#Painting styrofoam ceiling tiles full#

Painting over any kind of debris will leave an eyesore, so if they’re filthy, you’ll want to clean all of them one tile at a time. Take the time to clear all items from the room to give yourself space, and then cover the floor with your sheets or drop-cloths.īe sure to clean the tiles, even with a broom or a duster. You should clear everything from the room so that it’s empty because paint could drip from the tiles after you finish and stain furniture. Regardless of how you decide to paint your ceiling tiles, you’ll need to prepare the room and a significant block of time to get the job done. If you are painting the ceiling tiles outside of their frames, you’ll need a metal, self-etching primer to apply to the frames before installing the tiles. Depending on how dirty the tiles are, you’ll also need dishwashing fluid, some cotton towels, and a broom or feather duster. Finally, you’ll want some fabric drop-cloths or sheets on the floor unless you plan to paint the tiles before installing them.įinally, you’ll need a one-gallon and five-gallon bucket to mix your paints and primer. You will also need masking tape to cover the corners and edges of the ceiling as well as the metallic parts in-between the tiles. You’ll need a roller to apply both the paint and primer as well as a nylon brush for touch-ups. Be sure to find a water-based primer as you’ll need to apply this to the surface you want to paint. You’ll need the correct primer for the ceiling as well since the tiles are made of polystyrene. With regard to quantity, you will need about a gallon of paint per 150-200 square feet of ceiling. You can also find many spray paints that work as well. Latex-based or water-based acrylics are the only two kinds you should consider as they don’t contain chemicals that can damage the tiles. Styrofoam ceiling tiles require a specific type of paint that won’t melt or flake. You will also find helpful tips for installing the ceiling tiles after they’ve been painted, ways to prep your work area, and strategies to paint tiles with different types of surfaces.

There are pros and cons to different kinds of paint, brushes, and methods of installation, so you’ll want to make sure you find the right section of the article that fits your situation.

Painting tiles that are still in the ceiling.

You can paint your styrofoam tiles on your own, but you’ll need to follow these steps: It’s essential to strategize, prepare your workspace, and paint the tiles efficiently with the right materials to avoid problems down the road. Painting styrofoam ceiling tiles can be a challenging process, and there are many potential pitfalls that can lead to disaster. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Unfinished (Bright White unpainted) Malta Foam Ceiling Tiles.Īntique White (slightly off-white painted) Roven Foam Ceiling TilesAffiliate Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. Please also consider below images showing entire room and ceiling with unpainted and then painted foam ceiling tiles. I hope the above high resolution images will help decide which tile is right for your project.

#Painting styrofoam ceiling tiles full#

Please click here to open above image in full resolution in a new window. The ceiling tile on top is Antique White - Painted. Please see below photos that show the difference between the unpainted White and painted White foam Ceiling Tile. The painting can be performed either prior or after they are installed on the ceiling. All of our unfinished as well as already pre-painted ceiling tiles can be painted with most any water-latex based paints. It brings the design and really makes it imposible to tell what material the ceiling tile is made out of. However, the paint does add the finish to the foam ceiling tile.

The unfinished white foam ceiling tiles can be installed as is and they do not require to be painted.

We have decided to devote an entire page in order to help understand the difference and overall look. One of the most common question we receive is regarding the difference between Unfinished White and Antique White ceiling tiles.