How To Paint A Ceiling?

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: December 13, 2022

It’s normal to be apprehensive about painting your ceiling because of the potential for failure. There are, however, less labor-intensive methods of painting the ceiling while still ensuring that you cover the entire surface.

There is a silver lining in the fact that, in many cases, you will be painting the ceiling white again (with the only caveat being that not all white paints are the same shade). Painting the same color over and over again is a lot easier than painting a whole new color. Using an extension pole and a nap roller cover of the proper size and length makes painting above your head much easier. Once the room is completely prepped, painting the ceiling is a simple task that requires just minimal effort.

Steps for Painting the Ceiling

First, paint the ceiling, then the walls

Everyone has the same issue: Do you start with the walls or the ceiling? Start with the ceiling if you’re going to paint the entire space. Once the walls have been painted, you won’t have to worry about any paint splatters from the roller getting on them. Just remember to tape off any molding before you begin painting the ceiling if you want it to stand out against the walls.

Apply Painter’s Tape

Tape off the edge of the wall or crown molding if you’re only painting the ceiling. Make sure to use a broader painter’s tape, which will help you avoid smearing paint into corners. You can work more quickly because you can be less precise.

Keep in mind to cover ceiling fans and tape up any light fixtures or vents.

Cover Everything

Sometimes, the clean up after a paint job is what slows down a project. Remove as much furniture as possible from the room and cover the remainder with plastic tarps to save yourself the hassle.

Perimeters should be painted.

Start by “cutting in,” or painting the perimeter of your ceiling with a paintbrush, just like you would with a wall. Begin at the border of the ceiling and work your way up to the ceiling’s surface with a 2- to 3-inch brush. When painting the ceiling using a roller, you’ll want to soften the edges of the brush strokes so they merge into the rest of the ceiling. Skip using painter’s tape when you’re painting a ceiling and walls at the same time. Instead, cut in on both sides of the room as you make your way around it.

Make sure you’re using the correct ladder for the ceiling height when cutting in. Tightening your muscles in an attempt to reach something higher is not only risky, but it will also cause you pain the next day. Instead of hauling the entire can, which would be cumbersome and dangerous if it spilled, use a small bucket to collect some paint and store it at the top of the ladder.

If the ceilings in your home are very high, you may want to consider hiring a professional painter.

Grab a Roller

Using a low-nap roller for smooth ceilings is ideal while using a 3/4-inch nap roller for textured ceilings is recommended. Make sure you buy an extension roller pole that’s no longer than the height of your ceiling when you’re out shopping. You’ll be hauling additional weight if you get an extension pole that’s too lengthy.

Use the textured side of the paint tray to roll off any extra paint once you’ve rolled into it. More paint may seem like a good idea because it would expedite the process, but it will instead result in more smears and drips.

Roll the paint over the ceiling in overlapping strokes, beginning in one corner and working your way out to the other. Allow the paint to cure for 30 minutes after it has been applied to the entire ceiling. After that, see whether any repairs or a second coat are necessary.

Basic Tips for Painting the Ceiling

  • For flat ceilings, use a 3/8-inch nap roller cover; for textured ceilings, use a thicker nap roller cover. Ceiling paint is made differently than wall paint, with a thicker, stickier formula that is intended to eliminate most drips. Several important factors contribute to the popularity of flat or matte white ceiling paint:
  • Paint that is flat or matte is more effective in hiding ceiling irregularities than paint that is slick or glossy, which draws attention to any flaws in the surface.
  • It’s brighter because the white reflects and bounces more light throughout the room.
  • White ceiling paint creates the impression that the room is larger than it really is, whereas a colorful ceiling gives the impression that the room is smaller than it really is.
  • Last but not least, it makes no difference whether you paint your ceiling first or your walls second—either approach works. If you paint a room from top to bottom, you will inevitably get some ceiling or wall paint that needs to be touched up no matter what sequence you do it in. In this case, it may be easier to use plastic sheeting and painter’s tape to cover the entire room before painting your ceiling, especially if your walls are entirely dry before you begin.

