How to Paint the Ceiling of a Room
When it comes to remodeling a room, painting is one of the first things on the list of things to do because it a quick and inexpensive way to transform a room. Painting the walls is a relatively simple job for most folks. But when it comes to painting the ceiling, you may feel a little apprehensive. There's no need to be afraid. You can achieve a professional finish on the ceiling with some simple preparation and bit of technical know-how. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drop cloths
- Screwdriver
- Plastic bag
- Masking tape
- Mild detergent
- Sponge
- Patching compound
- Putty knife
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Small brush
- Paint edger
- Large brush
- Paint roller
- Painting tray
- Ladder or extension handle
Instructions
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Prepare the room by removing lighter pieces of furniture, lamps, tables, artwork, etc., to protect them from paint drips and splashes. Take down window treatments. Shut off the electricity. Use a screwdriver to remove light fixtures, if possible. If not, use the screwdriver to loosen the fixture until it drops a few inches from the ceiling so you can paint around it. Cover the light fixture with a plastic bag and secure the bag with masking tape. Protect heavy pieces of furniture that can't be moved with drop cloths. Remove rugs, and cover floor with drop cloths.
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2
Wash the wall with a mild detergent to get rid of dust or stains that can impair the paint's ability to adhere to the ceiling. Use clean water and a sponge to remove detergent residue. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours.
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Check the condition of the ceiling, looking for holes, cracks and loose paint or plaster. Repair cracks and other imperfections by applying a fast drying patching compound with a putty knife. Allow to dry overnight. Apply another layer of compound, if needed. Allow to dry overnight. Use 220-grit sandpaper to smooth out any uneven areas. Wipe away sanding debris with tack cloth.
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Use a small brush or a paint edger to paint the corners and edges of the ceiling, making sure that you get into the small crevices of the corners. A paint edger is a hand-held painting tool, with a spongy pad, that has a set of small wheels so you can slide it along the edges of the ceiling, which makes painting these tricky areas easy. Always run the paint edger against the sides of the tray of paint to remove excess paint to avoid clogging the wheels.
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Use a large brush or paint roller to create smooth parallel strokes going from the edge toward the center of the ceiling. Go over the parallel strokes with horizontal strokes to even out the paint. This method will help you avoid paint drips and ridges. Always keep the edge of the roller or brush wet to avoid obvious lines. Attach the roller to an extension handle if you prefer to paint while standing on the floor rather than on a ladder.
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Allow the paint to dry for at least 4 hours. Apply a second coat of paint using the same method.
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References
- Photo Credit paint roller image by Ana de Sousa from Fotolia.com
