Advice please, painting ceiling tile.

[cephas]

Any info, suggestions or past experiences on painting 12"x12" ceiling tiles tiles would be appreciated. Darn cold water pipe let go, under toilet, in upstairs bathroom yesterday. Old plumbing removed being considered for exhibit in Smithsonian museum.

 

[michaelc80]

Make sure you seal it with a stain killing primer first or the stain will eventually show through. Replace tiles that are damaged by the water or reconstruction.

Add to that the tiles will be dry, and will soak the paint up like a sponge. Plan on maybe 200 square feet of coverage per gallon of paint, less if the tiles are textured.

 

[Brett Miller]

Zinnser Cover Stain or Sherwin Williams Pro-Block oil base are the primers you want. They will have some odor but will block the stains very well.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

If these are the plain old gypsum (sp?) fiber tiles, I'd replace em. I see the retro-build-to-suit commercial remodelers trying to white-wash these things, and it just doesn't seem worth it when you consider the labor, sealers, paint, and then by the time you get them back in, they're chewed around the edges.