Informational Guides: Painting a Ceiling

Whether it's from years and years of build-up, a fireplace or from smoking, ceilings get dirty, period. When a ceiling looks dirty, it makes the rest of the room feel the same. Fortunately, a new coat of paint can easily brighten up the room and change the overall feel of a room. Plus, painting a ceiling is not a difficult task either.

Preparing to Paint a Ceiling

To start, you'll need to stop by your local home improvement store and get a few tools. This includes a smaller brush (preferably angled so you can work in the corners,) a paint roller extension handle and a roller. When choosing a roller, find a nap that will work with your type of ceiling. A smaller nap is fine for working with perfectly smooth ceilings, but a thicker nap will be necessary for a textured ceiling. Don't forget the drop cloths, primer and a paint in the color of your choice.

Next, remove as much furniture from the room as possible. Any furniture that cannot be moved should be covered with a drop cloth. The floors should also be covered with a drop cloth, as you are painting the ceiling and obviously there is no sure-fire way to guarantee the protection of anything below.

Nope, you're not ready to paint just yet. Once you've set up the room and gotten all your supplies, make sure to clean off the ceiling. No, this does not mean you need to take a rag and wipe it down. However, use a duster to remove any cobwebs in corners or around light fixtures and so forth. Otherwise they will get into the paint and look awful.

How to Paint a Ceiling

Okay, now you're ready. The first coat of paint should be your primer and ideally, look for a primer that has stain blocker, as this will be sure to cover any existing stains and help prevent future stains from occurring. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly as recommended by the manufacturer before applying the paint in your chosen color. (Remember, ceilings don't necessarily have to be white!)

When the primer is dry, you can apply the next coat of paint. Using your angled brush, create a 'cut-in' spot in one corner of the room. A cut-in is simply applying paint along the edges of the ceiling (or wall) and then starting to paint using the roller. This prevents any lines from occurring due to uneven drying or paint application.

A paint roller with an extendable arm will help prevent fatigue, as painting a ceiling can be a tiresome task. Be sure to use the cut-in method for going around the edges of the room.

Chances are, by the time you're finished your arms will ache and your back will hurt, but you'll have a beautiful, clean and fresh ceiling.

---
Source: Personal Experience