Painting Techniques for Ceilings & Floors

Cutting-in Technique For Ceilings

• You will need to "cut in" the ceiling before painting large areas in the middle to keep from applying paint where you don't want it. Cutting in consists of carefully painting the area where the wall meets the ceiling. A high-quality brush is the best way to cut in these areas, according to "The Painted Surface" website. Often, special painting tape is used to catch the paint in case the paintbrush bristles wander onto the wall. Use the thin adhesive tape specially made for this purpose.

Roller Painting Ceilings

• Use a high-quality roller with an extension handle to apply paint to large areas after you have cut in the ceiling. Wear a cap and eye goggles to protect your face against drips. Apply the paint in small blocks, blending edges carefully for uniform coverage.

Spray Painting Ceilings

• Spray-painting is a good technique for painting textured ceilings. Cover furniture and other items in the room to prevent drips. Spray with an even motion, avoiding covering any area too much or causing drips that will show when the paint dries. Spray in an "east-west "direction and then "north-south" to cover all areas.

Cleaning Floors Before Painting

• Paint the ceiling, then walls then the floor to avoid drips onto a newly painted floor. Flooring sees a lot of dirt, so it's particularly important to clean the floors to remove grime, grease and other paint spills so that the floor paint can bind properly to the surface. Use a solution of household cleaning detergent and water, and rinse thoroughly. Allow the floor to dry completely before painting. Opening windows or turning on fans will speed drying times.

Leveling Floors

• After cleaning, inspect the floor to check for dents, bumps and other unevenness in the surface that will be magnified after painting. Do this inspection at night, using an automotive trouble light to see exactly where the dents and elevations are, suggests the "Ask The Builder" website's home-improvement expert, Tim Carter Sand down bumps to match the rest of the floor level. Fill dents and cracks with wood filler, allow it to dry, then sand lightly to make a good base for paint application.

Applying Primer to Floors

• Prime the floor before painting to ensure there is good adhesion of paint to the floor surface. Primer helps the floor hold the paint evenly across its surface. Always start at the far end of the room and work toward the door. Cut in along floor trim and in corners with primer before rollering center areas. Primer can be applied with a roller or paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before painting the topcoat.

Paint the Floor

• Even a floor deserves a good-quality roller or brush for painting. Use the best painting equipment you can afford to save time and frustration. Carefully cut in along floor molding and into tight corners. Roller small patches of the floor in an east-west then north-south direction to cover completely. Move on to another patch and continue this way until the entire floor is painted.