Tips on Painting Ceilings

October 14, 2008

Ceilings are often viewed as being one of the most difficult places in the home to paint. Some of the biggest problems is paint dripping, having a sore are and neck and having to balance on top of a ladder. Also there are so many types of ceilings – flat, textured, vaulted etc. So what are the best techniques when painting a ceiling?

Paint Selection – The right sort of a paint is essential as there are so many to choose from. The broadest categories of paint are oil and latex. Then there is the type of finish – high gloss and matt are the two main types.

But choosing paint for your ceiling can be more complex than that. Some paints are especially for particular types of ceilings such as texture coated and acoustic tile. Acoustic tiles will normally be found in home cinema rooms.

Textured/Popcorn Ceilings – Textured ceilings are a bit more tricky to deal with as using a brush or roller wont work. Instead you need to use a paint sprayer. The professionals make sprayers look easy but for a novice it can actually be quite difficult. You will need good ventilation and the correct consistency of paint. If the paint is at the wrong consistency then the sprayer will either clog up or spay out a watery paint.

Do You Need Primer? - If you are painting on a new surface then a primer is essential otherwise you would need a lot more top coats. The primer can help hide discolorations that can show through regular paint. Using a primer will also help give a good surface so that the layers of paint adhere; reducing drips.

How to Reduce Dripping Paint – If your paint is too thin there is the risk that itll splatter. Test a bit out on a vertical surface to see if the paint runs. If it does then it will more than likely drip when applied to the ceiling.

Dont move you’re your roller back and forth too quickly. If you go too fast this will increase the chance of splattering. For tall ceilings a roller with an extension pole will make your work much easier and prevent neck strain. Also, dont put too much paint on the roller.

If you have the pole extended out at a slight angle you will find this more comfortable and youll be able to avoid paint splattering all over you. Just ensure you dont have the pole extended too far out as it will feel a lot heavier to use.

For most of us, painting a ceiling shouldnt be too painful as using a roller is very easy and quick to use.

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