How to Paint Floor Joists for a Basement Ceiling
- 1). Select the proper paint. Use water-based latex paint in a flat finish. Avoid using oil-based paints because of the noxious and potentially dangerous fumes produced by these products. Do not choose a semi or full gloss finish because the light reflection on glossy paints will draw too much attention to the ceiling. You want the ceiling to "go away," not attract attention.
- 2). Employ a power spray painter for the project. Spraying the ceilings, rather than painting them with a brush or roller, will make the job go much faster and considerably reduce neck strain. Spray guns are a little tricky to handle properly at first so practice on pieces of scrap lumber or drywall. Good spray guns are available at local home improvement stores for under $50 and are useful around the house for other projects.
- 3). Prepare the basement for spray painting. Spray painting produces a fine mist of paint or "over spray." These tiny drops of paint will travel everywhere and can be difficult to clean up once dry. Cover everything in the basement including floors, walls, ceiling fixtures, and furnishings with plastic tarps. Create a plastic tarp screen across any doorways to rooms you do not intend to paint.
- 4). Equip yourself for spray painting. The over spray droplets are extremely hard to remove from human hair, skin, and clothing. Wear disposable painters clothing, shoe booties, goggles, gloves, and a respirator mask that fits over your mouth and nose. Wear a stocking cap that covers all your hair. Cover any facial hair with a mask. Cover eyebrows with a thin coating of petroleum jelly.
- 5). Mix the paint with the correct amount or water or thinner. Spray guns come with a tool that indicates proper thickness of paint. Paint that is too thin will cause a tremendous mess and the paint will not stick to the ceiling very well. Paint that is too thick will jam the spray gun.
- 6). Mask or cover important wires located in the ceiling. Maintenance workers, like telephone repairmen, may need to identify wires by their color so do not paint over these wires. Wet paint can also interfere with bare wire terminals for phones or door bells.
- 7). Hold the spray gun approximately 24 inches away from the ceiling and keep the gun moving while spraying to prevent build ups of paint that will drip off the ceiling.
- 8). Apply two coats of paint if necessary. The wood of the joists, copper pipes, and any silvered duct work should not show through the paint. If joists are very stained, use a heavy-duty primer and sealer product for the first coat.
- 9). Clean out the spray gun thoroughly between uses. Disassemble the spray nozzle and clean it with warm water, soap, or special spray gun cleaner solution. Rinse out the pump lines and paint cup.