Painting Ceilings, The High DIY Challenge

You may think you have the DIY process figured out, but when it comes to painting ceilings, you soon realize its one of the more challenging paint jobs.

The angle makes it more difficult to use a brush or even a roller on a pole so paint can drip onto your face and the floor. Then you have the awkward task of possibly dealing with textured ceilings and bad lighting. How do you deal with these challenges and still get good results?

Pick Your Paint ... And The Right Tools

Ceiling paint comes in two broad categories, oil and latex, with a variety of finishes. If you are looking for a lot of light reflection, high gloss will give the room a very bright appearance as light from your lamps will bounce off the ceiling. However, if you are looking for something more subtle, flat paint may be your best choice. It actually is what most people use.

Consider trying the new ceiling paints that when applied, go on pink or blue, depending on brand, then dry to a crisp white. Painting ceilings with these new paints makes it easier to get an even streak-free result.

A sliced foam roller works well for painting ceilings. Ask for it at your favorite paint center.

Acoustic Tile and Popcorn Ceilings

Textured ceilings or ceilings with stucco-like plaster - often referred to as "popcorn ceilings", are a challenge to paint with a brush or a roller. The texture (popcorn) generally crumbles and falls off.

Using a sprayer to paint is more difficult than it looks. The paint has to be just the right consistency. Otherwise, the sprayer either gums up, or the paint sprays out like water.

Here are a few recommendations for dealing with popcorn ceilings:

• Remove the popcorn from the ceiling by spraying the ceiling with water, and then use a drywall spatula to scrape the popcorn off. It's a messy job, but you will have a smooth ceiling that is a breeze to paint. Allow the ceiling to dry then apply a coat of primer before your selected ceiling paint.
• If the popcorn ceilings have been painted in the past, you can use latex paint. A split foam roller is the way to go if you can't spray it.

• If the popcorn ceilings have NOT been painted in the past, apply a primer coat of paint first. Thin the primer paint with a pint or so of the appropriate thinner. Apply in small sections and quickly.

  Do NOT roll back and forth as you normally would because that softens the texture/popcorn and it will cling to the roller and fall off the ceiling. Distribute the paint evenly on the roller and using a light stroke, roll at first away from you, back lightly, stop and reload your roller.

Do not be too concerned about how well the primer paint is covering the ceiling as you are just trying to get enough paint on the texture to seal and toughen it up for the finish coat of paint.

To reduce dripping in general, make sure to mix paint to the right consistency. You can test the result by painting part of a small vertical surface, such as the inside of a closet. Gravity is still working against you, so if the paint is too thin (or too thick), it will run down the wall.

Using a long extension pole will allow you to apply paint with minimal neck and shoulder strain. Keeping the pole extended at a slight angle keeps your head at a more comfortable angle while keeping any drips or splatters from falling straight down on you.

With these tips in mind, painting ceilings should be a bit easier.

More tips for painting ceilings here.

How to Paint - Getting Started

How to Paint a Room

Painting Supplies - Using The Right Tools and Equipment

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