How To Paint High Ceilings? Rules For Painting High Ceilings

Finishing the ceiling, we want to get the result of its work not only aesthetic pleasure but no less important is the quality of the work performed and its durability. 

To turn out as it should, the rules of painting ceilings without streaks: stains and irregularities are not enough. No less critical components of the painting process – correctly selected materials, dye, and hand tools. And, of course, the exact observance of all technological steps.

This article will tell you the best ways to paint the ceiling and everything you need. So read on so as not to miss anything.

Tips for Painting Ceiling: the Rules of the Game

Let’s start with the basics because, without the basic rules, you will have a more challenging time navigating further recommendations.

• Choosing the right time to work

Did you know there is a period when it is easiest to do the painting? So, the optimal time to paint the ceiling is early spring or late fall. At this time, the humidity is low, and the temperature difference between day and night is not too significant. 

Of course, if the room has good ventilation, you can work at any time of year. But if you work in the bathroom? The best option is the spring and fall periods.

• The ceiling height

The second factor you need to pay attention to before painting a ceiling in the easiest way is the height of the ceiling. If it does not exceed 2.5-3 meters, it will not be difficult to cope with the work. But if the room’s ceiling is higher, the task becomes more difficult. In this case, you will have to use a stepladder or scaffolding, increasing the time spent finishing the ceiling.

Surface Preparation

Before painting, the surface of the ceiling must be clean, dry, and free of dust. If the ceiling has never been painted before or if the old coating has begun to peel off, the essential tip before painting the ceiling is to remove any paint residue with a spatula and sand the surface with sandpaper. If the previous coating is in good condition, it is sufficient to degrease and sand the surface.

After preparing the surface, it is necessary to remove all the irregularities and cracks. For this purpose, putty for concrete and plaster surfaces is used. Putty should be given time to dry completely (usually about 12 hours), after which the surface should be sanded again.

The easiest way to paint a very uneven ceiling is to pre-level it with plasterboard. This way, it will be much easier for you to paint.

Choosing the Right Paint

The following rule for painting ceilings is to choose the right paint. For painting ceilings, waterborne acrylic or latex paints are best. You can also use alkyd enamels, but they have several drawbacks. For example, such paint has a strong odour, takes a long time to dry, and is not environmentally friendly.

In addition to the type of paint, you need to pay attention to its colour. For the ceiling, white paint is best. This colour will make the room more spacious and light, which applies to any room, from the bedroom to the bathroom. But if you want to experiment, you can use other light colours.

It’s also worth considering that a surface painted with light reflects light much better than dark colours. Therefore, it is better to prefer lighter shades when choosing a colour.

Paint Preparation

After selecting the paint, you must dilute it with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It is worth noting that the ready mixture should not be too liquid. Otherwise, the paint will run down the walls, and the surface of the ceiling will not be even.

It is also worth noting that you should dilute the paint gradually. First, a small amount of water is added to the colour, and then the mixture is mixed thoroughly. After that, you can add the rest of the water if required.

The Easiest Way to Paint a Ceiling: How Best to Apply Paint?

You can apply paint to the surface of the ceiling in several ways:

• Roller;
• Brush;
• Sprayer. 

It is up to you to decide which method is better to choose in a particular case. However, a few general tips will help you choose the best way to paint the ceiling.

If the ceiling in the room is not too high (up to 3 meters), you can do it with a brush or roller. In this case, you will do the work much faster, and the quality of coverage will be just as good.

When working with a brush, it is necessary to consider that the bristles of the tool can very quickly clog with paint, which significantly reduces the work speed. Therefore, we recommend using a brush with natural bristles. Not only are they more durable and long-lasting, but they also can absorb the excess paint, allowing you to work much more effectively. In addition, it is more convenient to paint the corners of ceilings with a brush.

The roller is convenient because it evenly lays the paint on the surface and does not leave streaks or other defects on the ceiling. However, when working with a roller, it is necessary to consider that a significant portion of the paint is absorbed into the roller itself, significantly reducing the work’s effectiveness. 

If the ceiling height in the room is more than 3 meters, then the best way to paint the ceiling is to use a paint gun. This method has several advantages – it allows you to apply the material evenly over the entire surface without streaks and defects. In addition, when working with a spray gun, much less paint is consumed, dramatically increasing the work’s efficiency.

However, this method has some disadvantages:

• First, it requires special equipment – a compressor and a paint gun. 
• Secondly, when working with a spray gun, you must consider that the material is applied in the form of tiny particles that can quickly fly around the room and settle on various surfaces – furniture, floor, etc. Therefore, another rule before painting the ceiling is to prepare the room properly – cover the surfaces not to be painted with film or newspaper and well-ventilate the room.

The Best Way to Paint a Ceiling

Now let’s talk about the painting process itself. Before you start work, you need to bring all the tools and materials you will need into the room. In addition, it is worth opening the windows so that the room is immediately airing.

• The first thing to do, in our easiest way to paint the ceiling, is to cover the floor and furniture with old newspapers or rags. It will protect them from paint drips.
• After that, you must pour the prepared paint into the paint tray and dip the roller. Then you need to remove the excess paint from the roller and apply it to the surface of the ceiling. 
• If you are using a spray, shake the paint well. 
• According to the rule of painting the ceiling, start moving the roller or sprayer forward-backwards motions without changing direction. 
• It is worth noting that the first coat of paint should be very thin. Otherwise, the surface of the ceiling will be uneven. In addition, such a thin layer of paint dries quickly enough. Therefore, you will not have to wait long before you can apply a second coat.
• So, apply a second coat. If you applied the first coat of paint according to our rules for painting ceilings in a forward-backwards motion, it is better to apply the second coat in the opposite direction (left to right or right to left).
• As a rule, two coats of paint are enough to get a good result. But if the colour of the ceiling is very light, it may be necessary to apply a third coat of paint (you should apply it again in a forward-backwards motion).
• After the paint dries completely (usually, it takes about 12 hours), you can air the room again.

These are the steps you must follow to paint a high ceiling successfully. Remember to take your time and work carefully, and you can achieve excellent results. Don’t forget to read our helpful articles on our blog.

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