What to do with our livingroom ceiling?

Question

We took the old popcorn ceiling off in our livingroom and thought we could just paint it. We fixed some hairline cracks where the joint in the sheetrock are, primed and painted (2 coats), but now the cracks are back (on EVERY joining of sheetrock) and the ceiling looks terrible.  It is such a large area and we need an inexpensive way to make it look better. We have spent so much money on the wood flooring, paint, new molding, etc., that hubby doesn't want to spend a lot more. There is cove lighting around the ceiling, but we haven't put the cover boards back up yet. White bead board under chair rail, too.  Pardon the tools - still working on it...  Any ideas?

Lori J · Answer

What about a faux tin ceiling? I know Menard's sells panels that look like tin, but are paintable plastic (or something like it).

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

The reason why it was covered with popcorn in the first place is the contractor most likely cut corners when applying the ceiling. He or she did not properly nail the edges of the drywall, and most likely did not tape the seams. When doing this popcorn can hide any defects such as this. 
To fix you will need to tape all seams, ideally with a fiberglass tape, but this type of tape is thicker so you will need to spend more time floating out the taped joints to hide the thickness once applied. 
This is a very common issue. Popcorn became popular because it allowed the contractor who was poor at taping and mudding of walls and ceilings a way out of doing it properly. Hides many sins.

Kathy Wilson · Answer

Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.

White Oak Studio Designs · Answer

Plank it.

Building Moxie · Answer

This is the first I am hearing of sizing paper ... I like the sound of it, I think Robert is dead on with cause, and I trust @@Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com for his advice. There is certainly many options including what your husband is suggesting - trimming out, faux beaming or box beaming. Planking is hot & tin is always sweet, but the later might overpower the room. In recent years, there have been many, many new ceiling tiles/finishing options introduced - take some time Googling. As Robert suggests, historically - plaster cracks were often addressed with wallpaper (and in some cases may still be appropriate). Sounds like you are working to secure what you have, which is good and I too would follow with a mesh tape and a re-mud ... 3foot wide crackstop mesh can also be found at the home center and can come in handy in cases. When I've dealt with this in my own homes through the years, among others - I have 'planked' with a 1x6' Tongue and Groove beaded board and have even just retextured, which can be purchased as an additive to paint. With a little time and practice you come up with your own unique texture and in imo elegant ceiling... plenty of how tos available online for this. Not to be forward but I have written about these on our blog ... maybe it helps >> http://www.buildingmoxie.com/2009/02/how-to-texture-a-ceiling-an-essay/ & http://www.buildingmoxie.com/2013/02/5th-wall-trends/ ... good luck. ~jb

Jeanette S · Answer

OH MY MY! You are right about the reason. Finishing out a ceiling smooth costs a lot more and builders started charging $500 per room for the average size room. I only had 1 ceiling in a texture, not popcorn (but it was done in 1970). I have experienced just about every problem but this one, but I can tell you that there is no cheap or easy way to fix this. Were it me I would make it a point to plan to save to have someone come in and tape and float this out. If they got the first coat on, you could probably put on the required other coat(s). Or that person can be paid to come back and put them on (usually a professional does not sand between coats of putty). They make a spackling that is 'light' and not so difficult to sand. Cover all vents and connecting doors really good.

DeborahDesigns · Answer

Install decorative ceiling tiles onto the ceiling. it's an easy, affordable DIY project. Lots of colors and designs available to choose from. www.deborahdesigns.net

Lynne · Answer

i have a crack down the middle of my plaster ceiling in the living room, i could sure use that sizing paper were do you get it?

Kimberly A · Answer

If you and your husband are brave enough and are willing to spend just another couple of days, then you can actually do plastering yourself. We are do-it-yourselfers to the extreme but even we didn't want to tackle plastering our kitchen and den after we gutted it. We quickly changed our minds when we cost cost estimates from professionals and found out how many thousands it would cost. Our original kitchen (what was left) was smooth and we had to make a transition to swirled plaster on the ceiling plus we had to do all of the walls. My husband prepped everything (in the first picture) with bonding agent and then he mixed and applied the plaster. My 18 year old son did all of the swirling and did an extremely good job so you can't tell the difference between the old and the new. Your only cost will be cheap materials from your home supply store.

Cheryl stanley · Answer

we had exactly the same problem in our kitchen when we took the nasty popcorn off.  we used bead board to cover the ceiling and it came out beautiful.  so far, everyone who has seen it loves it!

Paula Palmer · Answer

this is why I just spackled my ceilings and gave it a fresh coat of paint!

Luba · Answer

There are faux ceiling tiles that are very inexpensive ($2 per tile) that are foam and can be put up very easily with adhesive. They are 24' square and you can easily do an entire ceiling in a selection of patterns. Its a lovely vintage look and very easy to do.

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

If you think the issue is that the sheetrock has not been nailed up properly. We had some issues with the walls when we had to cut out to repair behind our walls and the sheetrock was moving. My idea: to find the stud beside the cracks and every 12 to 15 inches use a wood screw and dimple the screw into the sheetrock and patch the dimples. Before I did the whole ceiling I would do a small area and see if the hairline cracks come back. It sounds to me that the sheetrock is not fastened well and if the screws work then you could do the whole ceiling. Shouldn't take long to fix and then patch the small dimples.

