If you're looking to add a fresh coat of paint to your ceiling, there are a few things you'll need to do in order to get the best results. First, you'll need to make sure that the surface is clean and free of any dust or debris. Next, you'll need to apply a primer to the ceiling in order to help the paint adhere better. Once the primer is dry, you can start painting the ceiling with your desired colour. Make sure to use a paint roller for best results, and to avoid any drips or runs. Once the paint is dry, you'll have a freshly painted ceiling that looks great!
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Roof leaks, overflowing sinks, and big spills can all leave ugly ceiling stains or dinginess that is impossible to conceal with plain old paint. But cover the stain with a coat of stain-blocking primer and your troubles are over. The traditional favourite is white pigmented shellac. You can buy shellac in spray cans (though there is a trick to using them), but the best way to work with it is by brushing it on because you often need to cover larger surfaces surrounding these stains or dinginess.
We suggest that you do not forget cleaning solution for your brush – we recommend either ammonia or denatured alcohols. These two popularly-recommended surface cleaners are particularly useful if you're painting over a ceiling that's yellow from smoke because it's possible that this will happen within the first minute or hour of application! Once brushed on, just wait approximately 2 hours before applying your new coat of paint!
Over time, and as the layers of paint build up, bumps and crud can get stuck to the ceiling. In order to match the look of a textured surface with paint, it's important to know that on untextured ceilings you should start with a quick once-over sanding with 100-grit drywall sanding paper. This helps ensure a perfectly smooth paint job and increases paint bonding. When this is done, wipe away any dust using a damp sponge.
Cutting in before rolling can save you some time. You can turn your brushes upside down and use them to apply paint along the upper edge of the ceiling. Now that they're full, carefully brush paint over a section of the ceiling at a time stopping about 10 feet into the room. Then roll up as much of that section as you can. This saves you time by allowing all sorts of cool things like leaving one end of your roller slightly wet and letting it blend into whatever came before making it look more seamless!
While there are exceptions, in general you'll get the best results with paint that is formulated specifically for a ceiling, as most paints are not created for such a purpose. You'll want paint that doesn't spatter easily and you can easily spread over your surface. It should have an extended “open” time (meaning it takes at least 24 hours to dry). And of course, if you're looking specifically for a colour other than just plain “ceiling white”, you can always get your walls painted any colour you wish!
Painting textured ceilings is a bit of a gamble. If the texture has been previously painted, it's probably okay to paint again. If the texture isn't yet painted and ends up completely covered in paint, there's a risk it could eventually loosen and fall off in sheets. While not exactly urgent, the best thing to do is to first test any inconspicuous area for yourself before deciding if you are willing to take the risk and move on to painting the complete ceiling.
Also keep in mind that closets or other small areas are probably safer because if anything goes wrong you won't really notice… And finally, depending on how thick or absorbent your base coat was (consider what kind of primer or undercoat you used) chances are they will be able to cover almost all types of textures should they end up with uneven shades when applying your final layer.
One of the best ways to end your day with a sense of accomplishment is to apply color to the ceiling if one does not already have color on their ceiling. To protect your eyes, wear a baseball cap and for added measure, throw on some safety goggles so that you can watch your work without squinting. One way to make cleanup easier at the end of the day is to coat yourself in skin lotion while rolling paint around.
We've all been there - the regretful moment when you find that random splotchy paint spot on your favourite shirt or pants. So rather than putting off serious painting projects until it's too late, we'd highly recommend fleshing out thoughtfully prepared plans beforehand in order to get rid of those dreaded paint freckles!
So, you've decided to paint the ceiling! That's a great idea, because a freshly painted ceiling is one of the easiest ways to instantly improve the look of a space. We hope you found this post helpful and that you've been able to successfully paint your ceiling!
