How to spray paint ceiling

Today I will teach you the complete method to spray paint your home ceilings or of your clients with this easy-to-understand and step-by-step guide.

Which will eventually help you out in each process that is required to do the job without creating any mess.

Newbies think this method to spray paint ceilings is quite difficult and they will make mistakes but it isn’t this.

It’s very easy to do the process if done correctly then they can bring a good look out of the work.

What could be better than taking a fresh coat of paint and painting it over your entire ceiling in every color you might possibly imagine so that it looks like the night sky?

Not only can this make your home look really cool, but it also gives it a friendly, relaxed feel.

Whether you’re making a flat roof or one that is more complicated to paint (e.g., textured or angled), preparing to take care of business is super important.

This means purchasing supplies, moving furniture if necessary, and understanding how to use tools correctly.

So that you don’t get into any kind of trouble while creating something awesome with your special talent!

How to spray paint ceiling?

Move furniture out from your ceiling

When dealing with painting in an apartment or home, one of the best tips for avoiding unnecessary hassle is to catch drips on furniture when they happen.

For example, if you’re painting the ceiling in your living room, move sofas, chairs, and tables into your kitchen or bedroom or outside if the weather allows.

You can also cover it properly if you can in order to save the furniture from paint stains and paint marks.

Cover the floor

When you first start painting the ceiling, it’s important to protect your floors from getting stained. You can use a drop cloth over the floor.

A drop cloth will keep your carpet or floors protected while you paint the ceiling.

Tape the walls

Mask the walls above the trim with painter’s tape.

Cover the edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling with a strip of painter’s tape, making sure to press firmly against the corner to ensure that it adheres.

If your wall has no trim, fold your tape directly over itself and put it against the baseboard inside where that finishes off at the ceiling.

By having a strip of painter’s tape along what will be your paint line you are ensuring that you aren’t going to accidentally cover any area in your room when you start painting.

step by step guide to spray paint ceiling
A step-by-step guide to painting ceiling

Cover your fixtures

No need to spill paint on your woodwork – and risk having to sand it down, repaint and redo the whole thing.

When painting, keep your fingers off that can opener by wrapping strips of tape around exposed light fixtures before you start slopping colors on the walls!

Tuck the edges of a torn piece of painter’s tape onto just one side of an open clip, making sure there are no gaps between the pieces.

Then press the sticky side against the fixture’s metal body and run your thumbs along all four sides to ensure 100% adhesion.

To be absolutely certain, once you finish taping off all fixtures near wet paint spills, go back over each one with fresh painter’s tape for added protection.

Repair the ceiling

You should repair damage to your drywall before painting. If you have a ceiling with damaged drywall, touch it up prior to painting over the ceiling.

If you want to touch up the damaged drywall yourself, pick up supplies at a home-improvement store and handle the patching on your own.

Alternatively, if you don’t feel comfortable handling the repairs on your own, hire a drywall contractor to fix the damaged wall.

Apply a coat of stain-blocking primer

To prepare the ceiling for painting, apply a coat of stain-blocking primer.

Use this handy tool to pour the primer into a paint tray and glide the roller across the top until it’s covered in primer.

You may cover both sides of the roller with primer if you prefer. Then apply a single, even coat to the ceiling by rolling it on evenly in straight lines.

This will create a smooth finish and your finished product is sure to look professional!

Allow 30 minutes for your stain-blocker to dry before proceeding to paint because it helps prevent unwanted paint stains such as smudges.

Or soiling from showing up on top of your newly painted surface.

Choose the sprayer and tip size

If you are planning to paint a room and want to do it as cheaply and easily as possible, consider renting an airless spray gun from your local hardware store.

The rental fee is usually only a few dollars per week, depending on how often you need the device.

Spraying doors, ceilings, and moldings are much faster than painting by brush or roller, allowing you to complete these tasks in no time with little-to-no mess involved.

In addition, since an airless sprayer applies paint at high pressure, it covers surfaces quickly and saves you money on paint supplies over time ($4 for a quart vs $18 for the same amount of paint)

Prepare the ceiling surface

When using an airless paint sprayer, one must be sure to cover anything they don’t want to be painted beforehand.

