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PEOPLE spend big bucks on floor and wall coverings, but often overlook another large home space, the ceiling.
1. When it comes to evaluating how well a given ceiling will perform in a specific space, remember that ceilings have four basic functions. Acoustics, or sound control, light reflectance, decoration and construction. All must be considered as a vital part of a good design space.
2. Although popcorn ceilings are a popular choice, they have a few disadvantages: They can "date" a home's look, since smoother ceiling finishes are now more popular. Also, the pebbly texture traps dust and dirt and is difficult to patch. The advantage to popcorn ceilings is that it covers up imperfections on the ceiling.
3. When painting a stipple ceiling, use an extra rough surface roller, saturate the roller with paint then place it gently against the ceiling near the wall, rolling outward about six to eight feet. Gradually increase pressure on the roller. Start a second stripe next to it, reversing strokes at the end.
4. Another option when painting stipple is to rent a sprayer. The time and effort saved is well worth the small expense. Ensure you've been shown proper use, including the correct pressure to apply for the paint you've chosen.
5. Ceilings adorned with wall coverings like paper or vinyl-coated paper require special cleaning techniques. Typically, liquids should not be used on these surfaces. You can successfully remove smudges, fingerprints and pencil marks by gently rubbing the marks with an art gum eraser. Cornstarch can be used to absorb grease from wall coverings.
6. Plaster ceilings that have not come clean with the use of ordinary cleaners can be scrubbed with a strong solution of a product called trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water or a non-phosphate substitute.
7. Water stains will typically bleed or seep through new coats of paint. To prevent this, shellac or a special kind of primer must be applied before painting. This special primer is called "stain-killer" primer (regular primer tends not to work).
8. Ceiling art describes a picture painted on the ceiling by you, a hyper four-year-old or a professional painter. Ceiling art is a picture that should match the overall image of the room.
9. Tin ceiling choices are endless. The installation process is quite simple. Tools required consist of: a hammer, nails, tin snips, chalk line, tape measure and gloves. When you install these sheets yourself, remember that the edges of the plates are extremely sharp.
10. Aluminium ceilings are installed like all other drop ceilings as the panels are fitted to the previously built framework. An
aluminium ceiling is longer- lasting than a plaster ceiling, durable and attractive even after a long time. These ceilings will not rust or crack and the material is non- porous, therefore it resists moisture and
odor.
11. Enter to the scene, the glass fiber ceiling. These are modern and need special conditions to have them installed, as they do not suit all rooms and interiors. As well, before choosing a ceiling, check out mineral
fiber and veneered wood ceilings.
12. To fix a hole in a ceiling left from a hook, plug the hole with a cork that has been pushed flush with the ceiling. Paint over top.
13. Along ceilings below poorly insulated attic spaces, dust sometimes leaves streak marks, caused by temperature differences between insulated spaces and joist locations. The best solution for this is to add insulation or spread the existing insulation more evenly in the attic before repainting.
14. To clean a ceiling fan, cover your hands in clean socks turned inside out, dampen with a cleaner (or olive oil for wood) and run your hands along the blades. Or use the soft brush attachment for your vacuum to remove dust. Tip: If the blades have grease build-up dip socks in household dish soap and warm water and squeeze out excess (you don't want any liquid dripping in case it gets into the fan motor or warps the blades) then gently scrub out the grime spots.
15. During the winter, set your ceiling fan to turn clockwise to move risen warm air down into a room. When the weather heats up, set the fan to turn counter-clockwise for a cooling breeze.
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