Can You Paint Ceiling Tiles?

Suspended ceiling tiles make home maintenance and repair much simpler, saving you time and money with easy access to the plumbing and electrical wires. However, suspended ceilings can lack decoration and design since they’re often used for offices and workspaces. Sure, it’s clean, professional and low in maintenance, but sometimes you want to give your space a better atmosphere. Although it isn’t recommended, most people still paint and modify their ceiling tiles.

Whilst painting your ceiling tiles gives a fresh coating and colour, the tiles can become stained from water leaks and also absorb moisture in the air, thus spoiling the finished product over time. If your tiles have a specific texture or pattern, painting over it may produce unwanted results and make them less distinctive.

Other disadvantages are the risk of impacting the fire protection and safety of the building. In some cases, painting a ceiling tile changes the surface burning characteristics, increasing flammable percentage, making it a higher risk for a fire. So always check the manufacturer’s warranty to see if painting your tiles will affect the tiles’ fire rating or acoustic properties.

In general, giving your tiles a makeover is a feasible option, but bear in mind that you have to follow a correct method and be aware that it can be a monumental task. If you have the patience and time to repaint the tiles from time to time, painting ceiling tiles won’t be a problem for you.

Why should you paint your ceiling tiles?

Painting your ceiling tile adds flair and character to an ordinary room, and your choice of colour can make a room feel more spacious or create a different atmosphere. For example, a brighter colour can create an illusion of making the ceiling appear higher. The most common colour choice is either white or black. White is suitable for homes and offices because it reflects natural light inside a room. Black is ideal for kitchen and restaurant spaces to hide dust and possible stains. With that in mind, make sure that your ceilings are cleaned and maintained regularly.

Required equipment and application process

Before you begin to paint, make sure to wear appropriate clothing for the job such as old clothes, overalls, and a hat, which comes in very handy when painting ceiling tiles. Prep work includes covering all floor surfaces and furniture in the room to protect them from any paint spillage and droplets during the process.

Your choice of equipment can fall between two categories depending on your application method. A decent brush or a roller will do depending on your ceiling coverage. A brush is great if you’re painting a small surface area and a roller is more suited if you want to cover a much bigger surface area. If you’re painting a suspended ceiling, spray painting is an alternative method that’s worth considering since the ceiling panels are removable. Just make sure that the room is well ventilated and wear a face mask for extra protection. 

If you are looking to buy new ceiling tiles for your home or office, Granmore stock a wide range of ceiling tiles in a variety of colours, sizes, and finishes. View our full range and purchase online for fast UK delivery.