The overspray from an airless paint sprayer is wet and it settles onto anything, even if the surface is not in the range of fire.

If you have to keep furniture in the area where you are spraying, you need to make sure that everything is covered by plastic.

Having a wall strictly separating where you are painting on top and what lies underneath shows great attention to detail.

If you’re only painting the ceiling, this should also be done with plastic as well as a line being made between the gable box and the wall.

You can always just go around different items depending on your project.

But it’s much better to clean up any messes or move things because you value your own time and leave nothing for chance.

spray painting ceiling

Sand the ceiling

Sanding is one of the first steps that anyone needs to do before painting a ceiling.

Sanding removes old paint and easy-to-see mold or damage, leaving you with a clean surface that’s free of debris.

Pour sanding paper into your hand then drag the circular paper along the ceiling in small circles (while avoiding cobwebs and other potential messes).

If your ceiling has never been painted before it may be necessary to sand it down before doing so.

Use a step ladder

To reach your ceiling, you need to make sure that there is a step ladder available for you to stand on.

If the ceiling is higher than 8 feet (2.4 meters), then you’ll need to get a stepladder that allows you to reach the top of your ceiling.

Choose this ladder based on how tall it is and how far it can go up towards the ceiling so that when you do stand on it, you’re within reach of the entire area that needs repairing or repainting.

Now start painting

When you are spraying a large surface with an airless sprayer, make sure that you hold the spray tip about 6 to 12 inches away for the best results.

It is essential if you can spray in full sweeps from one wall to the other, but if you’re on a ladder or the surface being sprayed is very large or irregular.

This might not always be an option. Sometimes it’s necessary to work in sections.

The key here is to try and feather the spray at points where sections overlap by gradually moving the tip away from areas where paint may be unevenly distributed.

You will want to test your pattern on a piece of cardboard before beginning and make any adjustments.

That need to be made with your gun controls or pressure setting until the desired effect is achieved.

When it comes to ceiling painting, many people still prefer the old-fashioned way of a brush and a roller. However, there are some advantages to using a paint sprayer.

The main one is that you don’t need to be up on a ladder while spraying the ceiling, which can save you some time and get the job done quicker.

 One important thing to look out for when you’re planning on painting ceilings, however, is making sure that your paint sprayer is at an appropriate distance from the surface.

So as not to overflow onto the sides or edges of the wall or leave patches where the ceiling should be white instead of light in color.

If from time to time it’s more convenient for you to use brushes and rollers – go ahead!

After spray painting the ceiling

Likely the most important advice you’ll get as a painter is that you should clean up as you go. This means clearing all of your unwanted supplies from the area that you are painting.

Carefully remove any painter’s tape and other necessary items from walls and light fixtures.

So no paint ends up on them in the future, and dispose of any drop cloths you put on the floor during the job.

Tips from my experience

Before jumping into painting, there are a few things you should know. First, the weather can have an impact on your paint job.

Colder temperatures mean that paint takes more time to dry which can lead to chipping or peeling later on down the line and much more work for you.

Add additional drying time when the temperature is under 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but no longer than one day.

Protect yourself during this messy process because taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your furniture.

It’s common for professionals to wear ski masks, goggles, and respirators – latex primer will gum up even the best equipment.

So make sure to check out our quick tips on cleaning before getting started with your airless sprayer.

Is it better to roll or spray a ceiling?

It depends on the size of the ceiling and the type of paint you are using. If you are using paint with a high level of viscosity, it may be easier to roll it on with a paint roller.

If you are using paint with a lower viscosity or if you are trying to achieve a fine finish, it may be better to use a paint sprayer.

Rolling a ceiling can be a quick and easy way to apply paint, and it is well-suited for large surfaces.

It can also be a good option if you are working with a textured ceiling, as it can help to evenly distribute the paint and reduce the risk of drips.

On the other hand, using a paint sprayer can be a faster and more efficient way to cover a large ceiling. It can also produce a fine, even finish that is difficult to achieve with a roller.

However, using a paint sprayer requires more setup and cleanup, and it may not be as well-suited for textured ceilings or for applying thick, viscous paints.

