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painting an open basement ceiling

13K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  B.Johnson 
#1 ·
I have a basement job coming up that was going to get suspended ceiling and now the home owner wants to paint the open joist. The joist are I-joist with osb. There is all the wiring and pex tubing and flex duct.I was going to buy a decent Wagner sprayer for the job and just take it one bay at a time and be as thorough as i can about getting it all sprayed. Can anyone give me any advice about a good primer to use.
And also how to go about painting the pex and flex duct? Can all that just be primed and painted?

thanks.............nicko
 
#4 ·
I second renting a real rig. Cheap ones are frustrating, don't last long. Renting might save money in the long run.

Gripper primer is expensive but good, and water based. Those OSB webs are a little waxy and pex isn't very sticky so you probably want that at a minimum.
 
#6 ·
I second the smart prime. That stuff sticks to everything and awesome hide quality.

I would recommend buying a small rig from like home depot. Couple hundred for it........and beat the crap out of it till it pays you rent money. (I tend to get fussy when my good paint machine has overspray and paint splatter all over it) I bought a cheap one and don't care. Just flush the lines and throw it in the truck.


Why paint it all the do a drop ceiling?
 
#7 · (Edited)
Make sure any new wires and plumbing are done before you spray. Take time to make sure things are secured so that you don't have unpainted areas if a wire or water line sags down the line.

Oil base primer is best (imho)...but you better have awesome ventilation and respiration gear before you spray that.

Figure your materials and then double it. Takes way more time and materials than you think.
 
#8 ·
Figure your materials and then double it. Takes way more time and materials than you think.
I second this, last one I did took almost double the paint I estimated. I used 123 water based primer for that one but I think I'll try INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer next time.
Wipe down the hvac duct work with alcohol, seems to be a bit of oil on it, forgot on one section and got streaks, so I had to redo that area.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Dang thats gonna look butt-ugly. No fault of yours but just the decision to paint all that stuff instead of (at least) a dropped ceiling.

Not too long ago I tore out a gals (a new HO) dropped ceiling in her basement (she wanted it gone cause she thought THAT was butt-ugly). I framed it, hung sheetrock and finished it. It came out nice and wasn't to pricey at all.

Why even bother to paint it ? I guess that's my big head-scratcher. Yeesh. Just leave it. OTOH, a pretty easy job and make some $$
 
#13 ·
It's not uncommon some like the look, gives a feeling of being more open, taller, it works better with tall ceilings in commercial spaces. Drywall means no access as a remodeler and in my own home that's a big deal to me, drop ceilings most people hate the look. I prefer a drop not fond of them you have to use tile that have less of a commercial appearence.
 
#12 ·
wow!!
thanks for all the responses. I defiantly don't care for the look and after all is said and done a suspended ceiling would probable be cheeper. Ill have to price it out. I would probably do a egg shell or satin black. I really think i might try to talk them out of it though.
It defiantly seems like it would be a messy job and a lot of work. Then every time someone runs a wire or plumbing in the future or do a repair on something it would need painted.

Thanks for all the help.........nicko
 
#14 ·
I would refrain from using anything but a flat you might not get the desired sealing and it will flash horribly. That's what I got with the gloss black one I did but that's the effect requested.

The problem with a flat black it tends to lose a true black color, if you don't do it in a flat get the lowest sheen possible. I wouldn't necessarily
talk them out of it just warn them them of possible issues.
 
#17 ·
We did this a few years ago. I don't remember all the details about it but here is a thread discussing it.

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/weird-basement-paint-job-153552/

I know we used Cover Stain as the primer. Wore suits, respirators with the organic filters, and put vasoline on our faces to help the respirators seal better as well as allow the oil based over spray to wipe off. It was a great recommendation of Sir Mixalot's.

We didn't have an option for ventilation so we started at the side by the exit door and sprayed away from it (so the over spray would settle). When we were done, we closed up the paint and walked out the door. Came back the next day when you could breathe in there again and cleaned up.

We did a flat black finish coat.
 
#18 ·
Oil base primer would be best but didn't think the OP would want to go that route. Vaseline burns my eyes doesn't feel good to remove oil base from where your eyelashes grow out of your lids with paint thinner especially if it's already dried, looks like I'm wearing eyeliner, I've experienced it too many times.
 
#21 ·
We’ve done it a few times. Two flat black and one cream color. Go flat black! We wiped all the duct work and copper with alcohol and sprayed Smart Prime (2 coats) then the black (3 coats). Have no experience with pex.

I would triple the material amount and double the labor.

We ended up getting a weed sprayer (pump type) with a long wand to get into some of the small areas. You have to cut it quite a bit, but it will work.

It’s a PITA but I like the look.

The homeowner should also be made aware of noise problems – you no longer have a sound barrier of any kind to the first floor.

Good luck!
 
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