How to Paint a Ceiling

Clear and protect the room

Move furniture out or to the centre of the room and cover the floor fully with a dust sheet. Ceiling painting drips more than wall painting.

Fill and sand any cracks

Fill hairline cracks and nail holes with putty, let it dry, then sand smooth before painting.

Cut in the edges

Using a brush, paint a neat band around the edge of the ceiling where it meets the walls, working in small sections.

Roll in small sections

Using a roller on an extension pole, work in sections of about 1 m by 1 m in a W pattern. Always overlap into the wet edge of the previous section so no lines show.

Tip: Wear a hat and eye protection. Even a careful roller can flick a little paint upwards.

Apply a second coat

Let the first coat dry fully, then apply a second coat in the same way for even, opaque coverage.