How to paint a ceiling?

Home renovations - major or cosmetic - always start from the upper levels. If you don’t want to spend money on design solutions in the form of tension or plasterboard structures, you can get by with just painting the ceiling. This budget option requires effort and time, as well as thorough preparation.

To paint the ceiling you will need: tools, paint, equipment, good lighting and 2-3 days of intensive work at height. To make the result pleasing, you need to follow simple rules and perform all actions step by step.

How to paint a ceiling correctly: a step-by-step guide

Painting is carried out in several stages, each of which is important to achieve an effective result - a smooth, beautiful ceiling without stains or cracks:

1. Correct and thorough surface preparation (cleaning, leveling, priming).
2. Directly the coloring itself.

Surface preparation

Before you start painting, you should:

• cover furniture that is difficult to remove from the room and the floor with film;
• remove old paint, whitewash, wallpaper or tiles;
• get rid of bulges and cracks using putty;
• level the surface with sandpaper and remove dust;
• prime the ceiling.

If the neighbors have flooded the apartment more than once, treating it with an antifungal liquid will not be superfluous.

Water emulsion and whitewash wash off with plain water and a sponge. A spatula is useful for removing thick layers of old whitewash and plaster.

To destroy traces of oil-based paint, you will need a remover that contains caustic chemicals and - of course! – gloves and respirator. However, experience shows that such solutions are only effective when removing recently applied coating. For a surface painted many years ago with oil paint you will need a composition of slaked lime, chalk and caustic soda. It is applied for a couple of hours, after which the residue is removed with a spatula.

Leveling the surface is a prerequisite before painting work, since after applying the paint all the cracks, depressions and bulges will become too visible. It is better to treat deep potholes and joints of concrete slabs with putty in several layers, waiting until the previous one has completely dried.

Priming will contribute to a more even and reliable coloring. It is important that the solution dries completely.

Painting the ceiling

Job starts with problem areas – corners and joints with the wall. The task is to paint the surface efficiently. This cannot be done with a roller, so you will have to use a brush. It is enough to apply paint over the entire width of the instrument (6–7 cm), and there is no need to do several layers at once, otherwise the difference between the main coating with a roller or spray will be visible.

Then they begin the actual painting. Here the brush is ineffective, since the area to be painted is quite large, and the work will take too long. Yes, and it is difficult to control the uniformity of paint distribution in this way.

When using a roller, the layers are applied perpendicular to the previous one: this will ensure that unpainted areas are not missed. The final one is done from the window to the opposite wall, so that minor flaws (strips, unpainted areas) are invisible in bright light. If there are several windows in the room, they focus on the larger one.

Usually two coats are sufficient. However, water-based paint that has been diluted too thinly can leave gaps, so you will have to go over the ceiling with a roller again.

Criteria for the selection of paints and features of their application

The right paint will help not only update the appearance of the ceiling, but also protect it from possible damage. Used ceiling dyes are water-based and oil-based. It is also worth deciding whether the ceiling needs a matte or glossy surface. With the help of the former it is easier to hide minor irregularities, and the latter will help to visually enlarge the space of a small room and make it brighter.

Water-based

This is the most popular option. Their advantages:

• easy to apply;
• if necessary, diluted with water;
• do not have a pungent odor;
• dry quickly;
• hide microcracks well;
• they are inexpensive.

The disadvantage of water-based emulsion is that instability to moisture, therefore it is better to use it in bedrooms, living rooms, children's rooms - in those rooms where there is no high humidity.

Acrylic

Universal ceiling covering for all types of rooms. It has all the advantages of a water-based emulsion, but there is no doubt a plus will be moisture resistance and resistance to mechanical damage. It is used for painting ceiling surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen.

Oily

Oil-based paints are rarely used to paint ceilings. This is explained by several reasons:

• the pungent odor requires the mandatory use of a respirator when painting;
• the painted ceiling takes a long time to dry;
• the surface “does not breathe”, and household members will feel the caustic fumes for a long time after painting.

These paints are practical for application to ceilings in non-residential premises (warehouse, basement) or outdoors, where resistance to moisture, light, and external damage is required.

Inventory selection

Before starting work on painting the ceiling take care of preparing the necessary tools . We will need:

• ladder;
• masking tape and film;
• putty knife;
• fine sandpaper;
• bucket with water;
• sponge or rag;
• vacuum cleaner;
• roller;
• container for putty, primer.

Painting work will additionally require:

• brush;
• paint tray.

A respirator (or mask), gloves, and a hat will be useful at all stages.

Roller + brush

The main tools of a home-grown painter are a roller (preferably with a telescopic handle) and a brush. Important, so that the bristles of the brush are firmly attached. It's easy to check - pull them hard.

The ideal roller is made from medium-length pile. The foam base is suitable for water-based compositions, and the fur base often leaves fluff on the fresh coating.

Spray painting technology

The spray gun is equipment for trained craftsmen. The ease of painting depends on your experience. Important keep the tool perpendicular to the surface and control uniformity.

Basic mistakes

Painting the ceiling is a simple matter.But even in this work, mistakes occur that will affect the final result.

Important do not stop the painting process until the coating is applied to the entire surface of the ceiling, otherwise stains and the appearance of “bald spots” cannot be avoided.

Provide adequate lighting during work. The more light falls on the surface, the more noticeable the flaws.

It is necessary to avoid high humidity and drafts: this affects the drying speed of the paint and provokes the formation of air bubbles.

Even an inexperienced person in repairs can master the rules for painting a ceiling. Main - perform all actions step by step and avoid making mistakes.