Painting The Ceilings New Drywall
Painting ceilings is fairly straight forward. Easiest method is with a sprayer, will save you enormous amounts of time, and will create a better looking job with less imperfections. But the conventional roller and paint brush method works perfectly well.
Here's The Steps
Pro Tip
Use a masking tape to remove the loose fuzz that sometimes clings to roller covers. Wrap the entire cover with tape,and pull it off. This works for both short-and long-nap covers.
1. Cutting in the ceiling. Use a 2 or 3 inch brush to cut in around the edge of the ceiling. If some paint gets on the wall surfaces, wipe it off with a rag. Cut in around light fixtures and ceiling fans.
2. Checking the roller. Place the roller cover on the frame, making sure that the end of the roller is flush with the end of the frame. Ceiling work is faster if the roller is mounted on an extension pole. In this case, place the roller tray on the floor. Some people prefer to work from a ladder to get close-up control of holding the roller handle. In this case, use the hooks on the bottom of the paint tray to secure the tray to the ladder's shelf.
3. Loading the paint tray. Fill the bottom portion of the tray with paint. Try to keep the paint off the can label as it is poured, you may need to read the label directions or specifications later. Inexpensive guards (they look like the bill of a cap) keep paint off the label and out of the top of the can. Use a brush to clean up the top of the can, then set the cover loosely on top. Put the can in an out of the way place, preferably just outside the room, so you don't need to worry about knocking it over. Dip the roller in the paint. Use the sloped part of the tray to take off the excess. Repeat the process until the roller is saturated but not dripping.
4. Rolling out the Paint. Apply the paint in a zigzag "N" or "W" pattern. The idea is not to paint neat zigzags, (which is hard to do with an extension pole anyway). The idea is to roughly apply the paint, which is spread out evenly. In subsequent strokes lay the zigzag pattern over an area that is within comfortable reach – about 3 feet by 5 feet. Roll using even strokes that overlap the edges at the beginning and end. Continue painting in sections, overlapping from each "new" area into the just-painted area, thus keeping a wet edge. As you come to the end of a stroke, do not simply stop rolling and then lift the roller. Instead, feather it. Watch for roller marks as you apply the paint. Roller marks are thin lines caused by a buildup of paint that flows off the edges of the roller. They are also caused by putting excessive pressure on the roller. If lines appear, try using less pressure. If the paint is not adhering properly, it's probably not because you are pushing too softly. Most likely, it is because the roller needs more paint. Do not make the mistake so many beginners make by "dry rolling". Keep the roller loaded with ain't for an even coat.
Check frequently for runs or drips. If you see imperfections in a wet area, eliminate them by going over the area with a fairly dry roller. Be careful not to re-roll areas that have started to become tacky. Doing this causes an "orange peel" effect that may not blend in when the paint dries. If you create an "orange peel" area, sand it out and repaint the entire surface.
