How to use a roller to paint the ceiling?

Which paint to choose?

Different types of paint are used for painting, but their characteristics and scope of application are determined by the base.

There are two types of base:

• Water-based. Water-based paints are environmentally friendly and safe. They are practically odorless and dry quickly. There are different types that are suitable for finishing different rooms, which you can read about below.
• Oil-based. They have a low price, but have a pungent odor and a long drying time. In addition, oil-based compositions have low vapor permeability and a tendency to crack. Therefore, they are rarely used for residential premises.

If you decide to use oil-based paint, see how to get rid of the smell.

Water-based paints are used for painting concrete, wood, plastered and brick surfaces. You can even wash the tool after water-based paint with water, and working with it is not hazardous to health.

Water-based paints hide small defects and irregularities, are easy to apply and have a long service life. Using such materials allows you to achieve excellent results.

There are the following types of water-based paints:

• Acrylic. In addition to water, acrylic polymers are present in the base. They give the composition useful properties: resistance to moisture and mechanical damage, and are also not afraid of the sun. A waterproof film is created on the surface that hides cracks up to 1 mm. It is often used to paint the ceiling in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Silicate, which are durable and resistant to changes in humidity and temperature. They contain liquid glass (sodium silicate). They have high vapor permeability and are not afraid of mold. They are often used for damp rooms. They are also not afraid of household chemicals, but have a limited number of colors.
• Silicone coatings are great for wet areas. They have all the advantages of silicate bases, but are absolutely not fragile..
• Mineral compositions contain lime or cement. Such a coating is easily dirty, scratched and washed off. They are rarely used, because they are very fragile and crumble.

In addition to the bases, it is important to pay attention to the type of surface, but it will play a greater role in the visual component of the interior.

• Matte paint will be an excellent choice in most cases. You need to be careful when using such material if the color of the ceiling matches the wall. To visually separate these surfaces and make the room more spacious, the texture should be different.
• Glossy coating helps to cope with this task. Due to the ability to reflect light, it visually increases the space, however, gloss reveals all the irregularities on the surface, so before using such a composition, you must carefully prepare the ceiling for painting. Glossy coating helps to reflect light. The room visually becomes higher, and the play of textures makes the finish more attractive.
• Semi-matte and semi-gloss compositions are compromise options that combine the advantages of both types.

See the comparison of matte and glossy ceilings.

The photo on the right shows the interior of the kitchen-living room with a matte blue ceiling. The rich dark tone echoes the color of the furniture. On the left we see a light glossy ceiling, on which small irregularities are visible.

Paints are classified as washable and non-washable. To choose what to paint the ceiling surface, you need to decide whether it will be exposed to moisture and cleaned with household chemicals.

What can you paint with?

The finishing process and the result of painting are affected by the choice of tool. Professional painters usually use the following tools for their work:

• Brush. When painting the ceiling with a brush, the result is sloppy stripes. In addition, when working with a brush, your hands may get numb. Therefore, a brush is often used to paint corners, joints and hard-to-reach places. For best results, use a 5-7 cm brush.
• Foam sponge. When painting with a sponge, unsightly stains may remain. It is almost never used as an independent method of painting the ceiling.
• Roller. The best option is a roller with a long handle and short pile. A velor roller allows you to create a coating without side stripes, however, its surface does not absorb paint well, so it becomes necessary to dip the tool into the tray more often. A foam roller contributes to the appearance of small bubbles, which must be leveled later. Choose a short pile for smooth surfaces, but a long one is better suited for surfaces with a slight texture.
• A spray gun is useful when painting a large area. As a result, you will get an evenly painted ceiling and a minimum of streaks. However, in this case, you will need a professional and more careful protection of your furniture from splashes.

To paint the ceiling in your apartment, it is best to use a roller. Its ease of use and affordable price make it an ideal choice for painting. A variety of options, differing in materials, surface width and pile length, allows you to choose the most suitable tool. And thanks to the long handle, the speed of work increases and you get tired less.

To achieve the best result, use a combination of a roller and a brush.

Painting rules

To paint the ceiling at home with high quality, you do not need to have experience in doing this kind of work. Follow these simple rules and your ceiling will delight you with its appearance for a long time.

• Provide good lighting to control the process.
• Observe temperature conditions when painting and avoid drafts.
• Painting the ceiling should begin from the corner farthest from the door, that is, from the window. If painting is done in two layers, the first is applied along the window, the final one – across, that is, in the direction of the light.
• To avoid streaks, do not turn the roller over during painting.
• It is unacceptable to interrupt work until the layer is completely applied. Stops lead to drying of the coating at the joints of the painted and unpainted surfaces. Uneven areas are very noticeable in good lighting.

