Painting Tips for Ceilings
Painting your ceiling is a big job. It’s also a messy one and not something you should take on yourself. But you can do some preparation to get the room ready for painting.
A professional painting contractor in San Diego will come in, get to work, and finish on time with beautiful results. They know how to paint a ceiling and have plenty of experience.
How to prepare when painting Ceilings
When you hire a house painter in San Diego, they will take care of things for you, but you can get some of the prep work done before they arrive.
Move and Cover Furniture
If you can get the furniture moved out of the room, that will make your interior painter’s job much easier. If you can’t remove it all, cover the remaining furniture up completely.
Keep in mind they will need to move their ladder around the room, so make sure it is not in the way. Pushing them all into the center of the room is the easiest. Cover them in plastic and fasten at the bottom.
Cover Your Floor
Paint is going to drip. Even in the hands of any of San Diago’s finest painting contractors, there will be some droplets that fall. Make sure your entire floor is covered, right up to the baseboards.
Sand Rough Spots
Flaking paint, uneven built-up paint, or old bubbles in paint need to be sanded down. These flaws will show through if they are not taken care of. Sanding will make it much easier to paint and the results are much more pleasing.
If you have detailed decorative elements on your ceiling, these should be carefully sanded down. The finer the sanding, the better they will look. These moldings tend to get painted over without sanding and start to lose detailing and their beauty.
There are different types of sandpaper you need. The detailed moldings need to be carefully sanded with a softer paper or a sanding sponge so as not to ruin the woodwork or details.
Fill in Holes
Nail holes, holes from screw-in holders for plants or lighting fixtures, or any other dents, cracks, or damage should all be filled in or repaired. Don’t paint over any big holes, or fill them in with something that will not stand up.
Chances are, you will not be doing this part of it. Any worthy painting contractor in San Diego will do all of these for you, or recommend someone to make the repairs you need to your ceiling.
If you have cracks or discoloration, you likely have had water damage before. Make sure that it has all been fixed and inspected before you paint, so you don’t have to do it again a few months later.
Buy Good Paint
Painting in your home is already a big enough job, so don’t cut corners on cheaper paint. You want it to last a long time. When you are looking to buy paint, ask your interior painter in San Diego for advice on the best paints to buy.
A better quality of paint will last longer, you won’t need as much, and it is so much easier to work with. It will go on easier and not need as many coats. The aftercare is also better, however, you shouldn’t have too many fingerprints on your ceiling.
But you will have the best results with paint that is made just for ceilings. Look for paint that doesn’t splatter, dries slowly, as the can will be open a long time, and is flat instead of glossy. You can also find tinted paint, to give the room a sense of depth.
Get Quality Brushes
The last thing you want is to have painted in bits of fuzz from your roller brush, hairs from your paintbrush, or tools that fall apart while you are working. A better quality brush isn’t that much more expensive.
It’s also a good idea to have a spare, just in case there are problems or one gets damaged or goes missing. Letting half the paint dry while you go find another brush can make your ceiling patchy and the brush marks will show.
Edges First
Before you engage your rollers you need to paint or cut your edges. Go around the entire ceiling’s edges and put a good covering of paint on with your brush. A good tip is to cut about 10 feet, then use your roller on that part of the ceiling.
This will make sure the paint and color is more even. Once the paint dries, it can have a different hue. Doing the rolling and the cutting at the same time allows the paint to blend much better.
Roll Back and Forth
Move the roller back and forth, but keep the movements in a smaller section. Use steady even movements, and try to keep it in the same direction. If you go in diagonals, these will show when the paint dries.
Keep moving down the ceiling to make sure you get an even coverage. Be careful around lighting fixtures or any decorative edges. If there is a pattern in the middle, cut those and paint them by hand, not the roller.
Be very careful with textured ceilings. Stucco bits can get knocked off and fall down, maybe even leaving a large flat patch in the ceiling. Don’t apply too much pressure, in particular, if the home is older.
Don’t Be Afraid of Color
If you are not sure what colors would work, just ask your interior painter in San Diego when you book them. They will know best which colors will offset the room and the decor.
Residential painters in San Diego have a lot of experience so when you hire your contractor, make sure you ask all the questions you have before they start. They will be happy to let you know what needs to happen and what you can or shouldn’t do to make the job go smoothly and professionally.
If you arent sure where to start our painting contractors in San Diego can help! Contact us today or request a free quote below.