tedcat99 wrote:
Hi Everyone, I have a ceiling in my house which is painted with Gloss
paint and I would like to overpaint it with Silk or Matt emulsion
paint. Is there any way of preparing the surface other than rubbing
it down with sandpaper as I am getting too old for that sort of
exercise!!! Ted

Hey, Ted. I'm not sure of the available products in your neck of the
woods, but here in the ex-colonies there are a couple of ways to go
about it. One is to use a special primer specifically made to cover
glossy paint and plastic laminates. Fresh Start by Benjamin Moore is
one product. Then just paint with your regular ceiling paint

Another option is to use a liquid deglosser. This can be rubbed on the
existing ceiling paint with a cloth - it cuts into the gloss allowing
the new paint to bite. It's nasty stuff and not much less work than
sanding. You can also use the liquid deglosser as an additive to your
regular ceiling paint. It's not quite as effective, but since a
ceiling receives little in the way or wear (unless you're quite the
bedroom athlete!) it should be fine. Do _not_ let the ceiling paint
splatter in your eyes if you use that stuff!

Or another option just occurred to me. For the cost of airfare and a
couple or three weeks in a nice hotel, use of your car, and beer money
would be nice, too, I might consider popping over to do it for you!

Option three is probably your best bet.

R