Ceiling Painting Mistakes To Avoid

If you want to add a touch of color to the interior of your home, then it may be time to invest in a little bit of paint. Painting the entire space may be necessary, and this means covering the ceiling as well as the walls. However, many people do not like to paint the ceiling. If you are not looking forward to this, then you may make a few common mistakes. Keep reading to learn about a few.

Not Cleaning First

The ceiling is often ignored when it comes to cleaning, and in fact, you may not see any dirt at all when you look up. However, there are a lot of things that can stick to your ceiling. Cobwebs are a sure bet and so are bits of sticky debris. For example, cat dander is typically quite sticky and can coat a ceiling. This is also true of smoke from the candles you burn in your home, and you may notice some water spots from previous roof leaks.

If you do not clean all of the debris away, you will see a multitude of issues. The paint is unlikely to stick like it should, and this can produce an uneven and thin coating. Also, you may see streaks and dark spots in the paint.

To prevent these sorts of issues, clean your ceiling thoroughly. Get up close to the ceiling by using a step ladder and run your finger across the corner molding where dirt is likely to hide. If your finger appears dirty, then use warm water, soap, and a telescoping scrub brush to clean. Warm water and a cotton cloth are all that is necessary if the ceiling does not appear that dirty.

Waiting Until Last

Most people will wait until the walls are finished until they start on the ceiling. This is a mistake. Simply put, you are likely to drip paint, and it will often get on your freshly painted walls. Also, since you need tools like long-handled rollers, step ladders, and elevated paint trays, you may just knock into the walls or dump paint all over them.

Paint your ceiling first. To make sure that you can do so safely, skip the plastic coverings. These are slippery when getting on and off a ladder, and they become more of a hazard once paint drips down. Use fabric drop cloths instead and also opt for a drip-free roller if possible. To reduce your need for trays, look for roller handles that can also be used as paint holders. These devices allow you to fill the handle with paint, and the paint is released onto the roller using a handle. A small guard often covers the underside of the roller as well to keep the paint from dripping on your head and hands.

For more information, contact residential painting contractors like those with Braendel Painting.

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