Ceilings are often much larger than single walls and you have added obstacles such as light fittings and painting above your head but it’s a necessary step when you’re freshly painting a room and it can be an easy DIY project with the right process. Here we share our steps and tips to ensure your painted ceiling has a top-quality finish. From proper preparation to the correct paint application, here’s how to paint a ceiling in five easy steps
1.CHOOSE THE BEST TIME TO PAINT YOUR CEILING
When to paint your ceiling matters. Painting during the daylight is the best time as shadows can make it hard to see if the ceiling has been painted evenly. Early morning is the best time to begin painting your ceiling because there is plenty of natural light streaming in and you have more hours in the day to get the job done. You may need two coats of paint so having more time up your sleeve allows for the first coat to dry before you start the second coat. You’ll also need to allow time for preparation prior to painting your ceiling.
You don’t want to feel rushed when painting your ceiling as this could result in a sub-par finish, it’s best to allow more time than you think you need to get the job done right the first time. Temperature also matters. It’s a good idea to check the humidity prior to painting as this will affect drying times and the time between paint coats. The order in which you paint your room also must be considered, the ceiling should be painted before the walls, this way if you accidentally flick paint onto the walls you can paint over these later.
2.PURCHASING YOUR PAINTBefore purchasing your ceiling paint, there’s a few things to consider:
Consider the type of paint
For painting ceilings, you need a dedicated ceiling paint. Many people make the mistake of choosing the wrong type of paint that doesn’t cover well and results in an uneven, patchy application. You want a good quality ceiling paint. Good ceiling paint shouldn’t splatter, we recommend using Haymes Expressions Ceiling Paint or Krysler Premium Ceiling White.
Selecting your paint colour
Ceiling white is the most common colour to paint your ceiling but you can choose any colour you like! It can be a great idea to pop in ahead of time and collect some colour swatches and sample pots so you can test the paint colour on your ceiling. If you’re stuck, book a free Crockers Consult so we can help you find the perfect colour.
Deciding how much paint to use
You don’t want to run out of paint halfway through painting your ceiling so you’ll need to know how much paint you’ll need for the job. We have a handy paint calculator available under each paint product on our website so you can see how many litres you’ll need. Simply enter the width and height of your area and the number of paint coats and it’ll tell you how much paint you need.
At Crockers we have all the best ceiling paints to ensure a professional finish, contact our friendly team if you have any questions.
Krysler Ceiling White Paint
3.USING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB
At Crockers, we have everything you need to paint your ceiling. You can come in and chat to our friendly team or buy your equipment online. We’ve created this simple checklist:
- Plastic dropsheets
- Sandpaper if needed
- Painter’s tape
- Cleaning cloth and solution
- Sanding sponge
- Paint opener
- Paint stirrer
- Paint tray
- Paint pot
- Paint rollers with a 15mm pile fabric
- High quality roller frame
- A good cutting in brush, we recommend Tasman Oval Cutters or Tasman Angle Sash Cutters, suggested size: 63mm or 75mm
- Paint brushes
- A spray gun if needed
- A strong extension pole that extends to different heights
- Ladder
- This roller kit contains a paint tray, heavy duty roller frame and top quality micro cover 15mm pile roller
- Or this large painting kit contains almost everything you need
- Safety mask and goggles
Preparation area for your painting products
4.PRIOR PREPARATION IS KEY
All good DIY projects begin with excellent preparation. In fact, preparation prior to painting your ceiling is one of the most important factors of the process. There’s a lot to consider and to prepare so we’ve broken it down into easy steps:
Have everything ready before you start painting
Before painting your ceiling, ensure you have purchased the correct tools and paints so you don’t have to duck out later for something urgent. We’ve listed the best choices above.
Protecting and preparing your area
To avoid getting paint on your light fittings, furniture, or anything else in your room, it’s important to remove these items. Make sure to remove any other obstacles that may get in your way so you can move around freely when painting. To avoid paint getting on furniture that can’t be moved or on your floors, cover them with drop sheets. Tape up any cornices, power points, light switches and downlights, and door handles with painters tape.
Create a dedicated paint preparation area
By creating a space off to the side or in another room, you can keep your paint tins, paint stirrer and other equipment together and out of the way. We often give our customers a large piece of cardboard where you can sit your tins, stir your paint, and pour your paint into your tray or pot as needed but you could recycle and flatten out an old box. If you need to take a break, you can leave your wet rollers and equipment in one place which avoids stepping in paint trays and trekking wet paint through your house.
Preparing your ceiling for painting
You’ll want a clean, dry, even ceiling to paint. Start by flaking away any old loose paint residue. Fill in any cracks, nail holes or imperfections with an interior filler. Sand back any uneven parts of your ceiling and clean the entire ceiling surface to remove any dust, cobwebs and grime. Spot prime any patched areas with an undercoat. The undercoat will vary depending on the type of room, for example, for wet areas such as bathrooms we can recommend an oil based undercoat like Haymes Ultralock.
5.CEILING PAINT APPLICATION
Your ceiling is now primed and ready for painting! Here are our easy steps for how to paint a ceiling:
Step 1 - Cutting in
Just like you’d paint a vertical wall, start by cutting in where the roller won’t reach. Cut in around the perimeter of the ceiling using a 2-3 inch brush, start at the edge of the ceiling and paint inwards a few inches. Feather the strokes so the edge will blend seamlessly when you paint the remainder of the ceiling. Cut in around any light fittings and switches. If you cut in carefully, you may not need to cut in again on the second coat.
Step 2 - Rolling
Make sure you load your roller up with enough paint to ensure you have great coverage. We recommend a roller with a 15mm pile fabric. Apply your first coat to the ceiling, start closest to the main light source working towards the exit of the room. Roll your roller in the one direction for the whole ceiling. Once your ceiling is completely painted, allow it to dry for at least two hours. If your ceiling was already white and in great condition, it may only need one coat of paint. If you need a second coat, follow the same technique but this time roll in the opposite direction to your first paint application.
HOW TO PAINT A CEILING: THE TAKEAWAY
There you have it, our five easy steps for painting your ceiling! We hope our top painting tips on how to paint a ceiling has you feeling confident to tackle this DIY home project. You can visit us in store or shop online. If you decide the DIY option is not for you, we can recommend some excellent local painters.
If you need any further guidance on how to paint a ceiling, we invite you to book in a free 15-minute Crocker’s consultation with our team where we can discuss your ceiling and ensure you have the best paints and equipment for a seamless finish.
*Painted Ceilings are Images courtesy of Jason from JS Painting