Basement Ceiling Painting

Spraying a basement ceiling is something that we are doing more of. Takes a bit of preparation due to the nature of painting the ceiling. All can lights, pendent lights, smoke detectors, shut-off valves ect need to be covered. Plastic and tape from the ceiling to the floor. Anything not being painted must be covered. This particular job required 4 rolls of green and blue tape.

The easiest and fastest way to paint a basement ceiling is to spray it with an airless sprayer. It takes paint (Dryfall) that has the consistency of pancake batter, atomizes it and sprays it onto the surface. 

When doing black, we will often do 2-3 coats due to the inability to see. We use lots of light, however you always get holidays (skips). We have learned through experience, its best to do multiple coats over multiple days to ensure we get uniform coverage, with out the drips. If you apply too much paint, it will begin to sag, run and drip (bad)

When we are doing a basement ceiling, we ask the homeowner to limit or avoid incursion into the work area completely. This is due to the amount of plastic sheeting that is involved as well as the prep. You will notice that the plastic is tucked under our cloth drops, This prevents the plastic from being blown around when spraying. If the homeowner comes down for a sneak peak, and tears a hole in the plastic, that entire area will need to be taped and redone to prevent overspray onto anything no one wants painted. Plus, the product we are using will permanently stain clothing. Its on the drops, the plastic ect.

Here is Ms. Stacy in her Tyvek suit spraying the ceiling

Dryfall is a interesting product in the fact that it sprays on wet, and then dries almost instantly. What is nice about it is that it has decent coverage, and is easy to apply with consistent results. It was originally designed for industrial applications – factory ceilings, but has become popular among homeowners looking to finish their basement ceilings with out the expense of using drywall.
Your color choices are: White or Black.

Being a water based product, there is no smell.

The black is recommended over the white, as it gives a more rich cozy feel to the space. The white typically requires a primer coat first, to seal in stains and knots. With the black, such staining goes unnoticed.

All done

Dave Carrigan Jr.

As the author of The Carrigan Archives, Dave shares expert insights on home improvement, ceiling restoration, and industry trends. He also personally manages Carrigan Painting’s website and YouTube channel, providing homeowners with valuable resources and a firsthand look at the company’s craftsmanship.

With over 25 years of experience in residential construction, Dave specializes in ceiling repairs and high-end interior painting, often exceeding contractual obligations to ensure the highest level of craftsmanship. His ability to maintain exceptional customer satisfaction in such a demanding field is a testament to his expertise, integrity, and dedication to quality.

For 15 consecutive years, Carrigan Painting has maintained an unprecedented 5-star reputation—an achievement nearly unmatched in the industry.

Almost all of the work we have completed since early 2024 has been posted to this Archive.

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