When it comes to Willow Grove PA residential painting projects, there are few spots more neglected than the ceiling.
Please see the previous sentence for the main reason.
Other reasons, though, include complaints that it’s too messy, and assuming nobody will notice it anyway.
Besides, it’s the hardest part of painting your home.
After all, it’s got all the challenges of painting your walls, plus gravity working even harder against you.
On top of that, you might have popcorn ceilings, orange peel ceilings, or some other type of finish that requires a special technique to get it looking right.
You might be tempted to skip your ceiling when painting your home, but the reality is that people will notice.
And you’ll notice, too.
You think you won’t, but trust me – you will.
We’re PurcellPro Painting, a Willow Grove PA painting contractor.
Read on to find out more about how to best paint your ceiling.
Call A Professional
It’s always a good idea to call in a professional for any home renovation project, whether it’s house painting, plumbing, HVAC, or anything g else.
But some folks like the challenge of a DIY project.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
Keep in mind, though, that making mistakes in your DIY paint job can end up costing you in the long run.
Not only will it eat up more of your time, it can end up costing more once you call in the professionals.
But if you’re dead set on a DIY approach, don’t let us stop you.
Here’s how to paint your ceiling.
How To Paint Your Ceiling
Take a look at your ceiling, and imagine painting it a different color.
Seems complicated, doesn’t it?
Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it step by step.
1. Prep The Room
Before you even think of cracking open that can of paint, you need to make sure to protect the room.
That means everything you’re not planning on painting needs to be either covered with a drop sheet or moved to another room altogether.
You might think using old bed sheets for a drop sheet works just fine, but the reality is these aren’t thick enough.
Drop a larger gob of paint on them – which is more likely when you’re painting a ceiling – and it’ll seep right through.
You’re better off picking up thicker drop cloths from the local hardware store.
Next, use painters tape to mark off the edges of the ceiling.
This will protect it from any loose paint.
2. Prep & Sand The Ceiling
Ceilings might not be subject to the same bumps as your wall.
After all, nobody bumps into them.
However, ceiling paint can crack and chip just as easily.
Make sure you fill in any larger holes or cracks using drywall putty.
Then sand it down so it’s flush with the rest of the ceiling.
Use a sanding pole – it’s easier than using a ladder to get up close and personal.
And your sandpaper should be about 100 grit.
Now that your ceiling is even, wipe it down with a wet sponge.
This will get rid of any leftover drywall dust, which will stop your paint from getting a firm hold on your ceiling.
3. Prime The Ceiling
Now, get out the roller and cover your ceiling with a coat of primer.
Yes, the whole ceiling.
This is because primer will cover stains and discoloration better than your paint will.
It’s also cheaper, so you’re better off using it than an extra coat or three of pint.
Once it’s fully coated, clean off your brushes – it’s time to paint.
4. Paint Your Ceiling
Give your primer time to dry.
Primer doesn’t take as long as regular paint to dry.
It’s generally dry to the touch after an hour or so, but it’s a good idea to wait for at least 3 hours for it to fully dry.
Now, get out your paintbrush and paint around the edges of your wall.
Make sure your painting tape is secured tightly against the wall as you do.
Otherwise, the paint might seep underneath it, and that defeats the whole purpose.
Do this in small sections – paint as much as you can reach with your ladder position, then get down and use your roller on the area near where you just brushed the edges.
Because your brush work will still be wet, this will give you the best finish.
Then move to the next section with your brush, feathering the two spots together so it looks seamless.
Rinse and repeat until the entire ceiling is painted, then let it dry and add another coat.
It’s uncommon to need a third coat, but you might consider it if it looks like it needs it.
Remove your painting tape once it’s dry to the touch, and voila!
Enjoy your fancy new ceiling.
Call PurcellPro Painting
Does that sound like a lot of work?
Yeah, it is.
But that’s why we’re here.
We’re PurcellPro Painting, a painting company in Willow Grove PA and the surrounding area.
Got a residential or commercial painting project you’d like to take care of?
No problem – call us today for a free estimate.
