High-Ceiling Painting for Pros: Best Tools and Techniques for the Worksite

Few structural elements make a home look more custom and luxurious than high ceilings. Many of today’s homes feature ceilings that are two stories high in some areas. Although they are often a sought-after feature on the market, determining how to paint high ceilings can present a challenge for professional contractors and DIYers alike. However, the right tools and equipment make the job go faster and more efficiently, and make your finished result look flawless. 

High ceilings are impossible to reach with traditional painting tools. While ladders can give you the height you need, they come with their own dangers. Every year in the U.S., over 164,000 people are injured and over 300 die from falling off ladders.

Ladders also limit your range of motion. Going up and down a ladder every few feet adds extra time and difficulty to the job, making it less profitable. Scaffolding provides a little more room to work on, but it still must be traversed and moved frequently.

In addition to safety and time concerns, it’s difficult to achieve even paint coverage and avoid drips when you’re working in awkward positions to reach high ceilings. Careful preparation and professional tools can help you avoid these pitfalls. 

To prep a room for high-ceiling painting like a professional, start by moving everything out, including furniture, plants, and wall art. Turn off the electricity at the breaker and remove light fixtures or cover them with plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. Next, protect your walls and floors with drop cloths, making sure to overlap any seams to avoid leaks.

Set up bright work lights so you can easily see, and tape down extension cords to prevent tripping hazards. Once the room is protected, prepare the ceiling by making any necessary drywall repairs, sanding, and cleaning the surface. 

You need quality tools to achieve professional results. Sprayers are usually better than rollers for high-ceiling jobs because of the smoother finish and greater speed they offer. However, they require more skill, precision, prep work, and cleanup, so there are times when rollers are the best option.

You’ll need the following tools to complete your painting job:

• Inner-fed paint rollers: These paint applicators feed paint directly from the reservoir to the roller, so you don’t have to keep dipping them in the paint tray. Spray shields cut down on the mess, and you’ll also need extra roller covers .
• Paint sprayers: For skilled painters, sprayers are the way to go.
• Extension poles: To avoid adding unnecessary weight, use the shortest pole that will reach your ceiling.
• Steady ladders and scaffolding: If your ceilings are higher than you can reach with an extension pole, you’ll have to use a ladder or scaffold.

As with tools, better materials lead to better results. Start with a primer to smooth the ceiling surface and help the paint adhere better.

Choosing quality paint is particularly important when painting high ceilings. It’s not a job you want to redo more often than necessary. Premium paints have more concentrated pigments, resulting in better color and longer-lasting coverage while requiring fewer coats. Tape off the edges of the ceiling or crown molding with high-quality painter’s tape to create clean, crisp lines and protect from paint drips. 

Make sure your room is well-lit before you begin. Whenever possible, work from the ground by using tools such as Hyde’s QuickReach Telescoping Spray Pole instead of a ladder. This is easier on your joints and will keep you safer. A Dual Head Spray Tip Extension will provide even broader coverage and faster results.

If you’re using a roller, you need to decide which direction to roll. Generally, professionals prefer to roll perpendicular to the primary light source. However, you need to keep a wet edge when you’re painting, so if one side of the room is significantly longer than the other, you may be better off rolling in the direction of the shorter width. 

When you’re working with paint and potentially breathing in harmful fumes, it is essential to use protective equipment like respirators. However, this extra equipment makes it harder to climb ladders and scaffolding safely. With that in mind, the safest way to reach tall ceilings is by using extension tips and poles.

If you do have to use a ladder, make sure you secure it properly. It should be the correct height for the ceiling you're painting and placed on a flat, stable surface.

Textured and vaulted ceilings can be tricky to paint because of their difficult angles and hard-to-cover areas. Here are some ways to simplify the job:

• Start at the edges: For full coverage and to prevent drips, cut in the edges of the ceiling with a brush before you start rolling or spraying.
• Use an angled extension pole:  Tools such as an AnglePRO Spray Pole let you adjust the angle of the sprayer as you paint for better coverage in hard-to-reach spots.
• Avoid painting directly over your head: This position is stressful on your body and hard to control, which makes it less efficient.
• Apply multiple coats: Let each coat dry completely before you apply the next. Even with premium paint and primer, plan on at least two coats. For pros, smart painting tools can help you more accurately estimate how much paint you’ll need based on surface texture and coverage area.

For professionals, making a profit on a painting job hinges on how efficiently you work. Investing in tools that allow you to complete a job faster will directly benefit your bottom line. For avid DIYers, the right tools let you achieve results on par with the professionals. Hyde Tools offers a full range of precision-engineering painting tools to give you exceptional results. Contact us today to learn more.