How to Cover Up Water Stains on a Popcorn Ceiling

Covering stains on a popcorn ceiling can be difficult. The textured material that was sprayed on the ceiling years ago may fall off in pieces if you touch it with a roller or brush. This is even more likely if there has been water damage. Make sure that underlying water leaks and wet materials have been fixed, or like a perennial plant the stain could grow back. Simply painting over a stain might look good for a while, but the stain could start to show through again.

Popcorn ceilings applied before the early 1980s may contain asbestos, so have it tested before you start.

Step 1: Prepare Yourself and the Room

This job is going to be messier than you think it will be. Bits of the popcorn ceiling will probably fall off. It is wise to wear eye protection, a face mask, and possibly a hat. Move furniture to a safe distance or cover it. Put drop cloths on the floor. Mask off walls or light fixtures that are near the stain.

Step 2: Cover Stain with Stain Blocking Primer

It comes in spray cans or in a paint can. Spraying works in small areas, but with a larger area it is a good idea to roll it on. The roller should be a type that gets the primer into all the nooks and crannies of the textured ceiling. Give it a second coat if you can still see the stain after it dries. The primer may be the right color to blend in with your ceiling. If so, leave it to dry and enjoy your stain-free ceiling.

Step 3: For Large Areas, Use an Airless Sprayer

If you rented an airless sprayer, spray the stain blocking primer with the nozzle about twelve inches from the ceiling. Let it dry overnight, and give it another coat.

Step 4: Repaint the Covered Area

If the ceiling was painted before, you will need to repaint the section where the stain was. Let the primer dry, then roll on your new paint, or use your sprayer. Use an oil-based or acrylic paint, popcorn texture absorbs water-based paints and you need a lot more paint.

Many people decide that fixing a popcorn ceiling here and there when there is a problem is not worth it. They just cover the whole thing over with ceiling tile or other products and forget that the popcorn is there.