Advice On How To Paint Your Ceiling™

When homeowners decide to paint the ceilings in their home, it is often red lead paint viewed as a very daunting task. But with the proper tools, techniques and a little hard work most people can complete this task. First of all, if you have a popcorn or textured ceiling, it maybe difficult or even impossible to use a brush and roller to paint this type of ceiling. Oftentimes the texture on the ceiling will begin to come off if when you attempt to roll paint on to the ceiling. If you have a textured ceiling, you will probably need to use an airless sprayer to paint it. If you do not know how to use an airless sprayer then I would suggest hiring a professional painter to complete the job. Fortunately most ceilings today do not have texture on them but are smooth, flat ceilings. The following steps are recommended for painting a smooth ceiling which has no texture. If you are going to undertake this project then you need to invest in a good paint roller, roller extension, brush and a quality ceiling paint and primer. Since you are painting a smooth ceiling, your paint roller should be a short nap roller, preferably a lamb skin because this will give you the best results. First of all you will want to prepare the room that the ceiling is in before you begin painting. To do this you should move all of your furniture into the center of the room, making sure to leave yourself enough room on the edges that you will be able to place a step ladder when you start to cut out the ceiling with your ceiling paint. Cover all of your furniture with new plastic or paper cover. Then place drop cloths on any exposed flooring. Next, you should determine if you need to prime the ceiling first before you paint it. If there are water stains, smoke damage or other discolorations on your ceiling then you will need to apply a coat of oil based primer. You should apply a blocking primer to cover up the stains prior to painting. If you only have one or two small stains, then you can spot prime those areas without priming the entire ceiling. You can even buy primer in a spray can which will be much more convenient and less messy. After you have completed any priming you can now begin to paint your ceiling. Start by cutting in your ceiling with your ceiling paint where the ceiling meets the wall. Most ceilings have a thin channel where the wall and the ceiling meet. This was formed when the ceiling was originally sanded and can be very helpful when you are cutting in your ceiling paint. If you have crown moulding, then cut in along the edge of your crown moulding. After the ceiling has been cut in you can now use the roller to paint the remainder. To begin rolling your ceiling, apply the paint in small sections using light pressure. Make sure that your roller is fully covered in paint but is not over saturated. Apply the paint evenly to the remainder of your ceiling. Painting your ceiling will give most rooms a fresh, clean look. Following these guidelines should give you beautiful finish that will last for years. The author is the owner of Smoky Mountain Painting in Pigeon Forge,Tennessee and has over thirty years experience as a painting contractor.