Removing Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles

millie

My bathroom ceiling had polystyrene ceiling tiles which I have just removed as I am having a complete bathroom re-fit. The tiles came off easily enough but the glue used to put them up is still on the ceiling. It is all spread around the ceiling in patches. I need to smooth the ceiling off to either paint or paper it but, have tried scraping it off and its only coming off in bits. Can I buy anything to remove it?

cargo

Not that I am aware of.
Some times more damage is created whilst removing the glue.
People tend to have the cieling skimmed.
Not what you want to hear sorry.

Dennis99

I've just removed loads of the *£$^"%&^*^**& things.
I got the glue off with a wallpaper steam stripper just waved toward the area to soften the glue and then scraping the worst and wiping off the rest. Tedious but effective, one ceiling in particular which must have been 60 years old was left good enough to paint looking like any modern flat ceiling.

I'm assuming the glue is spread over the whole tile not just 5 blobs per tile.

ginger_nuts

mine was that bad I covered it with a wooden ceiling

HugoSP

Artex is good for skimming over thany remaining adhesive.

You do not have to have a pattened ceiling, you can skim it on just like plaster. I did the same to remove a stippled artex effect on a ceiling.

IIRC I used Artex stabalising solution after cleaning the ceiling as much as poss and removing high points. I then mixed up the artex and skimmed it on in 2 applications. It takes longer to go off than multi finsh, so is probably easier to work with from a DIY pov.

millie

I did not want to go down the artex route and I do not trust my husband to get a smooth enough finish if he tried skimming it platering is not his forte. I will try my steam cleaner on a small area to soften it, the same as a steam wallpaper striper would. Then perhaps I can scrape it off. The trouble is its quite a large area 10' x 9'. Wont have time tomorrow so I will try it on Sunday.

HugoSP

millie wrote: »

I did not want to go down the artex route and I do not trust my husband to get a smooth enough finish if he tried skimming it platering is not his forte. I will try my steam cleaner on a small area to soften it, the same as a steam wallpaper striper would. Then perhaps I can scrape it off. The trouble is its quite a large area 10' x 9'. Wont have time tomorrow so I will try it on Sunday.

If you end up gouging the ceiling, get some lighweight filler from a diy store and apply it with a wallpaper scraper or similar, then if you need to, give the areas a light sanding before painting.

paddy's_mum

You may also find that a hairdryer directed at the blobs may soften them enough to allow them to be scraped off easily.

Don't forget though to have good ventilation if you are heating an unknown adhesive.

Errata

If the steamer doesn't work, try paint stripper.

millie

I have managed to get it off, well most of it enough so it should not show through my ceiling paper. I used a steam cleaner and scraper. It would have been easier with a wallpaper stipper because it is only a cheap Aldi steam cleaner and I kept having to wait for the steam to generate. It took me 4 hours, my arms a killing me but at least its off. Thanks for all the suggestions.

meggles

my boyfriend's a decorator, and his parents just took off the tiles from their ceiling. he rubbed it down very well, filled it in, sanded again, then lined it with lining paper. job done.