There’s always some hard-to-reach areas when painting your interior. And, one of the most troublesome hard-to-reach spots tends to be the ceiling, especially for us vertically challenged individuals.
Below, you’ll find our top tips for getting that ceiling painted as quickly, efficiently, and cleanly as possible – leaving you with a fresh coat of paint.
1. Prepping The Room
Per usual, the first task on your list is to prep the room for painting. Now, if you were already painting a room, you may have already done this step. But, just to be sure, here’s a quick refresher.
First, make sure that anything that can be removed from the room is removed. By doing this, you’re ensuring that none of your furniture or belongings get splattered on. Drop cloths are a great option for furniture or other bulky items that cannot be moved safely.
Then, you will want to use an additional cloth to cover the floor. While we try not to let drops of paint fall from the ceiling during the job, accidents do happen – so prepare accordingly.
Finally, it’s important to place painter’s tape at the top of your walls. This will prevent any paint from getting onto your walls, especially if you’re only painting the ceiling. The same technique can be applied to light fixtures on the ceiling.
And remember, there’s no reason to get hurt over a painting project. Be sure to ask for help when moving large or heavy items.
2. Choosing The Right Tools
Painting your ceiling is a special job. Therefore, it requires some specific tools.
Many of us require “assistance” when it comes to reaching the ceiling. Purchasing a sturdy step ladder usually does the trick. While you can use an extended roller, you will still most likely need a step ladder to touch up certain spots or corners with precision.
Also, many ceilings have texture, commonly called popcorn ceilings. If you have popcorn ceilings in your home, you will need a thicker paint roller to properly paint over the textures.
Additional items include an angled brush and your standard painting equipment, such as your rollers, protective wear, buckets, and of course, paint.
3. Get Painting!
Finally, it’s time to paint! First, you’ll want to make sure to lay latex primer across your ceiling. This will help prevent stains and might make it possible to finish the job with one coat (no promises though).
After your primer has completely dried, it’s time to begin the actual painting. It’s typically recommended to start in a corner and expand using overlapping rows. You also want to slightly vary the direction of your rolls, as straight lines can leave marks on your finished product.
Once you have painted the entire ceiling, it’s up to you to judge whether or not a second coat is necessary. If not, you’re done! Time to clean up.
…Or Contact Painting Professionals
Okay, we understand that any paint job can be a lot. And, with everyone’s busy schedules, there’s not always time or mental bandwidth to gather the equipment and follow all the steps.So if you feel like painting that old ceiling just too much for you at the moment, don’t fret! Just contact our offices here at All-Pro Painters, and our team will get the job done lickety-split!