25-07-2024

How to Paint a Ceiling

Ceilings aren't often a focal point or stared at frequently. However, anyone who does notice them can probably tell just how much effort you put into your space by their finish.

White paint has always been the go-to and can offer a fresh, clean feel to a room. However, colour drenching can help give the illusion of a bigger room by blurring where the walls and ceiling meet. You may want to paint one section to close off an area, such as a corner for an office.

Painting your ceiling can help the room look fresher, change the room's look, or bring your visionary design out in style!

 

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You can either use a roller or hire a paint sprayer. A paint sprayer will give you faster results, be less effort to set up, and won't waste any paint. But a roller will be able to provide you with more precise results, especially in smaller areas.

 

Preparing your ceiling

Before painting your ceiling using one of the methods below, ensure it is prepped correctly. Fill in any holes or cracks with an appropriate filler, allowing them to dry before sanding back to provide a clean and consistent surface.

Then, you will want to ensure the ceiling is free from dust and debris. Dust can rise, especially over winter, with our radiators on, so vacuum the ceiling to remove all dust. It is also a good idea to use sugar soap on ceilings that could harbour grease, such as kitchen ceilings. This will give you a clean, non-greasy surface to work with and for the paint to adhere to.

Tape around any lights, alarms, and coving that you can't remove, using a good quality decorator's tape.

 

How to paint a ceiling with a paint sprayer

A paint sprayer is quick and straightforward to use on any surface. This will be especially handy if you paint a large room, or a whole house, in a day or two. They're also ideal for textured ceilings, such as Artex.

You can hire airless paint sprayers from Speedy Hire. All our products come with instructions, making them a breeze to set up.

 

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  1. Cover the room

Paint spraying can be messy, so remove as much furniture as possible from the room.

Cover anything remaining, such as the carpet, window frames and radiators. You will also want to cover the walls, light switches, and skirting boards. Polythene dust sheets will work well. Use masking tape to fix the wall, creating a clean cut-in line.

Tape around any lighting or alarms, and then cover them. A cloth, or even a sandwich bag, could work here.

 

  1. Set up the paint sprayer

All our equipment comes with instructions on how to use and set it up. You can also watch the video below for a guide on how to use a paint sprayer:

Once set up, you're almost ready to go. Just don't forget your PPE. You will need eye protection, a dust mask, and covers over your clothing. It is also a good idea to wear shoe covers so you don't walk paint through the house.

 

  1. Start painting

When you're ready to paint, hold the nozzle around 15-20cm from the surface of the ceiling. Work in vertical lines, overlapping each line so there are no gaps, and everything is evenly covered.

You may want to work row by row or go across and work in small sections. Whatever you find easiest, ensure you overlap. As long as everything is covered, you can spray right up to the edges and corners, saving the need to cut in with a paintbrush.

 

  1. Cross-coat

Once finished, 'cross-coat'. If you've worked horizontally for the first coat, spray a vertical coat straight after. This will give a uniform finish.

It shouldn't take long for the paint to dry, as paint sprayers give you a thin coat. Use the guidance time the paint tin gives you. Once the paint is dry, give the ceiling a second coat if needed.

 

  1. Clean the sprayer

Once completed, clean the paint sprayer out before returning the equipment to your local Speedy depot or switching to another colour to paint your walls.

Switch the paint sprayer off and unplug it. Read the cleaning instructions that come with your sprayer. Leave to dry before re-using.

 

How to paint a ceiling with a roller

Rollers may be a better choice for rooms where not all the furniture can be removed or covered in one go. You can purchase extended poles for rollers, which can reach the ceiling while your feet are firmly on the ground.

Rollers should be the correct width. 270mm is ideal; anything less, and it is going to take you ages to do the job. With every section, you must maintain a wet edge, so larger rollers will make this easier.

 

  1. Cut in with a brush

After preparing the room, the first step will be to cut in the places a roller won't reach, such as around lights, around the room's edges, or near coving. This creates a border with the walls.

Cut in small sections so the paint is still wet when you roll. This may mean doing sections of the ceiling at a time. Don't overload your brush, as this could cause drips.

 

  1. Work in 1m sections

Load your roller with paint. Do this evenly to get sufficient coverage on each roll; use a tray to spread the paint properly.

Start in one corner and move the roller parallel. Roll as far into the previously brushed sections as possible so you have no gaps in paint coverage or uneven sections.

 

  1. Repeat

Once the first coat is dry, repeat for a second coat. This should help the paint coverage look full.

 

FAQs

How do I paint a ceiling without splatter?

The best way to avoid splatter is by not overloading your roller with paint. Use a paint tray to roll off excess paint and get even coverage across the roller. Don't work too quickly either.

Splatter can't be avoided entirely, so everything in the room must be covered or removed. Use a good quality roller which can hold the paint.

 

How do I cut in when painting a ceiling?

Don't be afraid to use masking tape to achieve a clean line. Paint over the masking tape slightly so the line is clean. Then, remove the tape when the paint is still somewhat wet but dry to the touch so the paint doesn't peel away with the tape.

If you want to go freehand, getting a good quality brush is really important. An angled brush will be best.

Some tips when cutting in paint:

  • Don't press too hard, as the brush bristles will spread, and a clean line will be more challenging to achieve
  • Run a damp cloth along the tape when it's in position to ensure a secure seal
  • Ensure the area you're cutting in is clean and free from dust and your brush has no loose bristles
  • Don't overload the brush with paint, as this will drip
  • Work at as high a speed as possible. This will surprisingly make the line cleaner versus deliberating
  • Paint a 5-10cm border as the cut-in border
  • When rolling over the area, try to roll over the painted line as much as possible without going too close to the edge. This will remove the framing effect, i.e., the lines created when painting.

 

Do I paint the walls or ceiling first?

If you plan to paint an entire room with a roller, start with the ceiling. Cutting in on a wall and creating a line is more straightforward than on a ceiling. You also won't have to worry about splatters from the roller getting on the walls.

The same applies if you have molding around the room, meaning you can use something like a large piece of cardboard to protect this.

But if using a paint sprayer, spray the walls first. You can overspray on the ceiling, then cover it with paint, then paint it as a whole, knowing the lines are covered.

 

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