Painting upper walls near popcorn ceiling poses specific challenges.
Painting a room can enhance the look and feel of a space, but it requires some careful preparation to achieve the best results. While it is tempting to open up a paint can and get started, it is best to first prepare the areas surrounding the walls you want to paint. This is because some areas are especially difficult to paint. These include walls near the ceiling, especially if the ceiling is what is referred to as a "popcorn" ceiling that features textured plaster.
Preparation
Spills and splatters can damage exposed furniture, and with popcorn ceilings the added nuisance of falling pieces of plaster also is a concern. To prevent this, clear the room of any furniture if possible. Lay dropcloths on the flooring and over any furniture that remains in the work space. Remove any lighting fixtures or electrical covers you want to keep paint-free.
Taping
Tape is your best defense for your ceiling. Tape the ceilings surrounding the wall trim. Tear off a strip of painter's tape and place in the angle where the wall and ceilings meet. Press the tape as flat as possible onto the ceiling to create a clean line for the trim. Because the popcorn ceiling is textured, the tape may wall or bunch. You may need to continue pressing the tape flat even as you paint.
Tools
Several tools can make this job simpler. Aside from painter's tape, use a flat edge while painting to protect the ceiling. As a backup to ordinary painter's tape, the flat, wide edge of a chisel can help protect the ceiling from paint. Press the edge into the angle of the wall and ceiling as you move along this upper wall area.
Another important tool is a sturdy ladder when painting hard-to-reach areas. While a roller with a long extension handle is a helpful tool, being as close as possible to the upper trim area will help you best control the look of the trim and ceiling. The closer and more controlled you can get while painting, the less opportunity for popcorn plaster to come loose.
Tags: tape flat, painter tape, popcorn ceiling, painter tape flat, , walls near