It’s a new year! Perhaps you’ve had a growing to-do list of home improvements, or maybe you looked up recently and noticed your ceilings aren’t looking their best. Regardless of your unique situation, updating your home’s ceilings is a simple and effective home improvement. Painting your ceiling yourself may seem like a daunting task, and if it’s not done properly, you’ll end up doubling your work by having to re-do it. If you arm yourself with the right tools and follow these tips, you’ll be in good shape:
Conduct a survey. As with any home improvement, it’s important to first assess the ceiling to find out measurements, height, and most importantly, the type of surface. If you have textured ceilings, different tools will be required to complete the job. Once you have all of this information, you can invest your time in gathering supplies.
Purchase the right materials. One of the most important components of any paint job are the brushes, rollers, and paint that you use. A paint roller with an extendable handle is highly recommended for ceiling painting, as you won’t be able to avoid using a ladder or scaffolding. For textured ceilings, a heavy-duty roller will be necessary in order to paint over any uneven surfaces.
Put time into preparation. Remove as much furniture from the room as you can and cover whatever is left with protective tarps or plastic. Also, make sure no one (such as children or pets) will be able to enter the room at any time during this process and take off your jewelry to avoid damage. Prior to applying the first coat of paint, you’ll need to prime the ceiling. This will ensure the color you chose for your ceiling adheres evenly and properly. Before starting the actual painting, take a paintbrush and apply a three-inch wide strip around the entire perimeter, typically directly where the wall meets the ceiling. This will help you apply a more even coat of paint from edge to edge.
Start painting. Once you’ve completed all of your prep, it’s time to begin the actual painting. Apply the paint in small areas at a time, usually patches of about three or four square feet. To fill in the rest of the ceiling, use zig-zag patterns with your roller, creating M’s or W’s for best coverage.
Within a few hours, your ceiling will dry and you can determine whether another coat is necessary. If you simply don’t have the time or patience to paint your ceiling yourself, then hire a professional painter like your local Minneapolis and Edina painters.
