The best way to paint a ceiling is to use ceiling paint and primer in one. Start to brush paint along the edge of the ceiling, tackling one section at a time. This might be the most important fix in this entire article. To repair existing damage and protect your furniture, floors, fixtures and trim, read how to Prep for Paint. Semi gloss on a smooth ceiling with a lot of natural light will show every imperfection and lap mark, but if thats what your customer wants... rolling the long way will have less laps, you could second coats the opposite direction. Prep the Ceiling and Room for Painting This helps ensure a perfectly smooth paint job and increases paint bonding. The easiest way to do this is with a sanding pole. Taping off the ceiling doesn't work either. A baseball cap is essential, and safety glasses let you watch your work without squinting. 5 professional painting tips to help you paint your ceilings like a professional painter and very fast. Using an unloaded roller begin in the top left corner of your ceiling and gently pull towards you in a straight line with no pressure. When decorating a room, painting the ceiling should ideally be the first job you do, so the paint does not drip onto other surfaces. DIY painting tips. Let the paint dry after rolling the ceiling, then re-roll it in the perpendicular direction. Don’t put off giving your ceiling a fresh coat of paint, instead use the easy way to paint a ceiling! Wait until the ceiling paint has dried before you start painting the walls as to cut in you will need to apply tape to the ceiling. The Best Way to Paint a Ceiling What's the best way to paint a ceiling? A lightness of touch will prevent new brush strokes from forming. Don't go back and forth with the roller, as this is likely to pull the texture from the ceiling. Consider the color options. User a roller to prime the ceiling with a coat of latex paint primer, especially if your ceiling has stains. The best way to paint a ceiling is to use a paint roller and work in grid-like sections of 3 square feet to 5 square feet each. To get started you should paint the ceiling first to avoid getting paint … First, work in sections about 5 or 6 ft. square. Pour some paint into a bucket. Don't worry if your coverage is not … Spackle any small holes or tiny cracks in the ceiling (this is an optional step that requires about two more hours to your work time to let the spackle dry so you can sand smooth). If you have a closet or other inconspicuous area, do a test by rolling on some paint to see what happens. Roll the Ceiling. Start painting away from one corner in as straight of a line as you can until the ceiling is completely covered in paint. Taping the walls should not be necessary. When you paint your ceiling a lighter color, it can make the walls of … The solution? If the ceiling needs another coat of paint, wait for the first coat to dry completely. For extremely high ceilings, such as cathedral ceilings, consider hiring a professional. Use the paint brush start cutting-in the ceiling. Put on safety glasses, a face mask and a hat to keep paint from dripping onto your head. Painting a ceiling is much easier if you use … A lot depends on the quality of the texturing job. Cutting in before you roll allows you to cover most of the brush marks with the roller. Painting a popcorn ceiling with a roller is something that I strongly discourage, as the roller will often cause bits and pieces of the ceiling to fall off. The blade scrapes away the texture and leaves a small groove in the ceiling. Proper preparation ensures the best ceiling paint results. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. I often use the pad to paint the area right under the ceiling… It also makes it easier to paint in general because it gives you more leverage when painting. When you roll the paint on with your roller, it is important that you are rolling the paint on in more than one direction to get good coverage. For this reasons, always start a redecoration project by painting the ceiling. You can't cover large areas like ceilings, extra-tall walls or stairwells in single, continuous strokes, so the best way to minimize lap marks on these areas is to feather out the paint along the edges that you can't keep wet. If the walls are going to be painted as well, we will also paint an inch down on the wall where it meets the ceiling. Paint the wall using either a W or M technique, starting a roller’s width out from the edge of the wall, and rolling from mid-height towards the ceiling, and then down towards the skirting. Talk to our friendly, helpful staff at your local Homebase store - we'll be happy to discuss how much paint you'll need for your next decorating project. If you’re only painting a room’s ceiling, mask off the tops of the walls or the crown molding with 2-inch painter's tape to keep roller marks off the walls. While painting my daughters’ ceiling, I picked up a few other techniques that really helped speed up the process of painting the ceiling. To paint around a ceiling fixture, make sure you cover up light fixtures and secure painter's tape around the edge of the fixture's base. Hold the brush at 90 degrees to the ceiling and paint a straight line, cutting into the corner between the walls and the ceiling. Use Rustoleum Ultra Cover paint in Gloss and a 1 -1/2″angled paint brush to paint the base/motor cover. Remove any painter’s tape when the paint is dry to the touch. For textured ceilings, do a test roll to make sure the material doesn't fall off. To paint the second coat, follow the same process as above. ", Step 5: Repeat this action and slightly overlap your last movement so your roller rubs away the line created by the previous stroke. Oil-based primers work best for water stains while shellac-based primers are more effective against smoke or nicotine stains. The ceiling is considered the “fifth wall” of your room, so when painting a ceiling, apply the same care you would bring to any other paint job. Follow these painting tips when learning how to paint a ceiling. Slightly vary the direction of your rolling, as a perfectly straight roll may show overlap marks. Prime the Ceiling and Cut the Corners Proper preparation ensures the best ceiling paint results. You can buy spray cans of pigmented shellac, but usually it's easier to brush it on. Continue Painting. Painting Your Ceiling Cut in along the corners with an angled brush if you’re not using tape. Run a line of caulk along the opening in between the two strips of tape. It might be hard to believe, but I am not a fan of painting! You’ve successfully conquered the best way to paint a ceiling. This produces a cross-hatch pattern that virtually eliminates streaking and lap marks. It’s the best way to touch up an already-painted room. If you're painting over a ceiling that's yellow from smoke, roll a coat of shellac over the entire ceiling before painting with latex. It’s important to get your tools prepped and ready in your space before you start painting. ". To get started you should paint the ceiling first to avoid getting paint on the walls or woodwork. Just roll the paint on and leave it. Set up a small step ladder that allows you to safely reach the ceiling. When decorating a room, painting the ceiling should ideally be the first job you do, so the paint does not drip onto other surfaces. Ceiling Painting Tips Tape drop cloths to baseboards to ensure they stay in place. