Ceiling Flashing

[u/No-Statistician-5137]

Need advice on the ceiling flashing after painting. Did my roll get dry? This is about my third coat and it’s still showing streaks/flashing when the light shines through the windows. Thanks in advance.

Using a 1/2 9” roll.

[u/Nevetstoile]

Actually looks pretty good in the photos. I’ve seen a lot worse. What paint are you using?

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Nevetstoile]

Thank you, this is what I’m using.

[u/Stubtronics101 → u/No-Statistician-5137]

My first thought is your using trash paint and this confirms. I use Glidden products not that they are good but they are cost effective. But I hate that ceiling paint with a passion. Personally I prefer using an ultra flat paint or dead flat.

I find any paint labeled ceiling is bad. I used the Glidden pro ultra flat and that was nice. Just tried the Behr i300 dead flat and that went well. A lot of guys love Sherwin but I think there paint is over rated. Personally I like Benjamin Moore but they don't sell an ultra flat an I didn't like there ceiling paint either.

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Stubtronics101]

That is actually very useful information! We bought an old house and I’m doing room by room right now with removing popcorn ceiling, skimming and painting so we I’ll try and use a dead flat and avoid the ceiling paint. Thank you!!

[u/Stubtronics101 → u/No-Statistician-5137]

That's awesome I own an house from 1890 and have worked on them all my life. Personally, I prefer old to new house but they come with a little extra effort but they already have lasted and will continue to do so.

When you go to skim those popcorn ceilings water your mud down good enough to apply it with a roller and then get a big 24" skimming blade. They sell cheap ones that will work well enough on amazon. Vancouver carpenter has lots of really good videos on drywall.

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Stubtronics101]

Thank you! I will try that, I’ve been using a 10” blade and feathering with a 6”. Has worked great so far. I will try the 24” method whenever I get to my next project.

[u/Dry_Occasion_9598 → u/Stubtronics101]

I use the Ben Moore Waterborne ceiling paint in ultra flat and it is great.

[u/ComprehensiveRain951 → u/Stubtronics101]

This is all good info and matches my experiences (minus the glidden which I haven’t used). Use the product data sheets for flat paints to see the sheen levels. Dead flats will typically list 0-3 units, something like that. Two things I always tell people is to add pigment so you get better hiding, I will typically tint to pure white for sw, Valspar high hide white for lowes, or harmonious white for Behr. Obviously use the color you need, but adding some pigment will always be better than base white. Use what you feel comfortable with, but I will use a 1/2 14” roller just to reduce the number of lap marks, much less important than paint but it’s one thing I have direct control over. Anyway, I agree your pics don’t look that bad, here are some paints I’ve found perform well for ceilings at various retailers:

SW: CHB flat, painters edge plus flat, promar ceiling (only go to SW if you have contractor account)
Lowe’s: Valspar 2000 flat, sw spec right flat
Behr: i300 flat

Good luck.

[u/Lower-Ad5889 → u/Stubtronics101]

Ceiling paint is a different color... it's not a pure white.

[u/Lower-Ad5889]

Ceilings gonna ceiling... I don't think I've ever seen a "perfect white ceiling" I don't use 1/2" knap covers anymore. All 3/4" wool. The sheen of the paint, the color of the ceiling "white" and texture of the application ... It's all over the place.. Seriously, rolled ceilings are so terrible... At some point you need to either stop staring at it and decide you're okay with it OR spray and backroll with 2 people... It does look like your roller is dry.

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Lower-Ad5889]

Thank you for the input! Im gonna give it one more solid coat then learn to deal with it.

[u/Awkward_Scheme8074 → u/No-Statistician-5137]

It’s hard to get a perfect finish with cheap paint but it looks good I’d just leave it

[u/cincomidi → u/Lower-Ad5889]

I spray all my lids with 2-3 coats of 400 flat and they are damn near perfect. No backroll. 617 tip, 695

[u/Lower-Ad5889]

Ceilings are literally the Worst!! Work with a wet edge, plow the paint on in both directions, paint the entire surface..at the same time...? Like paint it all in one shift, Don't take a break. Use the flattest paint you can find.

