When painting smooth ceilings, the best strategy is to roll parallel with the main source of natural light, such as a big window, as it helps prevent roller lines. If you roll perpendicular to the dominant light source, the roller lines can form a slight shadow. The same applies when spraying.
Always perpendicular to the wall with the light source (in your example, you paint from wall A to further away). You do this in case your coats are not even, the light will reduce the imperfections instead of casting a shadow at each roll pass.
When painting a ceiling, where do you start? You should always start at the biggest light source when painting a ceiling, particularly when rolling. This is so you can look back towards the light source and spot any misses or heavy roller marks that you wouldn't spot otherwise.
Lots of good advise here but the real 'trick' is to start at the darkest corner of the room and roll toward the windows keeping the edge wet. Do it all in one set, no coffee breaks. If it is a huge ceiling have a second set of hands as rolling a ceiling is hard work if it is done right.
Start with the ceiling
We recommend you start your decorating project at the top and work your way down. Taking this approach will allow you to avoid dripping any paint onto freshly painted areas. Before you start painting, clean your ceiling, fill any holes or cracks and sand it.
Pro painting tips will usually tell you to follow a certain order when painting a room. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls. That's because it's easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls.
The best way to paint a ceiling is to use a paint roller and work in grid-like sections of 3 square feet to 5 square feet each. This helps keep edges wet and allows you to see your progress to ensure an even coat. For smooth ceilings, use a low nap roller.
To avoid making marks on the ceiling with your roller, reduce the amount of paint you use. If you notice roller marks appearing, re-roll the areas to smooth them out using very light pressure. Another method to avoid roller marks is to add another coat of paint in the opposite direction for the second coat of paint.
Always cut in first then continue painting with a roller. Cut in and paint with a roller one wall at a time. If you cut in all areas first and then roll the entire room, the paint that was applied when cutting in will have dried quicker and you will be left with a patchy, uneven finish.
Cut-in and painting on the same day are recommended for the best results.
Clean and Sand Your Ceiling
Remove cobwebs with a clean broom and wash the area with sugar soap. Nobody loves cleaning, but paint won't stick properly to a dusty or grimy ceiling. If your ceilings aren't textured, start with a quick once-over sand, using 100 grit abrasive paper.
It's best to work away from any light source, so start near the largest window, this will make sure you can see where you've painted and don't get any “misses”. “Cut in” around the edges of your ceiling with a medium sized brush (a 2-inch synthetic bristle brush is ideal).
Roll from the middle of the room in the direction of the light. Each time this step is completed you should have enough paint to cover about a 1 metre width of an average size bedroom ceiling. Periodically back roll the previously painted area using only the weight of the roller to deliver a smooth finish.
How many coats of paint do I need? Generally, you will want a minimum of two coats of paint – this is a good rule of thumb for any wall or ceiling you're painting. You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room.
You don't want any drips. Using long even strokes, roll your way up and down your ceiling from the outside in. Keep rolling until you've covered the whole ceiling. TIP: If a second coat is needed, you can apply it in a perpendicular direction to the first.
Unfortunately, roller marks will probably not go away when the paint dries out. However, as the paint dries some of the roller marks will become slightly less noticeable. But simply waiting until the paint has dried won't solve the problem completely.
Load your roller evenly with paint. Begin in one corner and move the roller in a parallel movement. Work in one metre sections, painting across, then down. Roll as far into the previously brushed sections as possible for the best results.
How to paint a ceiling with a roller starts by working from the outside in, from a window or corner. Load up your roller evenly and roll the paint on in sections of about one metre long at a time.
When it's time to roll, use a low-nap roller for smooth ceilings and a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch nap for textured ceilings. An extension pole attached to the paint roller frame helps you reach the ceiling without a ladder.
As you work your way across the ceiling, position the roller a foot away from the wet edge and roll the next section into the wet edge, overlapping it slightly to prevent ceiling streaks.
It is actually recommended to cut in for every layer of paint you add. So basically, you should cut in your walls first, and then roll out. Once the layer of paint is dry, cut in for the second time and then roll out again. Repeat this step depending on how many layers of paint you add to your walls.
Hang the Ceiling First
This makes it much easier to manage and attach the panels since you will not have to fumble around with the screws, measuring tape, and so on.
For an average-sized room (12ft x 12ft), you can usually paint a ceiling in about 4-6 hours. Here's a breakdown of how long it would take to paint a ceiling: Setting up the rooms: 30 minutes.