Pro Tips for Painting Ceilings

1. Establish a Strong Foundation

As a professional painter, you understand the importance of solid preparation when painting a ceiling – from moving and/or covering furniture and fixtures, to inspecting the surface and making necessary repairs, to cleaning and – of course – priming. Sure, ceilings don’t get normal wear and tear, but they can sustain other types of damage such as water stains, mold found in bathrooms, and grease spots often seen in kitchens. Here’s where the right primer can make a world of difference. How?

Well, the fact is that not all primers are created equal! Most are designed to strengthen adhesion and prevent peeling, as well as deliver a smooth, uniform finish – yet not all primers are specifically formulated to block stains. Therefore, to ensure effective stain-blocking and a successful paint job, make sure you 1) thoroughly clean and/or remove any damage and 2) use a stain-blocking primer specifically developed for the type and severity of the damage you’re tackling.

When dealing with light to medium stains — scuff marks, handprints, pencil, ink pen, crayons, for example — you’ll achieve the best results applying primers that are specifically formulated to prevent these kinds of stains from bleeding through your finish. Consider Primers such as BEHR® Kitchen, Bath & Trim Stain-Blocking Primer & Sealer and BEHR® Multi-Surface Stain Blocking Primer & Sealer which deliver excellent adhesion and sealing properties while providing a sound anchor for paints.

Heavy stains, including water, smoke, and tannin bleeding, require a more powerful primer like KILZ® Restoration Primer, which not only blocks heavy stains, but also seals pet food and smoke odours. 

2. Use the Right Paint

Once preparation is complete, it’s time to apply. For superior results, ensure you use a coating created explicitly for ceilings. Why? Ceiling paints are specifically formulated to minimize lap marks and spatter, which makes the paint job easier and neater.

3. Get the Direction Right

The decision between rolling and spraying a ceiling depends on several factors such as the type of project, the surface texture, and the size of the area to be painted.

When painting smooth ceilings, the best strategy is to roll parallel with the main source of natural light, such as a big window, as it helps prevent roller lines. If you roll perpendicular to the dominant light source, the roller lines can form a slight shadow.

The same applies when spraying. While it is less of an issue on textured ceilings, it is still best practice to spray in a parallel direction with the incoming light source.