How To Paint Your Ceiling
While ceiling painting might sound like a potentially awkward job, you’re not alone if you’re hesitant to do it. However, before hiring a professional painter, why not learn about how not-so strenuous painting your ceiling is?
The San Antonio based house painters here at Texas Professional Painting are here to help homeowners paint their ceilings effectively. To do so, they have provided everything homeowners need to know if they decide to take on such a job.
How To Begin Painting Your Ceiling
A beginner-level task, painting the ceiling takes about one hour depending on the area you are painting, costing roughly $40-65 for every 200 square feet. However, the prep work involved will extend your total job time.
What makes ceiling painting simple is that, in most cases, you will be repainting the same color, most likely white. As it hides imperfections, bounces and reflects light and makes rooms look larger, white is one of the most popular ceiling color choices. Though same-color jobs are easier than painting new colors, keep in mind that not all paints, even white paints, are the same shade.
Basic Tips On Painting Your Ceiling
Ceiling paint is thicker and stickier than wall paint, so it's better at eliminating drips. Use a roller cover with a 3/8-inch nap for smooth painting and a thicker nap for textured painting. Make sure your nap roller cover and extension pole has the right size and length, respectively, and you’ll be good to go.
During the process of painting the interior of your house, the wrong paint will inevitably get on the wrong surface. Before painting the ceiling, protect your now-dry walls by using painter’s tape or running plastic sheets around the room. Once you understand the process, you’ll realize you don’t need to be a professional painter to paint your ceiling.
Materials And Equipment/Tools
- Angled paintbrush/paint edging tool
- Drop cloth
- Extension pole
- Flat, white ceiling paint
- Fine/medium-grit sandpaper
- Inch nap paint roller cover(s)
- Interior stain-blocking primer
- Ladder/step ladder
- Latex/nitrile gloves
- Paint can pour spout
- Paint roller frame
- Painter’s tape/Plastic sheeting
- Paint tray/liner(s)
- Putty knife
- Wood paint stirring stick
- Spackle compound
- Vacuum
Interior Painting Preparation
The Room
While they’re good for ceiling coverage and splatter less than paint sprays, paint rollers can produce a mist of droplets that lands on surfaces. For this reason, remove whatever furniture you can and cover any remaining furniture with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Additionally, cover the floors with down paper or canvas drop cloths.
Speaking of removing furniture, turn off power to the room and remove light fixtures and smoke detectors. Solid electrical box faceplates can be painted over, however, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors cannot.
If you decide to paint the ceiling second, hang plastic sheets around the room and over the windows and doors to protect them. Additionally, put protective painter’s tape over ceiling trim and molding.
Ceiling And Supplies Preparation
To keep the primer and paint sticking to the surface, basically defying gravity, remove any dust by vacuuming the ceiling. If you want, spackle any small holes or cracks. This however, adds two hours of work, as you will have to let the spackle dry and sand it.
Set up the paint liner in the paint tray and set it just outside of the room you’re painting to avoid tripping. Pour the primer into the tray liner using the can spout and put a new roller cover on the roller frame.
After dipping it into the primer or paint, prepare to put your roller on the extension pole. To minimize the pole’s weight, and muscle strain, use the shortest possible extension.
Prime And Paint!
Use an angled brush or paint edging tool for priming and painting the ceiling. When priming, cut in the edges of the ceiling, roll on the primer and let it dry. Use a stain-blocking primer to prepare the ceiling’s surface for paint, hide flaws, cover dinginess and prevent staining.
Paint the edge of the ceiling with a 2-3 inch wide band, then change the roller pad on the roller frame. Add a fresh liner to the paint tray, pour paint into the tray and fill the roller.
To keep track of what you’ve already covered, paint the ceiling in 3-foot by 3-foot sections. Overlap the wet edges of the last section when starting a new one to effectively blend them and prevent permanent roller marks. If necessary, add a second coat of paint.
Get Ready To Paint Your Ceiling!
Now you know all you need to about ceiling and interior painting! Get the proper tools, paint and advice and get ready for this home project. If you need advice, or don’t think you can do this on your own, don’t worry! Contact Texas Professional Painting and have a professional painter come over and help you.
