Can acoustic ceilings be painted?

Acoustic ceilings can be repainted, but painting will cause the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) to decrease because the paint clogs the pores or surfaces used by the material to absorb sound energy. The extent of the reduction depends on the type of paint, paint film thickness, and number of coats. If you require an acoustic ceiling in a specific color without significantly compromising performance, the most recommended approach is to choose the desired shade during the manufacturing or installation stage, such as the Seamless Acoustics system with Acoustics ZIVANA boards by Trandar, which support custom color selection from the start rather than painting over them later.

Why does paint affect the sound absorption coefficient?

The working principle of an acoustic ceiling is to allow sound waves to penetrate the material through specially designed pores or surfaces. Sound energy is then converted into a small amount of heat as it travels through the internal fibrous or porous structure, instead of reflecting back like typical hard surfaces.

When painting over the material's surface—especially with thick-film paints like oil-based paints—the thick paint film clogs the pores or blocks the entry points for sound waves trying to penetrate the material. As a result, more sound waves reflect back instead of being absorbed, causing the factory-rated NRC value to drop in proportion to the thickness of the applied paint film.

Factors determining how much the NRC value will decrease

• Paint Type Thin water-based paints that are highly permeable have less impact than oil-based paints or thick film-forming paints.

• Application Method Applying a thin coat using a spray method has less impact than using a paint roller.

• Number of Coats Applying multiple coats for a solid, beautiful finish will correspondingly clog more pores.

• Base Material Type Materials with very fine pores may be clogged more easily than those with a coarser open structure.

Generally, if overpainting is truly necessary, choose a thin paint specifically designated for acoustic materials and spray the thinnest possible coat to minimize the impact on the NRC rating.

The best approach is to choose the color at the source, rather than painting over it later.

Because post-installation painting always impacts sound absorption performance, no matter how careful one is. The recommended approach for projects requiring custom-colored acoustic ceilings is to select the color shade during the manufacturing or ordering stage. This allows manufacturers to control both the color shade and the sound-absorbing surface structure to work together in harmony without sacrificing performance later on.

Trandar Acoustics Ceilings and Color Options

Trandar Acoustics offers multiple acoustic ceiling lines designed with custom colors and textures available right from the manufacturing stage. Especially the Seamless Acoustics Solution series, NanoGain allows for complete freedom in selecting textures and color shades during production. This achieves the desired design while maintaining the designed acoustic absorption performance, making it ideal for projects requiring seamless ceilings in specific color tones, such as hotel lobbies or design-focused spaces. Alternatively, Trandar ZIVANA panels can be painted without losing any acoustic performance, enabling versatile and unique designs.

In cases where ceilings have already been installed and repainting is truly necessary, the Trandar Acoustics team can also provide recommendations on paint types and application methods that have the least impact on NRC values.

If you are planning to choose acoustic ceiling colors for your project, whether you want to know which Trandar product line offers your desired color shade or consult on the impact on sound absorption, feel free to chat with the Trandar Acoustics team.