This is ironic if that's the right word. I was just reading a post over on paint talk about painting a basement ceiling black and this may interest Mr. Paint and Ric knows paint. I'm curious to see response.
They recommended using dryfall paint. I questioned this because I was always told dryfall needed at least 12' to work. They told me it wasn't recommended because of the drywall properties but because of the flatness(if that's a word) and hide ability especially in black. Your opinions please.
Hiya TS,
A couple of weeks ago, this same discussion came up 'bout painting basement ceilings black. I recommended the guy at least consider a black latex dryfall, if for no other reason than it is usually inexpensive - and as a reasonably apropos product since we weren't talking about a signature type job. In the same discussion, I also spoke of other options such as latex flat wall paints black (factory grind, not tinted), exterior flat latex house paints, exterior latex SC stain, and latex fence paint black...
I spoke of the distance necessary for product to fall as a powder AND I kind of alluded to the potential problems using such a product (as well as any of the other products mentioned) without necessary surface prep and priming. Then I told him what I would do if it were my house - which was to do everything a manufacturer recommends to not do...
Dryfalls are
not made for porous substrates. They are primarily intended for application on steel decking in commercial/industrial environments. Their primary purpose (white) is to maximize light reflection/illumination in environments not conducive to such co-operation...Black is typically used to hide things, and is commonly used in restaurants, convention centers, sports arenas, etc - those type of facilities where exposed ceilings are common, but owners don't necessarily want noticed.
Flat dryfalls usually do dry to a "dead" flat...unlike that of even wall paints. Wall paints usually have little bit of angular sheen - especially in black 'cause there's not a lot of built in filler pigments to absorb binder (necessary to render a flatter finish)...and dryfalls generally are somewhat high hiding products*, but nothing hides better than black, and since this is an exposed joist ceiling of multifaceted surfaces, would an angular sheen be an issue?...or even noticed?
* Dryfalls hide as much by excessive film build as they do by pigment structure. Since a common app of dryfall is on corrugated steel and bar joist, 35' off the floor, in a 400,000 square foot warehouse - painting contractors will always apply product at 1.5 to 2 times the thickness of a more conventional coating since running lifts and crews to apply a second coat would be financial suicide.
There is nothing magical about dryfall products.
Typical dryfall paints are not known for their structural integrity - and whatever integrity they do possess will be lessened by applying to a porous substrate. Dryfalls will always be considered a compromise system between appearance and performance, but that trade-off is generally understood and accepted by those in the commercial/industrial realm.