I am trying to match the color on the ceiling to fix a small area that had leaked water years ago. I know that I should repaint the whole ceiling, but the person living there says that if I paint anything it will kill them That is another story completely.

I need to mix white paint or possibly joint compound (ceiling is swirled) with some tinting to try to get close to the color. I went to several stores and got samples, but non match the color. I know that guns are used to come up with paint formulas to match colors, but they are very expensive.

I just need to tint slightly to match the 12 year aging look. It is an area about 14 inches by 2 inches.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I had good luck spraying Kilz (aerosol rattle can) on dark spots of my house that I offered for sale. It matched the 10 year old ceiling white really well and you can feather it out.

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Luke 22:36

By the time you get the color exactly correct you'd save time painting the whole ceiling. Or just leave it alone-I mean who actually looks up at the ceiling anyway?????

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Forum consigliere

Jaykellogg has a point. If you fix the source of the spot and seal the stain, it may even match. If it won't match, paint the small area the original ceiling color. You fixed it to all codes I know of, and their lifestyle will blend it in, within a year or two. My youngest son went to an art collage. They trained him to properly match any color, it can be done; but that color won't age the same as the rest of the ceiling anyway and will show in a year or so.
As far as the textured ceiling goes, Drywall Joint Compound, or Combination Joint Compound thinned with small!! amounts of water is mostly what the pros use. DO NOT USE "Top Coat" it is way too yellow and way too soft. I put on a layer about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick then texture to blend in. Use an old brush (that was soaked for hours then shaken or spun dry, or notched tooth mastic trowel, or a funky roller, I've matched the rosettes with my wetted thumb. You can practice on scraps of drywall. When I did this for money, every spring I was in big demand, because I was better that most "Painters" or textured ceiling guys (they do new work, not repairs). Ivan

I'm with the Kilz in a spray can theory. The trick is not to get too much on it as Kilz will leave a shiny spot if put on too thick. Get about two or three feet away from the area when you spray and just kind of fog it on.

What color matching gun are you talking about? I've been matching colors for 39 years, 28 for the same manufacturer. Rookies and wannabes match a color by putting it on a computer, whatever it comes up with is what you get. When I'm in practice I can look at a color and get pretty darn close on the first shot. Knowledge and experience is what makes it a touch up quality match a few hits later.

A paint store that caters to professional painters should be able to do a touch up quality match. The bigger the sample the better and gallons are far easier to do matches with than quarts. By the way I have touch ups in my house that I did ten tears ago and you still can't find them, touching up is an art too.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I got some of the Kilz spray on. I started to shoot it and it came out in big globs and fell directly to the floor.
I need to take it back and get another one that works, I will try it in the parking lot this time before I leave the store area.
I like the idea on the joint compound also, if the Kilz does not fix it then on with the compound.
I really appreciate all of the information

The gun I was referring to is used mostly on car finishes, but can be used on any painted surface. I took a car in one time to get paint, They shot it in several areas. They used the information to mix the paint for me. It turned out perfect.

If it is a water stain try plain old bleach....take a spray bottle and lightly spray it....it will return to original color and match.

Be sure you have eye protection BEFORE you try this.