The ceiling is one of those tricky surfaces that no one enjoys painting. It’s awkwardly positioned and painting it can mean getting some of the paint in your face and enduring hours of arm and neck fatigue. And if you get it wrong, it can go really wrong, which is why in today’s post, we’re sharing common mistakes to avoid when painting your ceiling. Read on.
Painting It Last
If you’re painting your entire room or home interior, you will notice that the ceiling is the most difficult part, and this might tempt you to save it for last. When you paint the ceiling last, there is a high possibility you might drip some of the paint on the newly applied wall paint and ruin it. Painting it first means you can easily fix any paint drips on the wall as you paint it and you don’t have to do double work.
Skipping the Cleaning
Unless it has water stains, your ceiling is probably the cleanest looking surface in your room. However, once you set up a ladder and move closer, and even run your fingers on it, you may notice a thin, nearly invisible layer of dirt, dust and paint residue.
Painting directly on such a surface will reduce the paint and primer adhesion, and you won’t get a smooth, even and durable paint job. Before you commence with painting, clean the ceiling surface with a damp cloth and remove all the cobwebs.
Ignoring the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
As you can imagine, painting a ceiling can have lots of paint and dirt falling back into your face and all over your body. So before you start painting, wear some eye goggles, an apron, and a disposable painting head cap. If you’re bleaching out any water stains or handling some harsh chemicals, always wear appropriate gloves.
Forgetting Drop Cloths and the Masking Tape
The ceiling painting job is going to be messy, especially if it’s your first time repainting the ceiling –and there is no way to avoid it, except to prepare for it. To prevent paint drips and splatters from ruining your floor and items, move out all the small movable items from the room and cover anything that cannot be moved using drop cloths. Line a masking tape along the perimeter of the ceiling to prevent the ceiling paint from ruining the upper edges of your wall paint.
Skipping the Primer
The primer is meant to increase the paint’s adhesion to a surface and facilitate a smooth and even finish of the paint job. If you’re battling any issues with water stains or transitioning from a darker to lighter ceiling paint, the primer will help block off any stains or old paint color from bleeding through your new paint job. If your ceiling is directly below the roof, a bathroom, or a kitchen, the primer will help minimize water damage.
Failing to Apply Enough Paint to the Brush
Generally, too much paint on the brush can cause excessive dripping and lead to a messy working area. However, on the flip side, using too little paint on the brush and/or roller can leave bare spots and streaks and force you to repaint some areas that have poor coverage. Generously dab the brush into the paint and allow the excess paint drip off back into the can or tray before going for the strokes.
The Bottom Line
Painting a ceiling is not as complicated as you might imagine. But of course, this is not an exhaustive tutorial on how to paint a ceiling, rather, some quick pointers on the common mistakes to avoid.
If you need any professional help painting your walls or ceiling in Eugene, our team at Sir Paints A Lot can help. Simply call us at 541-600-2025 to get started.