Any tips on painting a ceiling?

anotherquestion

Hi folks,

Though I have painted before I am definitely no pro, so need to do front room again. I have cleared a good bit of stuff out of it.

Obviously will do ceiling first in white. Walls will be a light cream colour, not too dissimilar to the present colour.

What's the best way to do the ceiling for eg, do a few inches around the perimeter where it meets the top of the wall, and then roll, or use the roller first and then cut in to the wall, or even just use the roller all the way tight into the walls, even though white paint will get on walls, but will be painted over anyway, with the wall paint.

I do understand that I have to finally use a brush to cut the wall into the ceiling.

Thanks for any advice.

pramsay13

I'm not a painter either but I've done a few rooms. 
I would cut in around the edge of the ceiling using a brush and then roll the rest. 
Don't roll to the edge hoping to paint over it as often you will get bumps or spills which even when painted over can be seen in certain light so it looks messy. 

TimeLord1

Yep, cover everything or remove it from the room and wear old clothes and shoes. Mask the walls or use an edge guide to cut in. Get a retractable pole less arm ache. 

Grenage

Painting the ceiling is exactly the same process as painting a wall.  Cut-in, roll the ceiling, cut-in again, and roll once more. 

Don't overload the brush when cutting-in, and you can get framing (an outline).  If you want the best finish, run a roller over the cutting-in as you go round, to get a consistent texture.  I don't normally bother.

jackieblack

Personally, if the walls are going to be a pale colour, I’d do the ceiling in the same colour - it saves a lot of faff and I’m not good with ladders or straight lines 

kimwp

jackieblack said:

Personally, if the walls are going to be a pale colour, I’d do the ceiling in the same colour - it saves a lot of faff and I’m not good with ladders or straight lines 

Same. Just do the whole room in the same colour, it looks much nicer.

sheenas

A hat or something on the head is a good tip and a pole in the end of the roller works for me.

silvercar

This was discussed quite recently

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6603241/how-difficult-to-paint-a-ceiling/p1

hareng

Use a paint pad much quicker and a better finish, cut in after.
If want best finish, spray it.

anotherquestion

Thanks very much everybody for the very helpful replies. 

So the consensus seems to be for the ceiling to do the cutting in around the perimeter of ceiling first, rather than the rolling, probably in the past I did the rolling first as I felt I could see more progress quickly, then the cutting in, but did notice you could see where I cut in if I looked closely enough.

Am I right in thinking that doing the cutting in first somehow helps to get rid of the above effect.

Many thanks again.

Albermarle

anotherquestion said:

Thanks very much everybody for the very helpful replies. 

So the consensus seems to be for the ceiling to do the cutting in around the perimeter of ceiling first, rather than the rolling, probably in the past I did the rolling first as I felt I could see more progress quickly, then the cutting in, but did notice you could see where I cut in if I looked closely enough.

Am I right in thinking that doing the cutting in first somehow helps to get rid of the above effect.

Many thanks again.

Yes that would be my opinion.
Best if you can roll over at least part of the cutting in, so get as close to the side wall with the roller as you can without depositing paint on it.