When performing home repairs, finishing the ceiling is considered one of the most important stages. A beautiful and neat ceiling is able to visually decorate the room and give it an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
There are many options for finishing ceilings.. One of the classic technologies is whitewashing, which is quite easy to do on your own. It is an easy and economical way to freshen up your indoor environment. But for a high-quality performance of work, you should know some of the subtleties and features that are given below..
Before starting whitewashing, it is very important to decide whether the old coating will be removed or the whitewashing will be carried out on top of it. For this, the condition of the old finish, its strength, the presence of dirt and defects are assessed. If the old finish is badly crumbled or in many places begins to peel off from the ceiling, then it must be removed before a new whitewash.
If the old coating is quite strong, then it is allowed to place a new layer of whitewash on it.. But before that it is necessary to get rid of cracks and surface contamination. To remove dust from the ceiling, you should walk with a regular wet cloth. To remove mold, it is advisable to use special products that are sold in hardware stores. For small build-ups of mold, plain water and soap will do..
To get rid of fat, you should make a solution of salt and water..
At the end of the surface treatment, the soda residues are washed off with clean water.. Sometimes there are various yellow spots on the old coating. You should also get rid of them, otherwise they will show through a new layer of whitewash. To combat such stains, a solution of the Whiteness product is used..
How to whiten?
Chalk is often used to whitewash ceiling surfaces. It allows you to give the ceilings an attractive snow-white look. But this is not always convenient, as chalk may soon begin to crumble. As a result, dust is generated in the room. It is not recommended to use chalk on bathroom surfaces, as this material is not waterproof..
Alternatively, lime can be used.. Its main advantage is the fight against fungi. Therefore, in those rooms where there is a high chance of the appearance of a fungus, it is better to choose lime as a finishing material. In addition, it is water resistant, so it can be used in the bathroom. Other advantages include the possibility of hiding small cracks and defects in the ceiling..
Among the main disadvantages of lime, it is worth highlighting the possible appearance of allergic reactions to this material in residents. Another significant disadvantage is that, compared to chalk, it does not provide a perfect snow-white shade of the surface. In addition, it has a pungent odor and dries up for a relatively long time..
In the process of choosing a suitable material, you should pay attention to the old layer.. If it is made on the basis of lime, then chalk will not work for a new layer. If the old layer is treated with chalk, then it is undesirable to choose lime for a new whitewash, as streaks may remain, which will spoil the appearance of the ceiling..
The material of the old finish is quite simple to determine. It is enough to slide your finger over the surface. If the coating was applied using chalk, it will leave marks on the finger. When finishing with lime, fingerprints do not remain.
Sometimes it is advisable to opt for water-based paint. It will provide the ceiling with a wonderful appearance. This paint works great on old finishes, even if they are made of chalk or lime. Due to its properties, water-based paint will be an excellent solution for finishing work in the bathroom..
When preparing a solution that will be used for whitewashing, glue is usually added. This significantly improves the strength of the coating and increases its service life..
It is recommended to add joinery types of glue, which will allow the ceiling to maintain an attractive appearance for as long as possible. You can whitewash the ceiling with a snowball, and a chalk mixture is often used for the stove..
Consumption
Before carrying out repairs, it is advisable to calculate the amount of material required. Experienced professionals will be able to do this fairly quickly. But for beginners, it is rather difficult to calculate the exact amount of materials in advance, since in each case this value will be different..
For a preliminary calculation of the consumption of materials, one should proceed from the surface area of the ceiling. It should be borne in mind that whitewash painting is carried out in several layers..
When whitewashing with chalk or lime, you will have to prepare special solutions. If water-based paint is used, then you can buy it in retail outlets ready-made. But it should be borne in mind that its consumption can be quite high. Therefore, it is advisable to buy paint with some margin in order to ensure a uniform shade of the surface..
When calculating the necessary materials, you should include in the list and materials necessary to prepare the ceiling surface for whitewashing. During the preparation process, dirt is removed, and the surface is smoothed and cracks are filled..
The preliminary consumption of the mixture for whitewashing can be determined taking into account the area of the ceiling. You will need 0.5 liters of the mixture per square meter. It is worth remembering that it can be stored for no more than 1.5 days..
How to breed?
First of all, you need to properly dilute the mixture and know all the proportions. To prepare a chalk-based solution, you will need 5 liters of water. It is recommended to use warm water to effectively dissolve the ingredients. Add 3 kg of chalk to a container with this water. Next, 30 grams of glue is added to the resulting mixture. It is advisable to add a little blue to the solution. This will give the ceiling a fresher look and remove the yellow tint. The recommended amount of blue is 15 to 20 grams, depending on the desired shade of the ceiling.
To prepare a lime-based solution, you need 2.5 kg of material. Lime is preliminarily diluted with a liter of warm water. Then 100 grams of salt is added to it, which must first be soaked in a little water. Next, you should add a little blue according to the principle of making a solution from chalk. At the final stage, 10 liters of water are added to the resulting mixture..
It is advisable to use a construction mixer during the preparation of the mixture. In this case, a more uniform structure of the solution will be obtained. To determine the required consistency, it is enough to dip a knife or other smooth object into the solution. In the case when, when pulling out the knife, the mixture begins to flow over it, without lingering on the blade, the solution is considered not thick enough. Therefore, you need to gradually add chalk or lime until the mixture is thick enough..
After preparation, the solution should be allowed to stand for 15 minutes, after which it should be filtered with a sieve. Before starting work, the mixture must be mixed again. If you want to give the ceiling a certain color, then suitable pigments can be added to the mixture. You can also use water-based paint of the desired shade..
