Painting Ceiling Like A Pro

By Author: Aaron Webber
Total Articles: 26
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There are many hues available, from a warm-toned white to whites with more of a cool blue. Be sure the hue compliments the color of your walls and décor by bringing paint chips or color swatches with you when choosing your ceiling color. Here are some guidelines to follow the next time you are tempted to freshen up a room with a new ceiling color. These tips will help you cleanup faster and you might find you are having fun at the same time.

Tools
When painting a ceiling, be sure to purchase a paint roller with an extension handle. It's much easier and less tiring to paint a ceiling while standing on the floor rather than on a ladder. When painting a textured ceiling, be sure to use a thick-nap roller to ensure that you get full coverage over the bumps and irregularities in the textured surface. For a smooth drywall ceiling, you can use a roller with a smooth or shorter nap. Painting a ceiling may seem overwhelming if you've never done it before. And often it's hard to see what you're doing since you may be putting white paint over existing white paint, but Home-improvement expert James Young shows us some tricks ...
... from the pros.

Preparing the ceiling and the room
First remove any curtains, fixtures and any light furniture. If possible, also remove all heavy furnishings from the room, if it's not possible, place them in the middle of the room and cover with dustsheets. Remove any loose floor coverings, use dustsheets to protect any non-removable floor covering from paint splashes and dust. Wash down the wall with sugarsoap or a suitable detergent to remove all dust and debris. Inspect the ceiling for cracks, holes and any loose plaster. For small cracks use a suitable fine filler, for larger cracks and holes use a stronger more suitable filler (see manufacturer's instructions). When filling try and leave a nice smooth finish, it is better to leave the filled area slightly proud of the surrounding area and then sand down with a fine sandpaper until flush.

Cut in the Ceiling
This is the first step to any painting job. Cutting in refers to painting the areas that cannot be reached by a roller. Where walls meet ceiling can some times be uneven so while taping (use painters tape) will make some of us more comfortable, do not be alarmed when you pull off that tape and find an uneven painted edge. Choosing the same sight line all around the room and sticking to that plan will lessen the visual affect of a rough meeting of ceiling and wall.

Use a ladder when accomplishing this task. Pour paint into a much smaller, easily handled container. Paint stores usually include these as part of their inventory of supplies, some may give them away and others may charge a minimal price for them. Don't overfill the container, as they can be more difficult to handle and can slip easily out of your hands and on to the floor or wall. Use a three-inch brush to apply your cut in.

Paint the Ceiling
While the cut-in line is still wet, begin painting the ceiling with the roller. This is done while the the cut-in line is still wet to prevent a visible line. The proper technique for painting with a roller is as follows:

* Dip the roller in the deep portion of the paint tray.
* Roll it back and forth in the shallow end of the tray to squeeze out excess paint and ensure even coverage on the roller.
* Use the roller to make a zigzag pattern on the ceiling.
* Go over the zigzag pattern with straight strokes to even out the paint.
* Once the paint has dried, you may want to go back and apply a second coat, starting with the cut-in line and finishing with the roller.

If your room is large, you will not need to wait for the paint to dry to start your second coat; however, do make certain the first coat is dry so you avoid flaws. Usually only two coats are needed, but if there are stains or other imperfections in the surface you are covering, you may want to see how those dry and go over it again. Read more Interior Design Guide and Ideas