Look up. Does your ceiling look dingy, dirty or damaged? Maybe it’s time to repaint. Painting your walls can clean up a room but nothing brightens up your entire home like clean, crisp ceilings. We compiled instructions on how to get started painting your ceilings.
Tools: First you need the proper tools. Just paintbrushes and paint aren’t going to cut it this time. Using a paint roller with an extension handle makes your job much faster and easier. But for those tough to reach places you should have a ladder and paint brush handy. If your ceiling is textured, as many are, you should supply yourself with a thick nap roller to ensure full coverage over bumps and irregularities.
Prep: Once you have the necessary tools to paint, you have to prep the room. Preparation for painting the ceiling is a little more extensive than prepping to paint the walls because of the drip factor. Laying drop cloths on your floor is important to catch any stray or dripping paint before it ruins your floors. St. Charles painters recommend removing all of the furniture from the room before starting. If that isn’t possible, lay the drop cloths or newspaper on your furniture to protect it. Priming your ceiling is just as important as priming your walls. It provides stain blockers and creates a smooth evenly colored surface for your paint to stick to. In addition to priming and covering, utilizing quick release painter’s tape on walls is important to keep your walls clean and paint free.
Cut Line: Before you begin painting the entire ceiling, start with a 2 to 3 inch strip where the ceiling meets the wall. It’s easiest to accomplish this with a paint brush on a ladder. This creates a “wall bumper” so when you are using the extended roller, you can focus on the middle of the room and not worry about bumping into the walls near the corners.
Paint: While the cut line is still wet, begin painting with the roller. By starting while it’s wet, you avoid the creation of a visible line on the ceiling. Paint in zigzags in small areas to cover the ceiling. Once the ceiling I covered, go over the zigzags with the roller in straight lines to even out the paint and create a clean finish.
Repainting your ceiling brightens, opens and cleans up any room in your home. Now, the next time you are laying on your bed staring up at the ceiling, you can be proud of a job well done.
