Can You Paint Ceiling Tile Grid

People regularly enquire about painting ceiling tiles or how to paint ceiling tiles.

Can you paint ceiling tile grid.

Oil based materials bond with metal surfaces but water. All armstrong ceiling tiles and panels except fiberglass can be painted with latex paints. Armstrong ceilings cannot guarantee that the published surface burning characteristics fire resistance ratings acoustical performance dimensional stability sag or. With the area prepared pour the paint into a roller pan and apply some to the paint roller.

But it s fine to paint their mineral fiber tiles as well as the metal grid variety. One coat of paint is usually enough to cover but you can add a second coat for extra durability. If the grid has any chips or discoloration apply a coat of spray paint in the color of your choice. Painting a ceiling grid is a bit trickier than painting a wall but it s an easy afternoon project.

You can paint some types of armstrong acoustical ceiling tiles. The metal grid can be repainted and the tiles can be painted or replaced. Decide whether you want to paint the support grid holding up the tiles as well. Clean the ceiling tile grid with a sponge and a solution of warm water and dish detergent.

Step 3 paint the ceiling tiles. Apply the paint to the ceiling tiles evenly. Remove your tiles from the ceiling grid by lifting them up and turning them on edge then sliding them down and out of the grid. You can vacuum or paint the tiles easier while they are removed from the grid but be aware that painting the tiles may void the warranty.

Apply paint to an old board or a piece of cardboard to see how much you can thin the paint to get the desired results. It has always been the case that suspended ceiling tiles could not be painted because water based paint would be absorbed by the ceiling tiles and cause warping. Cover all the visible grid then give the paint a few hours to dry. The front and back of 24 in x 24 in and 24 in x 48 in panels should be painted.

If not put painter s tape over the grid as well. You ll achieve the best effect if you use flat paint on the ceiling tiles and a semi gloss paint on the suspended ceiling grid. The armstrong company realizes that over time customers may want to repaint when tiles get dingy or stained. If the tiles are fiberglass or laminated with mylar or vinyl you can t.

Of course oil based paint is completely out of the question as it creates a fire risk.