Finally, don’t worry about whether you paint the ceiling first or last. Either way is fine. Any time you paint a room, you’re going to get some paint on the walls or the ceiling that needs to be retouched, no matter how you do it. To protect your walls from getting wet while you paint the ceiling, you can use painter’s tape to run plastic sheeting around the room, as shown in the photo above.

How to Organize a Perfect Work Space on the Balcony?

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Shur-Line 3540C Premium Cut Case Ceiling Roller and Shield

Shur-Line 3540C Premium Cut Case Ceiling Roller and Shield

Specifications

  • Brand: Shur-Line
  • Item Weight: 8 ounces
  • Size: 1 Pack
  • Product Dimensions: ‎2.9 x 9.6 x 11.1 inches

Shur-Line made the first paint roller with a removable cover in 1945, and our years of experience have helped both do-it-yourselfers and professional painters apply paint perfectly. In terms of paint roller quality, Shur-patented Line’s technologies continue to be unmatched in the industry. In the United States, plug-in products are meant to be used. Depending on where you’re going, you may need an adapter or converter in order to use this product. Before making a purchase, be sure to confirm that your devices are compatible.

Conclusion:

The thermo-bond process developed by Shur-Line fuses the cover fabric to the core of the roller. The traditional cardboard and PVC plastic cores’ failure to adhere is eliminated. Paint and water can’t penetrate the thermo-bond cores, which are extremely durable and impermeable. These roller covers are virtually impenetrable and roll smoothly every time. ” In order to achieve the best possible painting results, Shur-proprietary Line’s fabrics use fiber crimping specific to their construction. The smoothest finish is provided by woven fabric rollers, but knit fabric rollers can be used for most jobs. Low linting and a uniform paint finish are the end results of Shur-Line rollers’ advanced finishing process. Faster clean-up and better adhesion of paint to the wall are just some of the benefits of this exciting new technology.

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Pros

  • The roller cover is a great idea, and it really minimizes dripping when painting the ceiling.
  • It is well-made and functional.
  • It’s the best roller you will ever get.

Cons

  • A roller is not replaceable.
  • Roller wouldn’t roll. Could not change roller pad

Paint Roller Set Runner Pro Brush Kit -for Painting Wall, Door, Floor, Ceiling, Roof or Other Large Surface, No Prep, No Mess(10 Pcs

Paint Roller Set Runner Pro Brush Kit -for Painting Wall, Door, Floor, Ceiling, Roof or Other Large Surface, No Prep, No Mess(10 Pcs

Specifications

  • Brand: Mokio
  • Item Weight ‎: ‎‎1.98 pounds
  • Color: ‎Blue

Package Includes 1 x Paint Roller, 1 x Resting Tray, 1 x Flocked Edger, 1 x Corner Pad, 1 x Easy Pour Jug,3 x Extension Sticks, 2 x Painter’s Masking Tape, 2 x Paint Brushes(1 inch;3 inches), 2 x Plastic Paint Stick.

Conclusion:

It Works On Any Surface. Skip the mess and have fun painting walls, decks, ceilings, and furniture with the whole family. Use indoor and outdoor; Or just cover up scuff marks and stains in seconds. And easy to use. The Paint Roller Pro is so simple and easy to use that even your kids can help give a professional wall paint job to nearly any surface. Just Pour and Paint to revitalize any wall or surface in just a few minutes with the paint kit. it really an efficient paint roller for painting walls.

