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painting ceiling looks rough

10K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  chrisn 
#1 ·
I have been trying to re-surface my ceiling. I have plastered it, and primed it. Upon painting the ceiling paint, I get highly inconsistent texture across it. I believe its from the roller I am using "3/8" nap length.

Upon watching several youtube videos I see "1/2" is the better solution. What can I do to get the ceiling looking cohesive again? Re-plaster it all/prime/sand/paint? Sand the paint? Karate chop?

Looking from the doorway, you can see places where the texture isnt cohesive across the ceiling.
 
#7 ·
Behr Ceiling (heavy bodied?, like other Behr paints) + 3/8 nap + inexperience = ceiling never stood a chance. Bryan, it's hard to determine why you're where you're at exactly. The most likely culprit, imo, is that you're overrolling it and picking up setting paint or activated primer with some patching thrown in, or both. We really don't need to know why, only how to fix it and proceed to do it properly which, by the way, I don't remember seeing you ask before you started. If it's from what I suspect, it will sand out fairly easily. Take a piece of 100 or 80 grit paper and sand it out. Don't apply elbow grease, just apply the paper to the surface and let the paper do the work. You may have to spot patch some areas, then reprime. As to paint and applicator, go to SW or BM, buy a gallon of contractor grade flat wall paint, or splurge and buy a ceiling paint, and a quality 1/2 inch roller cover. A good cover should cost about 5-7 bucks retail (USD), but it's actually a better investment than the paint. You can't roll even the best/most expensive paint with a cheap roller. You also need to work on your technique. You can find videos online on how to roll ceilings and I have some articles you can read on choosing rolling covers and painting ceilings at And, more DIY Painting Articles in my signature line below. Others have found them helpful. Good luck.
Joe
 
#2 ·
I came across this suggetion: http://www.diychatroom.com/f4/ceiling-paint-122816/#post766805
Which reads:
it can be a job if you have a lot of them .sand them out ,i like 3m sand paper you can wet sand them out or dry sand them .a razor blade and scrape off ,theirs no book written on the subject :huh: so you have to be resourceful,also you could skim over them with spackle or joint compound .
Is that a good suggestion?
 
#3 ·
That was for heavy roller edges.
You will have to explain a bit better what you mean by Texture.
A 3/8 will be hard to get even coverage because it carries so little paint, but shouldn't leave much texture ( unless you do mean heavy roller edges).
A good quality 1/2 will serve you better.
What paint/ sheen are you using? A good quality ceiling paint is a very flat paint.
If you are using a thick paint with sheen, you are setting yourself up for problems.
 
#4 ·
I am using Behr Premium Plus, Ceiling Paint. Interior flat.

I know part of the problem comes inconsistent pressure as I paint. It creates a texture from the roller nap. Am I not loading enough paint into the roller? How can I tell if my roller is quality?


It looks something like this. (This is not an actual picture.)
 
#8 ·
Is Sherwin Williams the only quality place to go?

jsheridan - I never realized all the steps to prepare a brush. Ive always done the method I see "on tv". Get the brush, add paint and put on wall.

The primer has always gone on and looked really nice. And its the finishing paint that ruins it all.
 
#9 ·
As I always say in cases like this: LOAD THAT ROLLER UP WITH PAINT........the paint should almost be dripping off the roller after dipping it in the paint tray or bucket. Gentle pressure, don't push so hard. Let the roller do the work.
 
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