Refreshing suspended ceiling grids by spraying in place

What actually needs masking above and below

Light fittings, sprinkler heads, smoke detectors and any grille or diffuser set into the grid all need individual masking before spraying, since these fixtures cannot simply be sheeted over without affecting their function once the work is finished. The floor and any fixed furniture below also need protection from the fine overspray that inevitably drifts down from ceiling height.

• Light fittings and sensors masked or temporarily removed
• Sprinkler heads protected without obstructing their function
• Floor and furniture below sheeted against downward drift

Grid versus tile — deciding what gets sprayed

The metal grid sections generally take a spray finish well and come up looking new, while the tiles themselves depend on their material — mineral fibre tiles can absorb paint unevenly and change their acoustic or fire performance if coated with the wrong product, so tile coating needs checking against the tile's specification rather than assumed to be straightforward.

Working around a live office fit-out

In an occupied office, spraying a ceiling grid is usually done in sections out of hours or over a weekend, since access equipment and masking above desk height are disruptive to daily work even where odour is not a concern. Furniture is moved or sheeted in advance by agreement with the facilities team rather than on the day.

• Sections planned so desks are cleared with notice, not on the day
• Access towers positioned to avoid walkways during working hours
• Odour-controlled products specified where full evacuation is not planned

When replacement makes more sense than respraying

Where tiles are damaged, sagging, water-stained beyond a cosmetic mark, or the grid itself is corroded or misaligned, spraying simply delays a replacement that is needed anyway. Being clear about which category a ceiling falls into avoids spending on a respray that will not last.