Home improvement can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never taken on a big renovation project before. But there are many DIY home improvement projects that are easier to do than you think. Why pay a contractor when you can save money and experience the rewarding feeling of finishing a home improvement project yourself? In this article, we’ll focus on a very simple home improvement procedure that anyone can do: painting your ceiling.
Getting the Right Tools
To prepare for this task, it’s important to get the right tools. A good roller with an extension handle is essential for making the job easier, allowing you to paint comfortably while standing on the floor instead of on a ladder. If you have textured ceiling, you’ll want to get a thick-nap roller to make sure you reach the spaces between the bumps of the texture. If you have a smooth ceiling, a smooth short-nap roller works best.
Preparing the Room
Start by removing all the furniture from the room (or as much of it as possible) before you start painting. Cover the floors and remaining furniture with newspaper or, if you can, canvas cloth, which works better and is reusable, though a bit expensive. Cover any areas of the wall that you don’t want to paint, i.e. door frames, window frames, etc, with quick-release painter’s tape.
Apply the Primer
Priming the ceiling before applying the actual paint is highly recommended. It’ll make the coat of paint last longer and will ensure that you only have to apply one coat. Use primer with stain-blocker if you can.
Start With a Cut-In Line
After the primer has dried, start by painting a 2 to 3-inch strip of paint along the space where the wall meets the ceiling. This is called the cut-in line, and it will make painting with a roller easier, as it’ll provide you with a more manageable border. Use a brush and a step ladder and start with the corner of the shortest length of ceiling.
Painting the Ceiling
After the cut-in line (and while it’s still wet) take out the roller and start painting. Make sure to roll the roller back and forth in the shallow part of the tray to get rid of excess paint after you’ve dipped it. This will give you an even coverage on the roller. Paint in a zigzag pattern, and then go over it with straight strokes to fill in the gaps and even the paint out.