| Home improvement can be a bit intimidating if you've | | | | any areas of the wall that you don't want to paint, |
| never taken on a big renovation project before. But | | | | i.e. door frames, window frames, etc, with |
| there are many DIY home improvement projects | | | | quick-release painter's tape. |
| that are easier to do than you think. Why pay a | | | | Apply the Primer |
| contractor when you can save money and | | | | Priming the ceiling before applying the actual paint is |
| experience the rewarding feeling of finishing a home | | | | highly recommended. It'll make the coat of paint last |
| improvement project yourself? In this article, we'll | | | | longer and will ensure that you only have to apply |
| focus on a very simple home improvement | | | | one coat. Use primer with stain-blocker if you can. |
| procedure that anyone can do: painting your ceiling. | | | | Start With a Cut-In Line |
| Getting the Right Tools | | | | After the primer has dried, start by painting a 2 to |
| To prepare for this task, it's important to get the | | | | 3-inch strip of paint along the space where the wall |
| right tools. A good roller with an extension handle is | | | | meets the ceiling. This is called the cut-in line, and it |
| essential for making the job easier, allowing you to | | | | will make painting with a roller easier, as it'll provide |
| paint comfortably while standing on the floor instead | | | | you with a more manageable border. Use a brush and |
| of on a ladder. If you have textured ceiling, you'll | | | | a step ladder and start with the corner of the |
| want to get a thick-nap roller to make sure you | | | | shortest length of ceiling. |
| reach the spaces between the bumps of the | | | | Painting the Ceiling |
| texture. If you have a smooth ceiling, a smooth | | | | After the cut-in line (and while it's still wet) take out |
| short-nap roller works best. | | | | the roller and start painting. Make sure to roll the |
| Preparing the Room | | | | roller back and forth in the shallow part of the tray |
| Start by removing all the furniture from the room (or | | | | to get rid of excess paint after you've dipped it. This |
| as much of it as possible) before you start painting. | | | | will give you an even coverage on the roller. Paint in a |
| Cover the floors and remaining furniture with | | | | zigzag pattern, and then go over it with straight |
| newspaper or, if you can, canvas cloth, which works | | | | strokes to fill in the gaps and even the paint out. |
| better and is reusable, though a bit expensive. Cover | | | | |