Painting a ceiling can fill you with dread. It’s not one of the easiest jobs when painting your home. People often complain of being covered in drips of paint, having a sore arm from holding the brush and having to balance on top of a ladder. The lighting can be different too. Also, not all ceilings are flat – many have a textured coating. So what are the best techniques when painting a ceiling?

Paint Selection – The right sort of a paint is essential as there are so many to choose from. The broadest categories of paint are oil and latex. Then there is the type of finish – high gloss and matt are the two main types.

But choosing paint for your ceiling can be more complex than that. Some paints are especially for particular types of ceilings such as texture coated and acoustic tile. Acoustic tiles will normally be found in “home cinema” rooms.

Textured/Popcorn Ceilings – If you have a textured ceiling the only way of painting it will be to use a sprayer. The professionals make sprayers look easy but for a novice it can actually be quite difficult. You will need good ventilation and the correct consistency of paint. If the paint is at the wrong consistency then the sprayer will either clog up or spay out a watery paint.

Do You Need Primer? If you are painting on a new surface then a primer is essential otherwise you would need a lot more top coats. The primer can help hide discolorations that can show through regular paint. Using a primer will also help give a good surface so that the layers of paint adhere; reducing drips.

How to Reduce Dripping Paint – If your paint is too thin there is the risk that it’ll splatter. Test a bit out on a vertical surface to see if the paint runs. If it does then it will more than likely drip when applied to the ceiling.

Move your roller back and forth at a steady speed. If you go too fast this will increase the chance of splattering. For tall ceilings a roller with an extension pole will make your work much easier and prevent neck strain. Also, don’t put too much paint on the roller.

If you have the pole extended out at a slight angle you will find this more comfortable and you’ll be able to avoid paint splattering all over you. Just ensure you don’t have the pole extended too far out as it will feel a lot heavier to use.

For most of us, painting a ceiling shouldn’t be too painful as using a roller is very easy and quick to use.