How to Paint Beams

Remove furniture and other items from the room. It is always easier to paint in an empty room. Cover the floor with drop cloths.

Dust the beams with a broom. Beams tend to collect lots of dust and cobwebs. Painting over loose dirt and dust not only looks bad, but it also prevents the paint from penetrating the surface.

Apply a primer coat to the beams. Use a high-quality latex primer. Buy full- and half-size rollers. Pour the primer into paint tray. Dip the roller into the tray and start priming the beams. Continue priming the beams with the roller until you have done all the beams in the room. Once you've finished with the roller, prime all the edges with a brush. Keep a damp rag with you. If you get primer on the ceiling, wipe it off with the rag. Allow the primer coat to dry.

Paint the beams. Concentrate on one beam at a time. It's better to paint the edges first when you are applying the finished coat. Painters refer to this "cutting in." The roller will overlap the cut-in line and hide the brush marks. Pour the paint into a container you're able to hold in your hand. Dip the brush into the container and begin painting the edges. Paint a 2- to 3-inch-wide cut-in line along the beam. After you've painted the edges, paint the beam with the roller. Overlap the cut-in line and roll the beam with the roller. Keep the roller saturated with paint. Continue until all the beams are painted. Let this coat dry.

Apply a second coat. The second coat of paint will give the beams a finished and professional look.