Ceilings are the most neglected surface in any home. People repaint walls every few years but ignore the ceiling until it’s yellowed, cracked, or covered in cobwebs. Then they realize why professional painters charge extra for ceiling work. It’s physically demanding and technically tricky.
I’ve painted thousands of ceilings across Melbourne. Let me save you the neck pain and show you how to do it properly.
Why Ceilings Are Different
Painting ceilings isn’t just painting walls horizontally. Gravity works against you. Paint drips onto your face, your arms tire quickly, and every imperfection shows under certain lighting.
Most ceiling disasters happen because people use the wrong paint, skip prep work, or don’t understand how light reveals flaws. Get the technique right and your ceiling looks flawless. Get it wrong and you’ll see roller marks and patches forever.
Choosing the Right Ceiling Paint
Flat White Is Standard (For Good Reason)
About 90% of Melbourne ceilings we paint are flat white. It’s not boring, it’s practical:
- Reflects light evenly throughout the room
- Hides imperfections better than any other finish
- Makes rooms feel taller and more spacious
- Never goes out of style
Coverage rate: Quality ceiling paint covers 13-15 square metres per litre. It’s formulated thicker than wall paint with low splatter properties.
When to Choose Different Options
Low sheen ceiling paint: Use in bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is an issue. Slightly more wipeable but shows imperfections more.
Coloured ceilings: Dark ceilings create intimacy in large rooms with high ceilings. Light colours (soft grey, pale blue) work in bedrooms. Bold colours need expert application because mistakes are obvious.
Textured ceilings: If you’ve got that dated popcorn texture, painting helps but uses 30-40% more paint. Removal is better long-term.
Quality matters enormously with ceiling paint. Budget paint splatters everywhere and needs three coats. Premium brands like Dulux Ceiling White or Taubmans Ceiling Paint cover beautifully in two coats with minimal drips.
Essential Tools and Safety
What You Actually Need
- Quality roller frame and extension pole: This is non-negotiable. A 2-3 metre extension pole saves your neck and back.
- Thick roller cover: 12-15mm nap for textured ceilings, 10mm for smooth
- Roller tray: Metal ones don’t tip like plastic
- Angled brush: 50-75mm for cutting in edges
- Drop sheets: Cover everything. Paint drips more than you expect.
- Safety glasses: Paint in your eyes ruins your day
- Step ladder: For edges and corners
Safety First
Ceiling work strains your neck and shoulders. Take breaks every 20-30 minutes. Stretch. Hydrate.
Work lighting matters. You need bright overhead lights from multiple angles to see what you’re doing. Natural daylight is best but not always practical.
If you’ve got high ceilings (3+ metres), asbestos concerns, or physical limitations, call professional painters. Some jobs aren’t worth the risk.
Preparation Makes or Breaks the Job
Clear and Protect Everything
Move furniture out completely if possible. What stays gets covered with proper drop sheets and plastic. Ceiling paint drips. It gets everywhere. I’ve seen it ruin leather couches and timber floors because someone used old newspapers instead of proper drop sheets.
Remove or tape off light fittings. Turn power off at the switchboard before touching any electrical fixtures.
Repair Ceiling Damage
Cracks: Scrape out loose material, fill with ceiling compound, sand smooth when dry.
Water stains: These bleed through regular paint. Seal them first with stain-blocking primer (Zinsser or Dulux Stain Block).
Peeling paint: Scrape off all loose material, sand edges smooth, prime bare patches.
Mould: Clean with sugar soap and diluted bleach solution. Let dry completely. Find and fix the moisture source or it returns.
Clean the Surface
Ceilings collect dust, grease, and cobwebs. Paint won’t stick to dirty surfaces. Wipe down with sugar soap solution on a damp mop or cloth. Let dry completely before painting.
Primer When Needed
New plaster needs sealing. Water stains need blocking. Dramatic colour changes need priming. Don’t skip this. Primer costs £30 but saves you doing four coats of ceiling paint.
