Get matched with top painters in Midway, LA

You can test to see if your mist coat has worked by using masking tape after the drying period. Apply masking tape to an inconspicuous area of the wall after the mist coat has had at least 24 hours to dry. Then, peel off the tape. It should come up clear, with no paint residue. If it does have paint residue, you may need to remove the mist coat and try coating the plaster again with a different ratio of paint and water.

For optimal results, sand the exterior of your home and apply a primer coat before painting. These steps will help the new paint stick to your home’s surface and will help the paint last longer. Pro tip: Some paint brands offer more expensive options that combine paint and primer into one product.

If your popcorn ceiling is asbestos-free and you are ready for a new look, painting is an option. As long as there is no flaking or other wear, a new coat of paint might be just the thing to refresh the old ceiling. The best way to paint a popcorn ceiling is to use either a paint sprayer or a thick roller to cover the popcorn texture fully. (Do not forget to dust it off beforehand!)

“Note that if you eventually want to remove the popcorn ceiling, a painted ceiling is a labor-intensive job to remove and will cost more,” says Bob Tschudi. “Once painted, the process of removing the popcorn ceiling requires physical scraping as opposed to a spray-and-scrape approach. It’s very labor-intensive, and thus more costly.”

The best paint brand is subjective. Though you can peruse countless reviews and ratings to find that perfect can of paint, your ideal paint color, paint type, quality, ingredients, price, and more determine the best brand for your project.