How the heck do you get a straight edge while painting the near the ceiling?

[Sarah_Rose]

Anyone want to share some wisdom?

I just finished painting a room. It looks awesome. Pulled off the tape at the millwork... things are all good. A few areas that need a bit of a touch up, but nothing big. Then I pulled off the tape at the ceiling. Oh dear god. The tape pulled off my paint at the edges, and there was green paint that seeped through on to my white ceiling. I think part of the problem is that the walls and ceiling are textured and so the tape doesn't stick down tightly enough.

So, I go to touch up the places where the tape pulled off my paint... and now there is paint on my ceiling all over. I simply cannot get the straight edge where the wall meets the ceiling that I want, using either a nylon bristle trim brush or a foam brush or a flat edging tool. So what do I do to fix this mess? What tool/brush/roller/technique can I use to touch up the white paint on the ceiling without ending up with white ceiling paint all over my green walls?

Also, how do I do it properly the first time when I paint my next room?

There must be some DIY gurus here on the DIS!

 

[dawson5]

Get one of these:

That has always worked for us.

 

[ilovepcot]

I've always used a "metal edge" that's in the paint department just for this use. Actually, most are probably plastic now. They take a bit of getting used to because you have to hold it steady with one hand while balancing yourself on a ladder and painting with the other hand. We have redone 2 old Victorian homes with high ceilings and lots of fancy mill work. After a while I got very skilled at this.


ETA: Yes, what Dawson5 has shown above, except mine had no handle and was quite a bit longer. Same thing though.

 

[John Lennon]

yes the "metal edge" will do fine, keep it clean! Better yet but more time consuming, the "blue tape" or a real steady hand will do! good luck!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I think tape allows the paint to seep under it making not such a smooth edge. I use a roller thing with a paint pad, it's fast and very neat. No more taping off rooms, windows, doors, .....much easier.

 

[Freyja]

I seal the tape by painting over the edges with white paint before I start painting with the new color. This way I get straight lines and no paint seeps underneath the tape.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Get one of these:

That has always worked for us.

I use one of these too. I love it!

 

[asta]

I seal the tape by painting over the edges with white paint before I start painting with the new color. This way I get straight lines and no paint seeps underneath the tape.

This is exactly what you need to do. A professional painter told me about this trick when painting stripes but it works fantastic on ceilings too. Tape and then seal the edge with the ceiling color and nothing seeps through. I have used this many times with perfect results.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We have always used a paint edger like this.

It is a pad with wheels on the edge. It takes a little while to get used to the amount of paint to use but after that, it is very easy to use.

 

[luvmy3]

Have dh do it

 

[sherry7]

The easiest way (and the way the professionals do it) is to use a 1 1/2" angled trim brush, and forget the tape, edgers, etc. Don't skimp too much on the purchase, since a good brush can make all of the difference, and will last forever if you clean it properly. Purty is a good brand. Home Depot sells that brand, not sure about Lowe's.

 

[J3nn78]

The easiest way (and the way the professionals do it) is to use a 1 1/2" angled trim brush, and forget the tape, edgers, etc. Don't skimp too much on the purchase, since a good brush can make all of the difference, and will last forever if you clean it properly. Purty is a good brand. Home Depot sells that brand, not sure about Lowe's.

I second this. I never use edgers or tape. Just a good angle brush and go nice and slow = perfect straight lines. It is actually faster too, since I dont waste time taping.

 

[a1tinkfans]

My dh does it free hand too, I swear he is AMAZING...now if I could just get him to paint when I want...THAT'd be even better!

 

[Sadie Chez]

My dh does it free hand too, I swear he is AMAZING...now if I could just get him to paint when I want...THAT'd be even better!

Yep that's the way I do it. Err a....I mean my husband does it.

A really good way to get him to paint when you want is to buy all the supplies and anounce that you are going to do a project and want to do it by yourself. Paint one wall, my DH is somewhat ocd all he has to do is see one spot on the ceilling and before I know it he's done the whole room. Like magic the whole room is perfectly painted.

 

[ilovepcot]

Angled brushes will work great IF walls and ceiling are SMOOTH. OP said hers are textured and that will often times cause paint to be "flung" back on the wall or ceiling surface no matter how careful you are. Gee...wonder how I know this!

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

We have always used a paint edger like this.

It is a pad with wheels on the edge. It takes a little while to get used to the amount of paint to use but after that, it is very easy to use.

this is what we always use

 

[Briarmom]

I have done everything mentioned here on this thread, but the only thing that worked for us was hiring professionals.

 

[antsss]

We have stucco walls and smooth ceilings. I have decided the only way to deal with this problem is to pick a wall color light enough to do the ceiling the same color. I used to love white ceilings, but now I've gotten over it. We just painted our bedroom a lovely light icy blue color and did the ceiling the same and it looks great!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I'm going to pick up one of the metal edger thingys, and a wheeled edging tool this weekend. I'm going to make this work.

And if it doesn't, I'm retaping the thing, and trying the ceiling color first, and then redoing my lines.

Last option is my cousin's brilliant idea: just buy some crown moulding and put that up over the mess. It'll make my DH happy because he's been itching to buy some power tools now that we have a house...

Between all of those options, I should be able to make the room fixable. Good thing the next room I'm doing is the baby's room, so the wall color is a lot lighter, and hopefully a lot more forgiving!

 

[lauradenise4779]

Frog tape is the best for painting. It really works.

http://www.frogtape.com/