The Painting Process
Cut In First
Use your angled brush to paint a 50-75mm band around the entire ceiling perimeter. This includes where ceiling meets walls, cornices, and around light fittings.
Work carefully but don’t obsess over perfection. The roller will blend these edges. Just create a buffer zone so your roller doesn’t hit walls.
Rolling Technique
This is where most DIYers struggle. Here’s the professional method:
Load your roller properly: Dip it halfway into paint, roll off excess on the tray ridges. Too much paint drips. Too little leaves patchy coverage.
Work in sections: Divide your ceiling mentally into metre-square sections. Complete one section before moving to the next.
Maintain a wet edge: Paint adjacent sections while the previous one is still wet. This prevents visible lines between sections.
Pattern matters: Roll in straight lines parallel to the window (light source). Overlap each pass by 50%. Don’t use W or M patterns on ceilings like you do on walls.
Don’t overwork it: Two passes maximum per section. Over-rolling creates texture and removes paint instead of smoothing it.
Two Coats Minimum
First coat seals and primes. Second coat provides proper coverage and colour depth. Don’t try saving time with one thick coat. It drips, sags, and looks terrible.
Wait the recommended drying time between coats (usually 2-4 hours). Check your paint tin. Humid days take longer.
Common Ceiling Painting Mistakes
Using wall paint on ceilings: It’s too thin, drips excessively, and doesn’t hide imperfections. Ceiling paint exists for good reasons.
Painting in sections on different days: You’ll see lap marks where old and new sections meet. Commit to finishing each room in one session.
Poor lighting during application: You won’t see missed spots, roller marks, or uneven coverage until daylight. Paint during the day or use bright work lights.
Rushing between coats: Wet paint plus more wet paint equals disaster. Let it dry properly.
Wrong roller nap: Smooth ceilings need 10mm nap. Textured need 15mm. Using the wrong one leaves marks or doesn’t cover properly.
Special Situations
High Ceilings
Anything above 3 metres needs scaffolding or extension poles longer than 3 metres. This gets awkward fast. Safety risks increase significantly. Most homeowners should hire professionals for high ceiling work.
Textured or Popcorn Ceilings
These absorb paint like sponges. Calculate 30-40% extra paint. Roll gently to avoid pulling texture off (especially if it’s old and brittle).
Pre-1990 popcorn texture might contain asbestos. Get it tested before disturbing it. If positive, hire licensed asbestos removers.
Bathroom and Kitchen Ceilings
Moisture is the enemy. Use moisture-resistant ceiling paint or low sheen bathroom paint. Ensure proper ventilation during and after painting.
Grease and steam residue makes kitchen ceilings harder to prep. Extra cleaning with sugar soap is essential.
When to Call Professionals
Ceiling painting is doable DIY for standard height, simple layouts. But some situations need experienced residential painters:
- High or vaulted ceilings (safety concern)
- Large open-plan areas (maintaining wet edge is difficult)
- Water damage or structural issues
- Removing texture or wallpaper from ceilings
- Matching existing colours perfectly
We complete in hours what takes DIYers a full weekend. Plus proper insurance if something goes wrong.
Maintenance and Longevity
Quality ceiling paint lasts 7-10 years in most Melbourne homes. High-traffic areas or moisture-prone rooms might need repainting every 5 years.
Keep leftover paint for touch-ups. Mark the tin with room name and date. Small marks from furniture moves or picture hanging are inevitable.
Annual checks spot problems early. Look for cracks, water stains, or peeling. Address issues immediately before they spread.
Bottom Line
Ceiling painting requires patience, proper tools, and good technique. The physical demands surprise most DIYers. Your arms, neck, and shoulders will complain.
Take your time, don’t skip preparation, and use quality ceiling-specific paint. The difference between amateur and professional results is usually rushing and poor prep.
Planning a full room refresh? Our interior painting services include ceiling work done properly the first time. Contact us for a free quote and advice specific to your project.