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. In the case of painting walls and ceiling together, start with the ceiling and work your way down. This means painting the cornices and a section of the ceiling close to the cornices, where the roller won’t reach. If you opted to paint your ceiling a brighter color or shade of white that needs to stand out, a second coat may be needed. Free delivery on over one million online items. But cover the stain with a coat of stain-blocking primer and your troubles are over. Then flexible ceiling paint is a top option. Continue painting until you have covered the entire ceiling. Step on to your ladder and start with the corners first. To clean a ceiling from a water-emulsion paint by means of a metal brush it is necessary extremely accurately not to "remove" the basic covering Each of the above methods requires utmost care. Continue until the section is done. Apply the second coat in one direction, painting quickly until the entire surface is covered. Tip: If you’re painting the entire room, start with the ceiling. By “cut the ceiling in” we mean painting along the perimeter of the ceiling where it meets the walls. To repair existing damage and protect your furniture, floors, fixtures and trim, read how to Prep for Paint.Wear safety glasses, use cleaning gloves and position your drop cloths before painting.. If the texture loosens, painting over the larger ceiling is risky. Recommended supplies: Extension Pole #3 Use a paint brush extender. 6. Prep the Ceiling . Also known as crack-free ceiling paint, flexible ceiling paint will stretch over any hairline cracks present in the ceiling’s plaster. Start by using a primer to help the paint bond to the metal more firmly. Watch our how-to video for step-by-step guidance on how to paint a ceiling the right way–and get amazing results you’ll love. We always use an extending pole when painting walls. Step 8, 9pm: Wow, look at that fresh new paint job! If the house or surface you're painting was built before 1978, see EPA's renovation, repair and painting program for guidelines. You may not want to paint your ceiling yellow, but don't be afraid to deviate from plain old white. Just think how good your ceiling will look after a second coat. For smooth ceilings, use a low nap roller. If the texture has been painted over already, it's probably safe to paint again. A brush with a metal bristle is guaranteed to remove the paint, but there is also a small nuance: with excessive intensity, not only the "extra" paint will come off, but also the main coating. Select a high quality paintbrush that is the same width as the suspended ceiling grids. Find out the easiest way to DIY prime and paint a kitchen or bedroom ceiling and its edges white or another color. Painting a ceiling isn't much different from painting a wall. Start by painting the ceiling edges. This helps keep edges wet and allows you to see your progress to ensure an even coat. Check our article on cleaning your paint brushes and rollers to keep your tools in top condition. If the walls are going to be painted as well, we will also paint an inch down on the wall where it meets the ceiling. Let the paint dry and apply a second coat if the coverage seems uneven. Place painters tape on the wall, about 1/8″ down from the ceiling. For the most effective protection, overlap the drop cloths by at least 12 inches. For a textured ceiling, use a roller with 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch nap. Although you might be in a hurry to get the job done, it’s crucial to wait until the first coat is completely dry, in order to avoid making a mess of it. TIP: If a second coat is needed then apply paint in a perpendicular direction. When you’re painting a ceiling with a roller, keep the end of the roller facing the side of the surface that you have already cut in. Take that and your paint brush and cut in the edge of the ceiling all the way around the room. You want to get as much paint on the ceiling as you can in the shortest amount of time possible while minimizing spatters. When the job is complete. Place the hardware in plastic bags and set aside. Wear safety glasses, use cleaning gloves and position your drop cloths before painting. Now when you cut in along the top of the wall, the paintbrush bristles will slide into the groove, giving you a crisp paint line without getting paint on the ceiling. Newly painted walls will only exaggerate a ceiling which is faded or marked, but it is difficult to paint a ceiling after the walls have been finished. Use Rustoleum Ultra Cover paint in Gloss and a 1 -1/2″angled paint brush to paint the base/motor cover. To do this, you need the best roller cover you can buy. Hold the paint scraper at about a 30-degree angle from the ceiling, then push it toward the loose paint. Rolling paint on the ceiling showers you with a fine mist. 7. And if you're worried about the cost, keep in mind that lambswool covers are easy to clean and can last a long time if you take good care of them. Check out other awesome paint rolling tools in the video below. Cut the ceiling in all the way around the room. Roll Paint in Several Directions. This crisscrossing paint application sharply reduces (if not eliminates) lap marks. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), EPA's renovation, repair and painting program, Step 1: Knock off the texture at the edge with a putty knife. 6. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Get tips on the easiest way to DIY repaint a stripple surface and costs for hiring a painter. This might be the most important fix in this entire article. The best choice is a 1/2-in.-nap lambswool cover. 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