Last Updated on January 1, 2024 by lindseymahoney
Painting the exposed basement ceiling black may have been the most physically taxing DIY I have ever tackled.
Don’t get me wrong, it was totally worth it for the look and the money saved, but it was exhausting! In total, it took me 10-12 hours to paint about 1,500 square feet of our basement ceiling.
Our basement ceiling went from looking like this:
To this:
So much better, right?!
Today I am going to share all of the details about painting our ceiling black and what I would change if I were to do it over.
*Check out the complete unfinished basement makeover reveal!
How to Update & Paint an Exposed Basement Ceiling Black
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Project Source List:
- Valspar 2000 Flat Black Interior
- Coveralls with a hood
- Protective eyewear
- N95 mask or Respirator
- Wagner Spraytech Flexio 5000
- Dropcloth and Plastic Sheeting
- Work platform and/or ladder
- Wire Cutter
- Cord Staples
- Broom or Leaf Blower
- Shop Vac
- Black can lights
- Dimmer Switches
1 | Organize Ceiling Wires
Before painting the ceiling, it is important to organize and remove any old wiring and pin any active wires to the joists using cord staples. This will help conceal the wires once the ceiling is painted.
Our basement ceiling had old TV cable and alarm system wires that I easily removed. I used a wire cutter to remove the old wires.
For any loose wires that needed to stay, I pinned them to the side of a joist for a clean look.
2 | Add Electrical and Overhead Lighting (if needed)
Our basement lighting consisted of only pull-string lights. I hired an electrician to install can lights that we could turn on and off with a few switches.
Because I wanted everything on the ceiling black, I had the boxes installed before I began painting the ceiling.
Before the electricians got started, I asked that they attach the wires to the joists. If they needed to cross any joists I asked them to try and do it at the edges of the room so it wasn’t noticeable.
Never assume that contractors know how you want something to look.
You know the saying, “assuming makes an ass out of you and me!”
3 | Clean the Basement Ceiling Joists
Removing dirt and dust from ceiling joists can be accomplished in a few different ways. I found that using a broom to brush away any dust and cobwebs was the most effective for me.
I also tried a leaf blower which would have been great if I was properly dressed and our basement wasn’t filled with our furniture. If your basement is empty, throw on some goggles and go to town with the blower.
Finally, I utilized our shop vac to remove larger debris found on the support beams or ledges of the wall.
4 | Protect the Walls & Floor From Paint
If you have plans to paint the basement walls and floor, start with the ceiling first!
I know this rule, but still got antsy and decided to apply the first coat of paint onto the walls before spraying the ceiling.
Because I followed the steps out of order, I spent a whole day taping plastic on the walls only to have all of it blow away as soon as I turned on the paint sprayer!
Next time I will follow my own advice and skip painting the walls until the ceiling is completely finished.
To protect large items that are staying in the basement, move them into the center of the room and cover them with drop cloths and plastic sheeting.
If you are not updating your basement floors, I recommend covering those as well. Our floor had black speckled paint all over once the ceiling was finished, but I didn’t mind since the floors would be painted next.
Personal Protective Gear
You also want to get protective gear for yourself. I wore a full body suit, protective eyewear, and an N95 mask. Gloves are not a bad idea either, but I decided not to use them.
I used a nail brush in the shower on my hands to remove any paint and it worked well but it does make them quite dry.
My father-in-law saw my standard mask in the photo above and immediately drove to my house to give me a respirator to use.
I used the respirator about half of the time but it would slip off of my head after a while.
My preferred mask for this task was the disposable N95 mask with the mini respirator. Side note: We could not stop laughing at these pictures with me all geared up!
Even with my protective gear, I still had paint all over my face and hands at the end of the day.
5 | Paint the Exposed Basement Ceiling
For this project, I used my Wagner Flexio 5000 to spray the basement ceiling black. It is really easy to use, but it took a long time.
I heard from multiple people after I finished this project that renting an industrial sprayer from Home Depot would have cut my time in half.
I’m not sure if this is true, but I would definitely research it if I tackled this project again.
As I mentioned above, this project took about 10-12 hours! I packed it into 2 days and had to see a chiropractor afterward.
Looking up at the ceiling, holding a paint sprayer, and consistently pulling the trigger starts to hurt after a while! I would recommend taking more time if you can.
I followed the paint sprayer manual recommendations when setting up the machine to paint the ceiling. You can change the size of the spray coverage and the air pressure depending on your project.
I used the latex paint settings and kept the material flow between 9-11 and the airpower on med-hi.
We chose Valspar 2000 flat black ceiling paint and used 6 cans. I decided to go with black paint for the basement ceiling because I wanted to camouflage the wires and pipes as much as possible.
White looks really nice as well but was not the look I was going for. With the can light placement, there is no light shining on the ceiling joists and it just disappears.
Paint Sprayer Tips
Because I had the sprayer tilted back as I sprayed the ceiling, I angled the intake tube towards the back so it would suck up all of the paint.
If I were pointing the sprayer downward to spray a kitchen cabinet, for example, the intake tube would be angled toward the front of the sprayer.
It took me a little bit to figure out the best way to use the paint sprayer, but once I got my system down, it was easier to get all of the nooks and crannies in the ceiling.
I primarily used the horizontal spray position to cover in between the joists.
I switched to the vertical spray option where I moved the sprayer up and down when there was a narrow area to cover.
Paint Touch-Ups
After spraying the ceiling for two days, I decided that one coat of paint was enough!
I touched up any areas that needed some more coverage with a paintbrush and a small roller.
Applying a second coat of paint is always better than one, but I was not interested in tackling that project.
The single coat of paint looks great and unless you are looking to find spots that may need more paint, you do not notice it at all.
