Tools & Materials
· 9” or 18” Roller and tray
· Long-handled Mini-roller (Radiator Roller)
· Extension pole
· Ceiling Emulsion
· Wall Emulsion
· Paint or Varnish for Woodwork
Check for plasterboard nail damage
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Check the ceiling for exposed plasterboard nails or screws. This is a good indicator of the quality of the existing ceiling-paint as a number of nails showing probably means that the build-quality leaves something to be desired. This is especially true of modern apartments which have been built quickly. In my experience the existing paint is more likely to come off on the roller unless you are very careful.
As you look up at the ceiling it is often evident that the plaster covering a nail or screw is unsound and is likely to come away. Take your hoover and hold the nozzle against the plaster - if it's unsound it will come away immediately.
The best way to treat these types of holes is to fill with spackling and allow to set completely. If you try and paint over unset filler it will not work! When the filler is completely cured paint as normal.
Oh No!
Of course that's all very well if you've spotted all the dodgy bits and have filled them as directed. But of course it's likely that several more may come to light only when you begin to roll the ceiling paint on and you're left with holes in the ceiling again.
Don't despair - it's a nuisance that's all!
Spackling takes too long to set and you're already rolling and haven't time to waste. Instead squeeze some acrylic filler into the hole and spread using a filler knife. Allow to set for as long as you can afford but generally around 15 minutes at least. You can then continue rolling the ceiling.
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Make sure you overpaint onto the wall
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Method – Standard ceilings
1. Go around the ceiling edges using a long-handled mini-roller, making sure
you overpaint onto the wall.
2. Paint around the ceiling rose with the mini-roller as well
3. Attach extension pole to large roller and adjust to comfortable working
height
4. Load roller with paint. Roll backwards and forwards in tray until roller is
evenly coated
Watch for drips as you lift the roller from the tray and move it to the wall or ceiling!
5. Press roller against ceiling. Slowly, roll smoothly backwards and forwards
using long, even strokes
6. Continue until you feel roller needs more paint
7. Re-load with paint and continue rolling backwards and forwards
8. Continue until ceiling is completely covered |
Roll evenly backwards and forwards
A 9” or 18” roller will not be able to cover right into the edge between the ceiling and the wall so switch to the mini-roller. Make sure the mini-roller is loaded with plenty of paint particularly at the end in order to seal the edge between the ceiling and the wall.
If it is necessary to apply two coats of paint to a ceiling – and it usually is! - you will get a much better result if you roll in one direction first and then at 90 degrees for the second coat. This minimises missed spots due to irregularities in the ceiling itself.
And again... Oh No!
Things are going really nicely and then... part of the ceiling is now wrapped around your roller leaving you with a nasty patch of peeling skin. Don't despair it can be almost invisibly repaired as follows...
Step 1. Wait until the paint dries - then peel and cut the skin back carefully
until you reach sound surface
Step 2. Apply PVA adhesive and let it dry.
Step 3. Get something like a piece of hardboard and squeeze out an appropriate
amount of acrylic filler
Step 4. Sprinkle some water onto the filler and mix it in. This makes the filler
thinner and easier to apply – you are only filling to a depth of 1 or 2
millimetres
Step 5. Take a broad-blade filler knife and smooth into the damaged area
Step 6. Let it dry. Repeat 3, 4, and 5 if necessary
Step 7. Paint carefully
Step 8. Admire your handiwork!
The original emulsion has come away with the roller
Mix acrylic filler on board as described Apply carefully and this is the end result!
