The puttying of the ceiling is a rather troublesome business. However, having an idea of this at least in theory, home repairs can be done on their own. Let's find out more about the puttying of the ceiling with our own hands.
What kind of putty should I choose for the ceiling?
On the shelves of building stores today there is a wide selection of modern finishing materials. In order to navigate the sea of names and brands, let's first understand the types of ceiling putty. So, it happens:
- domestic and foreign production;
- on the basis of cement and gypsum;
- main (large), finish (small) or universal.
It should be noted that the imported (especially German-made) putty is highly valued by professionals. Do not spare money for finishing materials, if you need a high-quality and durable coating.
Now as to the material, on the basis of which the putty is made. Cement putty is heavier and has a higher consumption, but it also has its advantages: it is cheaper and suitable for almost any premises. Gypsum putty will be more advantageous in terms of its specific weight, but it is more expensive. It should not be used in rooms with high humidity due to its excessive vapor permeability.
How to level the ceiling with putty?
Take care of safety precautions: such finishing work should always begin with a power outage. Also check the absence of drafts in the building, otherwise all work will go wrong.
If you want to get a perfectly flat ceiling as a result, then first you need to sand it. It's a rather tedious, monotonous work, but it's worth it. Then you should cover the ceiling with a primer. The greater the degree of penetration of the primer, the better it will stay on the ceiling putty. For example, a primer that can penetrate strongly into the surface, is used for uneven ceilings, which are also difficult to clean.
The next stage - smoothing of all irregularities with the help of the main putty. Prepare it according to the manufacturer's instructions. For work you will need two spatulas - narrow and wide, and a tray with a flat bottom. The first layer of putty is applied over a well-dried primer. The spatula should be kept at an angle to the ceiling: the more obtuse angle, the thicker the layer of putty. Adjust the thickness of the layer, depending on the unevenness of the ceiling.
How to apply the putty on the ceiling?
In order for your ceiling to be as level as possible, use a paint net (the so-called "serpian"). Lightly press it into the first layer of the main putty, while it is still damp. When the putty dries, cover the wall with one more layer. After that, you can proceed to the finish puttying of the ceiling. In the finished form it is a homogeneous mass, and on the ceiling or wall it looks like a very smooth coating. Apply the finishing filler to the surface with a very thin layer, leveling the slightest roughness of the previous layers. Keep in mind that the final putty dries longer than normal - up to 6-8 hours.
There is such a thing as a universal putty. There is no clear division into the main and final - this material allows both to level the ceiling with putty, and cover it with a thin layer of fine fraction, creating the final effect of a perfectly flat surface.
If you have never done repairs before, then before using the ceiling putty, arm yourself with a spatula and experiment on any small surface (for example, try to level the wall ). Try to apply a thin and thick layer of putty. As you can see, in the process of puttying ceilings there are no special difficulties. It is important only to get high-quality materials and to approach the matter with all responsibility.