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Painting Ceilings
"Can I paint my Ceiling?"
There are many types of ceiling, and we'll try to address the most common types here. If you have a ceiling not mentioned here, email us!
  1. Flat or Untextured
  2. Stipple, Knock-down, & Popcorn texture
  3. Other Texture / Plaster
  4. Wood
  1. Flat & Untextured ceilings, including new drywall.
    • Clean the area well. If there have been smokers or greas-fires anywhere in the house, a residue could get between the original paint and your new paint.
    • If it has any gloss, it would be advisable to sand it lightly to cut the shine a bit.
    • If it is unpainted drywall, prime with a primer/sealer. If it is currently oil, we recommend a super-adherent Latex primer.
    • Apply 2 coats of a low-shine paint. In most cases, latex paint is recommended.
      • It is a good idea to use higher shine in kitchens and bathrooms for moisture resistance and durability.

  2. Stipple, Knock-down, and Popcorn Texture, these are porous and crumbly type textures and require special care.
    • Determine if it has ever been painted before, or assume that it has not.
      • If it has been painted, you can usually safely use a low-shine latex paint.
      • If it has NOT been painted, or you are not sure, you MUST use OIL-BASED ceiling paint. Any water-based product may dissolve the texture and it could come down on your head like raining oat-meal!
    • Purchase enough paint for about 1 gallon per 250 square feet. Ceilings are difficult to predict quantities for because they soak up a LOT of paint.
    • Use either a 30mm nap lint-free roller or a 'Slit-Foam' roller.
    • MASK EVERYTHING!! Any area un-covered will somehow magically attract the paint to drip on it. It's a quirk of nature.
    • STRETCH thoroughly if you have not warmed up. Painting ceilings is hard on the neck, shoulders, back and arms.
    • Begin painting
      • Fill your roller up VERY full, and start in a corner.
      • Roll all in one direction for about 10' x 10' square, filling the roller as needed - usually about 3 to 6 times, depending on the ceiling type.
      • If using oil, immediately turn 90 degrees and paint the same area (this is your second coat); if latex, your second coat will be done later.
      • Repeat the process maintaining a wet edge to avoid 'lap-marks'.
      • If using latex, do a second coat when the whole area is dry for 4 or more hours.
    • When everything is done 2 coats, remove all your masking carefully - drips may still be wet.

  3. Other Textures and Plaster. Most of these have a finish on them. If they do not (ie they are new), see STIPPLE.
    • Make sure it is clean, and free of grease or smoke.
    • We recommend using a super-adherent latex primer since it's difficult to sand a texture.
    • Do 1 coat of primer, and 2 coats of a low-shine paint (we recommend latex), allowing at least 4 hours between coats.
    • Use a heavy pile lint-free roller or a slit-foam.

  4. Wood, finished or unfinished. Some woods are special, make sure to contact your paint dealer for more information.
    • Generally, Finished wood must be cleaned, sanded and primed with a super-adherant primer.
    • Unfinished wood should be cleaned, sanded, and primed with an OIL based primer/sealer.
    • Once the primer is dry, you can apply anything you want. We recommend a low-shine latex paint.
    • Use a medium pile lint-free roller to do 2 coats, allowing at least 4 hours between coats.

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