Painting With Joint Compound on Ceilings

When you paint ceilings, you might also need to work with joint compound. Joint compound fills holes, gouges and depressions in the ceilings, so you can have a smooth surface on which to paint. Make sure the areas you fill with joint compound don't become higher than the rest of the ceiling surface. You'll also have to ensure that the joint compound dries fully before painting. However, using joint compound properly gives you a more professional result.

Joint compound
Trowel or putty knife
Sandpaper
Primer
Paint
Paint roller
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Find areas of the ceiling with holes or grooves, simply by looking at the ceiling or by shining a light on the surface to identify problem areas.
- 2
  Pick up some joint compound using a trowel or a putty knife, then apply it to the uneven areas of the ceilings. If the depressions are deep, you may have to apply the joint compound several times. Let the joint compound dry for as long as recommended on the product packaging. This can take about 24 hours.
- 3
  Sand raised areas of the ceiling with 100-grit sandpaper, focusing on the edges of the areas where you applied joint compound. This helps blend the raised areas with the rest of the ceiling, so you get an even surface.
- 4
  Apply primer to the ceiling with a paint roller, switching to a paintbrush for the edges. Primer will help paint stick to the ceiling. Let the primer dry completely.
- 5
  Sand the ceiling lightly to get rid of any fuzz and lumps. This step is optional, but it will help with paint adhesion.
- 6
  Apply paint to the ceiling with a paint roller and a paintbrush, doing as many coats as it takes to achieve the color you want.

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