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Pros

  • These are excellent roller covers.
  • It’s a Great Value for the Money!
  •  It is easy to use

Cons

  • The item was not Functional
  • Not stable enough 

Paint Roller Kit, GEREFET Automatic 8-Inch Ejection Paint Roller Brush Pro, 1.2L Capacity Paint Bucket, Extension Pole from 26 inch to 42.5 inch Paint Brush Roller Kit for Painting Walls and Ceilings

Paint Roller Kit, GEREFET Automatic 8-Inch Ejection Paint Roller Brush Pro, 1.2L Capacity Paint Bucket, Extension Pole from 26 inch to 42.5 inch Paint Brush Roller Kit for Painting Walls and Ceilings

Specifications

  • Brand : Gerefet
  • Paint Bucket Capacity : 1.2L Extension Pole
  • Brush length: 8 inch

Paint Roller Kit Work with Water-Soluble Paint: Water-soluble paint works better on walls, which saves time, money, and the trouble that traditional paint rollers bring. No time spent getting ready, no paper that drips, and no masking tape. You can make any wall or surface look new in just a few minutes by pouring and painting. Your kids and even your grandparents can do it.

Conclusion:

This electric paint roller is an excellent substitute for traditional rollers and paint trays for large rooms or several rooms. It’s great for painting big rooms, areas with more than one room, and areas with two floors. You can use a big roller to paint the wall, a medium roller to paint the door frame and window sill, and a small brush to paint the corners. Continuous Painting: The auto-feed control on the handle of the roller makes it possible to keep painting without stopping. The paint roller kit was made of high-quality materials that will never break. You can clean the paint roller. Easy to move around and clean.

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Pros

  • Easy to handle and easy to clean.
  • Great screen quality and really value for money. 
  • It was perfect

Cons

  • Cheap materials. Does not work at all
  • Don’t waste your time with this pointless thing.

Seymour 20-051 Ceiling Tile Paint, New White

Seymour 20-051 Ceiling Tile Paint, New White

Specifications

  • Brand: Seymour of Sycamore
  • Color: New White
  • Unit Count: 16.0 Ounce
  • Paint Type:Water Based

A unique water-based composition for removing stains from both textured and acoustical ceiling tiles. No warping or sagging of tiles. Acoustic properties are maintained. Simple to use in the above position. VOC Compliant. Seymour of Sycamore, as a responsible corporate citizen, is dedicated to safeguarding the environment and maintaining the health and safety of our employees. This means that in addition to ensuring a healthy and safe working environment, we must also meet our legal and community obligations.

Conclusion:

Seymour has developed aqueous and high-solids resin coatings as an alternative to conventional solvent-based polymers. Lead, cadmium, mercury, chromates, and chlorinated solvents are not present in any Seymour products.

No products found.

Pros

  • Highly recommend this product
  • Greatest stuff in a can.! 
  • It Works great.

Cons

  •  It was dry when sprayed
  • Low pressure, paint looks like dust

Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, White

Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, White

Specifications

  • Brand: Wooster Brush
  • Size: 2 Inch
  • Color: White

Founded in 1851, the Wooster Brush Company has been producing innovative and high-performance painting equipment from its Wooster, Ohio, plant. We sell paint brushes under the brand names Ultra/Pro, Advantage, Yachtsman, and Shortcut; roller coverings under the brand names Super/Fab and Super Doo-Z; and Sherlock frames and extension poles under the brand name Jumbo-Koter small rollers. WOOSTER is a name you can trust when it comes to your painting supplies.

Conclusion: 

With a flexible purple Shergrip handle for added comfort and mobility in confined places, it produces good, smooth results with all types of paints and water-based stains. All water-based paints and stains can benefit from this synthetic combination.

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Pros

  • This is the best brush for a useless painter to get the perfect line between the wall and ceiling.
  • Nice brush, I would buy it again
  • This brush is freaking amazing.

Cons

  • Poor quality
  • This brush is only good for 1 to 2 uses. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this be used to apply joint compound?

This is a case for storing a roller, not something you use to apply anything.

Can this roller be attached to an extension pole?

Yes, I specifically bought it because I attached it to an extension pole.

Is the brush itself soft?

It is soft but does not give a really smooth finish. If you aren’t looking for a very smooth finish (think kitchen cabinets) it should be fine.

Is this brush good for chalk painting?

It is agronomical and makes painting a breeze.

Thank you for reading!

John
 

John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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