Paint Unfinished Ceilings

An unfinished ceiling has no texture and may show exposed rafters.

An unfinished ceiling is a ceiling that has not been completed with paint, plaster or texture. It may have bare sheet rock or wood. Although part of the finishing process for the ceiling is to cover it in plaster or texture, you can paint your unfinished ceiling instead. Painting an unfinished ceiling is not difficult. However, you will have to treat the ceiling so that the paint will adhere to it properly.

Instructions

1. Cover your floor with drop cloths to prevent any drips from ruining your floor.

2. Tape the walls of your home near the ceiling with masking tape to block sloppy brush work from transferring paint to your walls. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling.

3. Pour primer into a paint pan. Roll the primer onto a roller brush mounted to an extension stick. Roll the primer over the ceiling, working from the center of the room outward. Stop your roller brush just short of the wall. Climb a ladder and apply paint to the ceiling with a brush right up to the point where the ceiling meets the wall.

4. Apply a second coat of primer once the first coat is dry, after about an hour, using the same method. Follow this coating with two coatings of paint using the same methods. Allow each coat of paint or primer to dry for about an hour before applying the next coat.

5. Remove the masking tape from the walls once the paint is dry.

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