*Check out my recommended supplies for painting interior spaces.
6 | Install Can Lights
I chose black can lights to match the black paint and it looks so good! We added dimmers to the switches too.
I like having the option to dim the lights for a movie or while we are working out.
Removing the pull lights with hanging bulbs and adding can lights completely elevated the look of our basement.
Pros and Cons of Painting an Exposed Basement Ceiling
Pros:
- More affordable than a drop ceiling or drywall
- It gives the basement a cool, industrial look
- Easy access to the mechanicals of the house when necessary
Cons:
- If you DIY this project, it can be time-consuming and exhausting
- There is no sound buffer that a drop ceiling and drywall can add
Exposed Black Basement Ceiling Reveal
I am so happy with how the black exposed basement ceiling turned out!
It looks completely different from when we first started this project. The flat black paint gives each area a clean and cohesive feel.
Below is the workout area before we painted the floors.
Here is the basement once the concrete floors and walls had been painted. It is such a great hangout space for our family now!
Here is another great before shot of the basement:
And that same view after!
I am thrilled with how our unfinished basement looks and our family uses it every single day.
How to Paint an Exposed Basement Ceiling Black
How to paint an exposed basement ceiling yourself - all of my tips and things I would change if I could do this DIY over again!
Materials
- Valspar 2000 Flat Black Interior
- Coveralls with a hood
- Protective eyewear
- N95 mask or Respirator
- Dropcloth and Plastic Sheeting
- Work platform and/or ladder
- Wire Cutters
- Cord Staples
- Broom
- Shop Vac
- Black can lights
Tools
- Paint sprayer
Instructions
- Remove all dead wires from the ceiling and staple loose wires neatly to a ceiling joist
- Using a broom or leaf blower, remove dust and debris from the ceiling joists as best as you can
- If you are updating pull lights to can lights, now is the time to hire an electrician to install the electrical and cans
- Prep the area for paint with dropcloths and plastic sheeting where protection is needed
- Once you are in your own protective gear (jumpsuit, goggles and N95 mask, begin spraying the ceiling with paint. Our basement is very large so I only did a single coat of paint but two coats is best.
- Attach the can lights and enjoy!
Notes
The difficulty of this project came from the angle at which my body was placed while spraying the exposed ceiling. My neck and arms were killing me by the time I was done. If I had taken my time painting the ceiling it would not have been as difficult. If I could do it all over again, I would by a stronger paint sprayer to increase paint coverage.
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What is the best paint to use on the exposed basement ceiling?
I used standard latex paint that can be used in handheld paint sprayers. I prefer a flat sheen when painting ceilings to hide imperfections and purchased Valspar 2000 flat black ceiling paint for this specific DIY project.
What is the best paint color for exposed basement ceilings?
Painting the exposed ceiling one color will give it a nice, cohesive look. A white ceiling color on the ceiling will brighten the room and give it a larger appearance.
Black ceiling paint makes a room feel more grounded and hides imperfections. The best ceiling color varies depending on the characteristics of the room and the goals of the homeowner.
How much does it cost to paint a basement ceiling?
The cost of this DIY project will vary based on the size of the basement. You will need to purchase paint and supplies and either rent or buy a paint sprayer.
What do you do about parts of the ceiling that the paint sprayer can’t reach?
After I sprayed the ceiling, I went back and used a handheld paintbrush to cover any missed areas. There are definitely imperfections with the paint coverage, but they are not noticeable once the can lights are on.
Nihar
Friday 15th of March 2024
We have nails sticking out from the floor above it. Did you have those? I heard on another video that they added insulation boards between joists before painting. That can potentially hide the nIls.
lindseymahoney
Monday 18th of March 2024
Yes, we sprayed right over the nails. Adding insulation will help with the sound barrier for sure. We may do something like that in the future because you can hear whats going on in the basement when you are directly above it.
Jill
Thursday 4th of January 2024
Amazing! We're looking at doing this too but my husband is concerned about deciphering which pipe is what after painted. Did you have a system or anyway to organize and tell what goes to what easily in case any wires or pipes need fixing
lindseymahoney
Friday 5th of January 2024
It is pretty easy to decipher which is which, especially if we follow it across the ceiling, we can usually figure out what it is for. Maybe make a little map to reference before painting it so you know what each one goes to.
Jen
Monday 1st of May 2023
Two questions for you :
1. Do you find the black made your basement look smaller? 2. How is for dust and cobwebs?
I am really torn between black or white! We will be putting a black rubber floor for our gym on one side and the other side will be a light gray carpet.
lindseymahoney
Monday 1st of May 2023
Hey Jen, The black does not make our basement feel smaller at all. Because the can lights shine light from the bottom of the rafter, the black ceiling kind of just disappears. I have never noticed a crazy amount of cobwebs or dust on the ceiling either.
I hope this helps!
Jeff
Thursday 23rd of March 2023
Does your local building code not require enclosing the wires along the ceiling in a conduit or have them behind drywall in a finished basement?
lindseymahoney
Sunday 26th of March 2023
It isn't technically a finished basement so I think it is ok.
Sarah
Friday 17th of February 2023
Hello! We are currently working on prepping our basement to tackle this same project. I think prepping the basement is going to take longer than actually painting it haha. Wondering what you did on the outside walls where the drywall meets to top and there is insulation there. Did you spray the insulation? Did you have to cover it up with anything? Thank you so much for sharing your process!
lindseymahoney
Monday 20th of February 2023
Hi Sarah,
We did not add insulation where we installed the walls and added drywall since it is just a storage room behind there. I sprayed the ceiling black and we added a small trim piece at the top of the drywall on the "living room" side of the basement. The side of the basement with the workout area has pipes hanging down and we left the drywall edge unfinished.The exerior walls are concrete.