Polystyrene ceiling maintenance

[capd]

Our new home’s ceilings are mostly polystyrene, imagine due to lower cost & maintenance, and good thermal properties. Over time, the joins have separated slightly. It looks like they may have been painted at the joins, which is irking me. Does anyone have experience with maintenance in getting them looking better? Would I need to prime and paint the entire ceiling? What are my options?

Thanks!

 

[chrisc]

Have a rental house with what looked like tongue and groove ceiling. It turned out to be polystyrene and there were gaps

The painter filled these will acrylic sealer (Painter's Mate). Even before he painted (Rockgrip Wall and All) it looked much better. He washed it first as there was quite a bit of dust

Very fiddly job though

 

[capd]

Have a rental house with what looked like tongue and groove ceiling. It turned out to be polystyrene and there were gaps

The painter filled these will acrylic sealer (Painter's Mate). Even before he painted (Rockgrip Wall and All) it looked much better. He washed it first as there was quite a bit of dust

Very fiddly job though

Thanks, will look into this. Have heard static attracts dust in the gaps so it’s good to brush it out.

 

[capd]

Have a rental house with what looked like tongue and groove ceiling. It turned out to be polystyrene and there were gaps

The painter filled these will acrylic sealer (Painter's Mate). Even before he painted (Rockgrip Wall and All) it looked much better. He washed it first as there was quite a bit of dust

Very fiddly job though

Hi @chrisc

We are nearing crunch time and I’ve spoken to a paint shop and they agree with Painter’s Mate and water-based paint for the polystyrene.

Could you please link me to the exact products you used?

And if you have another minute, the method you used to clean beforehand?

Thank you!

 

[krycor]

Was gonna suggest painters mate too..

 

[Paul Kemp]

Alcolin Contractors acrylic for the gaps. I’ve used this on 25mm isoboard with good long lasting results.

 

[capd]

Alcolin Contractors acrylic for the gaps. I’ve used this on 25mm isoboard with good long lasting results.

Would this be similar to Painter’s Mate? The same? Superior?

 

[Paul Kemp]

Would this be similar to Painter’s Mate? The same? Superior?

No clue. It’s cheaper so I’m guessing it’s a lesser product but the tube says pretty much the same stuff on it. My experience with the Alcolin product is that it it’s flexible, paintable and lasts.
I’m also cheap

 

[capd]

Thanks, every penny helps.

While waiting for @chrisc to confirm, is everyone in agreement to paint the polystyrene ceiling with “Rockgrip Wall and All”?

It looks like Rockgrip is a Dulux product, and is called Wall and Ceiling? And that Wall and All is a Plascon product? I presume these are both similar products? And that the gist of painting polystyrene is to use water-based paint?

Is there a particular white I need to use to match the ceiling? Do I need to ask them to do any colour matching?

I will only be doing the below sides for now since the A-frame ceiling is very high, less affected than the sides, and presumably needs scaffolding.

Will be doing the main bedroom’s full ceiling.

 

[capd]

Also presume low sheen is important to match the matte finish of the polystyrene.

 

[B-1]

Polystyrene expands/contracts a lot so get a good quality acrylic sealer. I like acryl-w from Den Braven but painters mate would probably be good as well.

For cleaning just use a leaf blower or a soft broom.

 

[Paul Kemp]

Again, just dropping my 2 cents. We used Rock Grip super acrylic inside out. Colour label read white white. Satin finish. Dusted and then wiped with a wet cloth before acrylic and then paint.

 

[capd]

Thanks guys.

 

[Lupus]

Polystyrene expands/contracts a lot so get a good quality acrylic sealer. I like acryl-w from Den Braven but painters mate would probably be good as well.

For cleaning just use a leaf blower or a soft broom.

Yup we noticed that after they replaced our skirting in the ceilings with polystyerene ones :-( good to know how to fix the cracks.