Instruments
Most often, during home repairs, ceilings are whitened using brushes or a roller. You can also take a spray gun or a special vacuum cleaner for these purposes. But at the same time, the paint will settle not only on the ceiling surface, but also on the walls and floor. Therefore, it is recommended to cover all surfaces in the room except the ceiling..
The most budgetary option is considered to be a brush.. It can be purchased inexpensively at any hardware store. But when whitewashing, it should be borne in mind that the solution will spray, therefore, it is necessary to protect the eyes and body.
When choosing a brush, you should adhere to certain recommendations.. First, you need to pay attention to the stubble. It must be made from natural materials. In this case, the width of the brush should be more than 15 cm.Before performing work, it is recommended to place the brush in a container with water so that it swells.
If you plan to use a roller, then you must additionally select a pallet in which the tool will be wetted. It will provide a smooth and even application of the solution to the ceiling surface. It should be borne in mind that using a roller it will be very difficult to whitewash surfaces in hard-to-reach places and corners. In this case, you will need to use a brush.
The spray gun also allows you to whitewash evenly and efficiently. But in this case it is required to ensure that the structure of the solution turns out to be more liquid compared to mixtures for a brush or roller..
For whitewashing, you will need a stepladder, a bucket in which the solution will be mixed, a rag for wiping surfaces and spatulas for removing old finishing materials. You should also take care of a container with warm water and personal protective equipment..
Subtleties of work
It is always difficult to make repairs in an apartment, but you can simply update it. To do this, you need to clean off the old covering on the walls and just whitewash them. Such a wash is quite popular today and its price is small..
Before starting work, you should carefully and efficiently prepare the surface. Often, a new whitewash is applied over the old one. But the ideal option would be to clean the ceiling from the old finishing coating with further leveling the surface..
To remove the old chalk coating, you should use a foam sponge. It must be regularly moistened in water and carried over the surface of the ceiling. In this way, you can gradually remove all the layers of old chalk. Then the surface must be wiped with a regular rag, which should also be often moistened in water..
If the old coating consists of lime, then it will be a little more difficult to remove it. To do this, you first need to wet the surface of the ceiling to soften the lime. For this, it is recommended to use a spray bottle. Then the layers of the old finish are removed with a spatula. At the end of the work, it is recommended to rinse the ceiling surface with a rag to remove the remaining lime and dust..
Now in retail outlets there are special products for washing off old whitewash. These products are sprayed onto the ceiling surface with a spray gun. After a while, the surface becomes covered with a crust, which is removed with a scraper. Then the ceiling is washed with a rag or sponge..
You can prepare a remedy for removing old whitewash at home. To do this, dilute a tablespoon of vinegar in 5 liters of water. Next, you will need 50 ml of foam for the bath, which is also added to the resulting mixture. Then all this is mixed and applied to the surface. After 20 minutes, the old finish can be easily removed with a scraper, after which the ceiling is washed off with a wet rag..
After the old finishing coating has been removed in full, you need to clean the ceiling surface from dirt and stains. Next, you should conduct a visual inspection of the ceiling for defects in the form of cracks and various recesses. All defective areas should be putty, for which you can make your own putty based on glue.
To prepare the putty, you need 1 unit of chalk and 2 units of gypsum and glue.. All this is mixed in water, after which the resulting mixture should be applied to the defective spots on the ceiling. When it dries, the surface should be sanded with sandpaper. Further, the ceiling surface is to be primed, which simplifies whitewashing, and the moisture-proof characteristics of the ceiling are improved. The treated surface should dry out within 24 hours..
Whitewashing technology includes two stages. At the first stage, a preliminary layer is applied. In this case, whitewashing should be done in a perpendicular direction in relation to the main light source (usually in relation to the windows). The next step is to apply a second layer, which will be parallel to the direction of the light rays. Additional layers can be applied if necessary. It should be borne in mind that a new layer is applied only when the previous one is completely dry..
When performing whitewashing, it is advisable to avoid exposure to drafts or sun rays. This will lead to the fact that soon the material will begin to flake off..
Tips & Tricks
Before starting work, it is recommended to remove interior items and furniture from the room. Large items and other surfaces should be covered with something so as not to get them dirty during the whitewashing process. If there are tiles on the walls, then you do not need to cover them. At the end of the work, it can be easily washed from dirt..
Before you start whitewashing, it is advisable to put on gloves on your hands and cover your head with a hat.. It is recommended to wear protective goggles over your eyes. Sometimes it is advisable to use a respirator. If these safety measures are not used, then the mixture can get on the skin and mucous membranes, causing allergic reactions or chemical burns..
In the process of whitewashing, it is advisable to periodically change the lighting.. First you need to whiten in natural light, and after a while, work under artificial lighting. This allows you to quickly identify possible deficiencies and make the necessary adjustments..
In the absence of experience in whitewashing ceilings, it is better to perform work with a roller. It will provide the best whitewashing results. Moreover, the process itself will be more convenient, simpler and faster. Move the brush or roller over the surface with confidence and evenness. In this case, the highest quality of work will be ensured..
It is recommended to divide the ceiling into separate strips, along which layers of whitewash will be applied. Overlaps are made at the joints of the strips. This technology will prevent the appearance of unpainted places..
When the work is over, it is advisable to wipe off all whitewash stains on the walls or floor with a rag. But sweeping is not recommended until the ceiling surface is dry. Otherwise, dust will rise and settle on it, resulting in dark spots. If you do all the work correctly, observing all the above tips, then next time you will need to whitewash the ceiling no earlier than three years later..
For information on how to independently make a spray gun for whitewashing the ceiling from a vacuum cleaner, see below.
