How to Paint a Ceiling
Whether your home is due for a touch-up, or you’re customizing the newly bought home of your dreams, painting is likely to be on the list of things to do. While painting walls and trim may be an easily self-taught process, painting a ceiling can become a little tricky - so we’re here to walk you through how to make the best out of your painting process.
How to prepare before painting your ceiling
Preparing for your painting session is just as important as the painting process itself. Making sure that your canvas is prepped and the surrounding area is taken care of will not only minimize stress, but also cut down on damages and mishaps along the way. Let's go through the basics of the prep work needed before painting your ceiling.
Remove or cover furniture
If you don't want your furniture covered in drops of paint, we highly suggest removing all furniture from the area being painted. Not only does this mitigate any spills or unwanted accidents, it also allows for more mobility around the room, keeping all areas of your ceiling accessible. If removing furniture is not an option or too cumbersome for the painting project, make sure to cover whatever is left so that no stains occur.
Lay down drop cloths for the floor
Similar to covering your furniture, it is important to lay down drop cloths for the floor. This ensures that the paint being applied above doesn't ruin the flooring below. Whether carpet or hardwood flooring, falling paint can leave a permanent mark on anything it comes in contact with.
Tape off your walls
When painting our walls we know to tape off the outlets and trim that may surround the area being painted - similarly, the tops of your walls and light fixtures should be outlined with masking tape when painting your ceiling. This helps in avoiding any unintentional drips and any bleeding that may occur from the excess paint, giving you fine, crisp, lines and corners.
Paint your ceiling, step-by-step
Now that we have walked through how to prepare for your painting session, let’s walk through the steps to take to make sure your painting project comes out perfectly.
Apply primer and cut your corners first
Depending on your wall type, you will need to choose between an oil based primer or a latex based primer.
Oil primers are said to be considered the industry standard primer by many companies. Oil based primers are versatile and work well on multiple surfaces, as well as with various types of paint. Oil based primers are also known for their ability to cover up stains, discolorations, and existing paint jobs to create a more seamless paint job with your new choice of color.
Latex based primers work as a good general overall primer. Latex primers have a water base which makes it versatile and fast-drying. In addition, this type of primer is beneficial in smoothing out bumps and imperfections in the surface of the ceiling you are painting.
Once a primer has been selected, applied, and dried, it is important to start your painting project by cutting all corners first. Cutting corners simply means that the hardest part of the paint job is done first: painting the around the edges, trim, and fixtures first.
Use a paint roller with ceiling paint
When it comes to painting your ceiling, your tools are an important part of a successful paint job. First and foremost, using a roller brush is going to result in a more seamless coat on your ceiling over using a standard paint brush for this job. The roller not only provides a smoother coat, but also assists in a less strenuous way to reach and paint your ceiling - cutting down on time and effort overall due to the extension pole.
Apply a second coat after the first dries
Similar to any other room painting job, it is important to apply at least two layers of paint on your ceiling. Applying two coats assures that the entire paint job is even and that there are no areas of the former paint or material showing through. Even when using reliable brands like Benjamin Moore, two coats is a must.
Additional tips for painting your ceiling
We just went over the fundamentals of a successful paint job, but there are other tips and tricks to make sure that you do your best work.
Consider your colors
Be aware of your paint color! Take some time and look into the benefits and drawbacks from painting your ceiling the same color as your walls. Alternatively, looking into color theory or even committing to just painting your ceiling 2 shades darker than your wall can create a more unique and sophisticated feel.
Use caution with textured ceilings
It may be easy to assume the textured ceilings – popcorn textured – are handled the same way as a smooth ceiling, but this would be incorrect. It is very important to be cautious when painting textured ceilings as using the wrong equipment, like a roller brush, can cause damage to the ceiling. The most common issue with incorrectly painting a textured ceiling is the loss of the texture itself. When painting, the popcorn texture can stick to a roller brush and detach from the ceiling itself due to the moisture of the paint and the subsequent suction created by the brush.
Have vaulted ceilings? Consider hiring a professional
Vaulted ceilings can be dangerous due to their height. While it may be possible to tackle this project on your own, it is best to consider a professional to take care of the process for you.
Hire Old Crow Painting for your ceiling painting project!
Here at Old Crow, we value our customers and the craftsmanship of painting. We aim to preserve the life and history of your home while also fulfilling your vision. Contact us today for a free estimate!