To avoid unpainted areas and unevenness, you need to work quickly. You need to correct the flaws before the paint hardens. In this case, you can get an excellent result.

• Constantly monitor the unpainted areas and thickenings and eliminate them before the paint layer dries. I recommend inspecting the ceiling from different angles before applying a new coat of paint.
• If possible, use a new roller for each layer to improve the quality of the paint.

How to paint yourself?

Before starting work, you need to make calculations and prepare all the necessary materials. Otherwise, you will urgently need something and you will be forced to stop the work.

See how to paint walls with your own hands.

Tools and materials

• Roller. I recommend choosing in accordance with the level of smoothness of your ceiling. But if you have difficulty, then choose medium pile.
• Telescopic rod. It will help you paint the ceiling comfortably and without your hands getting numb.
• A brush will come in handy for small parts and corners.
• A roller for easy and economical application of paint.
• Masking tape and film will be needed to protect furniture, floors and walls.
• A stepladder or stool for easy access when painting corners and hard-to-reach places.

Look at the features of painting tiles in the bathroom.

Preparing the ceiling

Before painting the ceiling, you need to prepare the surface for painting. In order for the paint to lie smoothly and evenly in the future, it is necessary to adhere to the following sequence of actions.

Preparation will differ depending on the type of base:

1. Old ceiling. In this case, it is necessary to completely get rid of the old finish. And if you plan to use light paint, then keep in mind that the dark base will show through. The same with the texture of the wood. Therefore, either plaster the base or choose darker shades.
2. Drywall. No additional dismantling manipulations are required.

If you have a concrete ceiling, here are the instructions for painting it.

It is important that there are no cracks, mold or crumbling finishes left on the entire surface.

1. After cleaning the ceiling, everything must be primed.
2. Next, do the plastering work to seal the seams between the floor slabs and eliminate cracks and unevenness.
3. Wait until completely dry.
4. Next, you should do the puttying for painting. You need to be especially careful when choosing materials if you are going to putty drywall for painting. Try to ensure that there are no dark spots left, otherwise everything will show through.
5. After the putty has completely dried (usually everything is ready in a day), it is necessary to treat the ceiling surface with fine-grained sandpaper.
6. Clean the ceiling from dust.
7. Treat with a primer.

After the putty has completely dried (usually everything is ready in a day), it is necessary to treat the ceiling surface with fine-grained sandpaper.

Clean the ceiling from dust.

Treat with a primer.

Step-by-step instructions

This guide is intended for working with water-based paint and a roller, as this is the most popular method of painting.

Before you start painting, make sure that the ceiling surface is absolutely flat, clean and primed!

1. Stir the paint. To avoid small lumps, you can filter it through cheesecloth folded in several layers.
2. Pour the paint into the rolling/tray.
3. Place the roller in the tray with paint. It is necessary to roll the tool several times along the ribbed side so that the paint is evenly absorbed into the surface of the roller. This will allow you to create uniform stripes on the ceiling.
4. The first layer should be applied parallel to the window, the second – perpendicular. It is better to move the roller from the wall to the window to be able to assess how the paint is laid. Look at the photo below:
5. Roll the roller with an overlap of 5-10 cm on the previously applied strip of paint. To ensure the necessary force, the angle between the tool handle and the surface to be painted should be no more than 45 degrees.
6. Carefully paint the joints of the walls and ceiling, the areas behind the heating pipes with a brush.
7. If streaks and unpainted areas are visible after two layers, a third one must be applied. It is necessary to wait about 12 hours for the previous layer of paint to dry.

Pour the paint into the rolling/tray.

Place the roller in the tray with paint. It is necessary to roll the tool several times along the ribbed side so that the paint is evenly absorbed into the roller surface. This will allow you to create uniform stripes on the ceiling.

The first layer should be applied parallel to the window, the second – perpendicular. It is better to move the roller from the wall to the window to be able to assess how the paint is laid. Look at the photo below:

Roll the roller with a 5-10 cm overlap on the previously applied paint strip. To ensure the necessary force, the angle between the tool handle and the surface being painted should be no more than 45 degrees.

Carefully paint the joints of the walls and ceiling, the areas behind the heating pipes with a brush.

If streaks and unpainted areas are visible after two layers, a third one must be applied. You must wait about 12 hours for the previous layer of paint to dry.

Video guide

The following video explains the features of painting the ceiling. Following the recommendations from the video tutorial will help you avoid mistakes in your work.

Painting the ceiling is a simple way to transform the interior, which even a beginner can easily handle. And due to the low cost of materials and tools, this type of finishing will suit absolutely everyone.