Nancy Christopher-Morrison · Answer

We had the same problem in our turn of the century home. We used textured wallpaper that imitates the old tin ceiling tile look. Inexpensive, thick and relatively easy to hang. ( We found it for around $15 a double role) It covered the lumpy - bumpy ceilings and looks great and can be painted too. Here is site that will show you what it looks like, I think Lowes or Home Depot sells it too. http://www.wallpapersplus.com/tin_ceiling_look.html

Terra Gazelle · Answer

I did not rad all of the posts so someone else might have suggested this.. There are Faux tin ceiling tiles that can just be glued up.. the come in beautiful designs, fairly inexpensive and can go over anything. I am using a 20X 20 for behind my stove as part of the back splash. And am thinking that after the dining room is done I will use the faux tin tiles on my ceiling. Here is some I like. http://www.amazon.com/50pc-Lisbona-White-Ceiling-Tiles/dp/B00AQ7CP4Q/ref=sr_1_34?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1391274333&sr=1-34&keywords=faux+ceiling+tiles

Brendalee Perryman · Answer

i think the most inexpensive way, that would look close to what you wanted, is to sand your paint or to buy an already sanded paint {like ralph lauren suede, or river rock}it will give coverage and the right amount of shadow to hide all imperfections!. its easy ,cheap,fast, and looks good!!! lightweight spackle in any big cracks if you like, but the paint will fill all small. cracks..... trick is to make it seem, the imperfections are intentional if choosing another option..

Donna G · Answer

This is what we did.

Cheryl stanley · Answer

we used tongue and groove planking and offset the plank ends on the ceiling. we also used the same for the wainscoating around the room, too, with a chair rail on top. we painted all of the beadboard the same color, including the ceiling, a soft blue, trim and cabinets in white and the walls in a very, VERY, soft tan. we bought it in packages at lowes, or maybe home depot. it comes unfinished or finished. we used the finished in one of our bathrooms. both are easy to work with.

Julie Benson-Grant · Answer

There are a number of possibilities including everything suggested above. You can use fabric, beadboard, tiles, faux beams, wallpaper and even a knock-down type of texture. It is all dependent on how comfortable or capable you are doing it yourself. Good luck!

Kathy Wilson · Answer

Thank you, all you very talented people, for you suggestions. When we finish, I will post a picture of what we decide to do! I love hometalk!

Maureen estell · Answer

i think Luba has the easiest fix for your ceiling with the adhesive, tin looking ceiling tiles. plus it will be quick, and less messy.

Diana Lafavor · Answer

I have textured walls and ceilings throughout my small home except in the kitchen and bath. I wished I had smooth walls and ceiling but the only way we could accomplish this, woulfd be to redo every bit of sheetrock. Our house was finished this way by the builder, in some cases they never properly tape and mud seams since it will be hidden by the texture. I think the only way you will ever get and keep a perfect ceiling is to address the joints between the sheets now. Even cracks from settling need to be under cut, mudded, taped and have at least two thin coats placed over the tape, then sanding to blend it all into the ceiling.
A lot of mess and work but it is the only permanent fix I have ever found

Joanna Stoltzfus · Answer

i think a textured ceiling would look great

Meredith - Arts & Classy · Answer

Try decorative ceiling tiles! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/rooms/decorative-ceiling-tiles-why-didn-t-i-think-if-this-2581611

Luba · Answer

Helen - I found them on Amazon. Just type in foam ceiling tiles and it should pull it up. The company is Antique Ceilings and their tiles range from $2 per and up. I plan to do my kitchen and my basement with these foam tiles. The link to their website is: http://www.antiqueceilings.com/oscommerce/index.php/cPath/47

Karen powell · Answer

I vote for the bead board ceiling ! I just love this look ! Its on trend and I don't believe it ever really goes out of style

Amanda DesJardins · Answer

I got fancy ceiling tiles on eBay for about $2 each.  They were easy to put up.  I painted mine silver and they look pretty awesome.  I get tons of compliments on them too.

Genelle Thew · Answer

When we took the popcorn ceiling of our basement ceiling, a friend who does sheetrock work textured it with a technique called 'stomping'. He sprayed on the plaster stuff then took a tool that looked like a smashed broom and stomped it on the ceiling, rotating it a qtr turn with each stompe. It looks cool. He's stomped all the ceilings we've redone and on the walls he did a 'knockdown' technique.

Carolyn Hoxton · Answer

that textured wallpaper is beautiful, and can be painted any color, it covers any imperfections, but wallpapering a ceiling is a PAIN ! Good luck.

Kathy Wilson · Answer

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! HomeTalk is certainly THE place to go for help with any home issues. I did find one suggestion online that no one else suggested that is inexpensive and looked reasonably easy and quite attractive. I am going to try it on something small first and will let you know how it goes. Tissue Paper textured ceilings. Not sure I will do it yet, but hope to try it on a piece of sheetrock next week. Here are some links about it: http://themagicbrushinc.blogspot.com/2010/03/tissue-paper-101-tutorial.html http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/decorative-paint-technique-crinkle-paper/index.html

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