

Christen Hopkins · Answer

We had the same thing in our house @Bob Schudel except our plaster fell in a section and ripped out the wiring - not replaceable today as you can imagine. We ended up hiring an electrician to cut the power to the rest of the ceiling, installed a mini split as a heat source and then we dry walled over the top of the plaster for rest of the ceiling. It was a big and messy project but using a mini split over the radiant heat is saving us lots of money and the ceilings aren't ugly anymore. Good luck!

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

That swirl finish can be a bit of a chore to remove. The radiant heat system behind the texture should be ok when you remove the surface as its deep into the surface and not embedded into the texture finish. This of course is assuming its was installed correctly, 
To start take a palm sander and carefully while someone is using a shop vacuum sand some of the finish flat. Your doing this to assure that the texture does not contain the wires for the radiant heat system. If you end up down to the drywall paper without hitting any wires, do another 12 inch area else where just in case you missed something. You can turn on the heat and feel for the hot spots to assure your testing the area where the wires may be located. But sand only when the heat is off for safety. Once you have tested a few areas and found that your not hitting any wires. Go to the local big box rental store or local rental shop and rent a drywall sanding wand. This pole sander is powdered by a small electrical motor that spins the sand paper much like a grinder would. It has a cover that goes over the sanding unit that connects to the wand and then to a vacuum. If they rent the vacuum with the unit get it. Do not rely on the shop vacuum you own if you do have one. Carefully moving the sander around the ceiling you will make quick work of the texture surface. Be sure to use lots of drop cloths and be sure to mask off the doors and anything you do not want to get dusty, This incudes walls as well. 
Its a bit of a project, but in a few hours your ceiling should be pretty smooth. Where you did some learning in the beginning, you will most likely have a few digs in the surface. Simply re-spackle those areas, sand smooth and paint.

Bob766046 · Answer

Thanks. So foar it sounds like the most viable option other than to wet and scape it. Both sound very messy.

PattyV · Answer

Depending on what style decor your house it, I would just put sheets of beadboard up or get ceiling panels (there are different styles to choose from) to put up.

Mogie · Answer

And them down so they are flat.

Redcatcec · Answer

Sanding the ceiling down is going to be very dusty, wear a protective mask and safety goggles. Of course use drop cloths and tape off rooms that you not want to get dust in.

What to do with "cake icing" ceiling?

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What to do with "cake icing" ceiling?

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