Ultimately, the best method for painting a ceiling will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

It may be helpful to consider the size of the ceiling, the type of paint you are using, and the finish you are trying to achieve when deciding whether to roll or spray your ceiling.

What kind of sprayer do you use to paint a ceiling?

There are several types of paint sprayers that can be used to paint a ceiling, including airless sprayers, HVLP (high volume, low pressure) sprayers, and LVLP (low volume, low pressure) sprayers.

Airless sprayers use high pressure to atomize the paint and produce a fine, even finish. They are well-suited for large surfaces and thick paints, and they can be a good option for painting a ceiling. However, they can be loud and produce overspray, so they may not be the best choice for use in a residential setting.

HVLP sprayers use a high volume of air at low pressure to atomize the paint and produce a fine finish. They are generally quieter and produce less overspray than airless sprayers, making them a good choice for use in a residential setting. However, they may not be as efficient at covering large surfaces as airless sprayers.

LVLP sprayers are similar to HVLP sprayers, but they use even lower pressure to atomize the paint. They are generally quieter and produce less overspray than HVLP sprayers, making them a good choice for use in a residential setting. However, they may not be as efficient at covering large surfaces as HVLP sprayers.

When choosing a paint sprayer for your ceiling, it is important to consider the size of the ceiling, the type of paint you are using, and the finish you are trying to achieve. You should also consider the level of overspray and noise that you are comfortable with, as well as any other factors that may be relevant to your specific needs and preferences.

Is it easy to spray paint a ceiling?


FAQ’s of How to spray paint ceiling

It is hard to spray a ceiling unless you have the right tool for the job. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can seriously mess up your ceilings in no time. A ceiling is never flat. It has many curves and every one of them makes a difference. Good luck if you’re trying to spray paint a ceiling with a roller or a brush. Don’t even think about using a traditional paint sprayer; the job will take hours and you’ll end up with an uneven finish. What you need is a sprayer that can accommodate a 6-inch roller without clogging and is capable of applying an even coat of paint on an angled surface.

Spray painting a ceiling is a wonderful idea if you want to freshen up the interior of your house and to change the color of it. Spray painting is a quick and easy way to change the colors of your ceilings and walls. If you are still in the planning stages of your home makeover, spray painting your ceiling is a great way to get a feel for the colors you want to use. You may want to paint the ceiling in different colors depending on the mood of the room. Painting an entire ceiling is a very big task, so the project should be broken down into smaller and more manageable segments; usually, I recommend painting a few square feet of the ceiling at a time. The first step is to remove everything that is going to be covered by paint. For example, if you paint a tree and a garden, remove the tree and the garden and repaint them later. Remove the ceiling molding and repaint them as well. The next step is to use a paint roller to apply a primer coat to the ceiling. If you do not have the time to prime the ceiling, you should at least use a paint marker to mark the lines that you will paint. After priming, you can use a brush to paint the ceiling with the same color you want to use for the ceiling. Finally, you can use a paint sprayer to spray on a layer of clear, protective paint.

Spray painting a high ceiling without a ladder can be a bit tricky, but not impossible. If you don’t have a ladder and you are determined to paint your high ceiling, here’s a technique that can help: Tie a rope to the bottom of a ladder. Then attach the other end of the rope to your ceiling. You can hang anything that weighs over 150 pounds on that rope. Every time you need to reach up, climb up on the ladder and pull the rope to move the ladder up.


Summary on How to spray paint ceiling

This is the complete guide to spray painting the ceiling of your home or for your clients without making any mistakes.

If you follow each step explained in this guide then you will be happy to see the results of painting the ceiling with spray painting or with a sprayer.

If you find any issue or confusion in your mind regarding this post then let me know in the comments section and I will try to fix your problem as soon as I see your query.

Matthew Edward

Matthew Edward is a professional painter who loves to paint and wants to share useful tips and tricks which he had learned in many years of experience in painting. He also used many products that can be used for painting he has tried and tested each and every product to give an unbias opinion about it in his review. This blog is very useful for those newbies who want to learn painting without making mistakes.

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