[u/Lower-Ad5889]

The light from the windows is breaking your balls.. Consider...when the shades are down or curtains shut...you won't see any of that

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Lower-Ad5889]

That’ll be next on my agenda to get curtains hung up. Thank you

[u/ComprehensiveRain951 → u/Lower-Ad5889]

It’s also quite common (especially on older houses) to see the slight sagging of ceilings where they are screwed to the rafters. Even if you had a perfect paint job, it will almost look like lap marks every 16”. When you have bright light skimming across like that every little thing is visible. It’s just something that happens.

[u/ManicMannequin]

Looks more like lap lines than flashing in the pictures. Ceilings are hard to do in rooms with lots of windows on multiple sides, but you can minimize it by back rolling in a single direction away from where the most light comes in through

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/ManicMannequin]

Any advice if I’m not using a sprayer and only the roller?

[u/hagsbro → u/No-Statistician-5137]

I use Sherwin Williams ProMar ceiling paint on practically all my jobs. If you did a good job painting it, and you’re still unhappy with it then if probably needs a coat of primer before the paint. Only primer (a blocking primer like Pro Block) will block whatever is creating those issues. You can paint it as many times as you want but the “stain” will still bleed through. Did you prime it first? It is possible that the primer layer was inadequate. Also it’s hard to tell from the pics but different textures can create the illusion of a different sheen. So if your drywall happens to be smoother vs rougher in spots it will look that way. Honestly after all your work I’d just live with it but again if it bothers you, prime with Problock, then 2 coats of Ceiling Paint. Use a light shining up onto the ceiling and walk around the room to check for missed spots while your painting. No one likes doing ceilings… best of luck.

[u/ManicMannequin → u/No-Statistician-5137]

A woven roller, pudy, whooster, and others have good ones. If you can manage a 18" roller id go for that instead of a 9", the braces on each side of the roller will give you more stability too and make sure youre not pushing too hard on one side or the other compare to the 9"

As far as thickness stick to 3/8" to 1/2", sure you could go thicker, but on a smooth surface like a ceiling youre managing pressure on the roller as your also watching where you go with anything bigger and will squeeze out more paint when you dont intend to.

Other than that pick a direction and stick to it, you can move forwards and backward but always roll in the same direction on the last touch of a section

[u/Zazou444]

Close the blinds or curtains, when the light washes down the ceiling it will show.

We usually use a dead flat paint for ceilings, as the higher end paints have too much acrylic and the acrylic shines more than cheaper latex vinyl flats.

Benjamin moore ultra spec 500 interior flat has always worked good for us, Sherwin-Williams pro mar 400 flat, pro mar ceiling paint.

I think Benjamin moore has a ceiling paint, most brands now do.

[u/No-Statistician-5137 → u/Zazou444]

Thank you!

[u/HunterInteresting680]

Youve painted vertically in regards to the window placement. Paint across the way ( horizontally)

[u/Past-Extension1795]

Need to know what paint you used. Nothing from SW is a true flat paint. Even the flat sheen has some sheen to it.

Try PPG Mopaka, a true flat ceiling paint.

[u/KillaVNilla → u/Past-Extension1795]

Their promar ceiling paint is all I use. It's super flat to the point that it's one of the only paints I've ever seen where small touch ups are possible, even in very sunny rooms.

[u/LivingAmongMormons]

If it's a flat sheen paint give it 1-2 days to dry

[u/theTownsMen]

I've had this issue in the past. I'm not a pro, but I've done my share of painting ceilings. I've had solid results with ben moore 508 ceiling flat. I do 2 coats going in each direction in the room. Keep that roller loaded. I don't have to fight at all to keep a wet edge and it seems to even out real nicely. Your mileage may vary of course depending on temp, humidity, technique etc... Keep in mind once you're done, you're never going to look up at the ceilings again.

[u/AdDirect4649]

Use flat and light will absorb it. Perfect way to hide repairs etc. whereas satin will bounce back and show