How Long Should You Wait To Repaint Your Ceilings?

While you may change the color of your walls rather often, ceilings tend to be overlooked. You may not notice ceiling paint fading or losing its color over time, and it's easy not to think much about it since a ceiling doesn't often outright influence the aesthetic of a space. This said, how often you repaint your ceiling really depends on your particular circumstance, as there isn't a definitive timetable on when to paint it again. A professionally painted ceiling, however, should remain in good shape for 10 years and beyond.

Though there may not be a specific timeframe or guideline for when you should repaint your ceilings or how often, some professionals do suggest thinking of the ceiling as a fifth wall; so, thereby, if you paint your walls, you should also paint your ceiling. But, if you're not planning a painting project and your ceiling is in good condition, it's not necessary to repaint it after "x" number of years. As for damage, note that painting alone doesn't fix structural issues and shouldn't be seen as a solution if there's water damage. Repainting a ceiling can influence the value of a home, however, if the ceiling paint is damaged and you hope to sell the property.

While there isn't one rule that prescribes when to repaint a ceiling, there are instances where you might feel it's time to do so and you no longer want to wait. For example, it's often a good idea to repaint a ceiling when updating a room's wall color since the edges can be a bit tricky, and you'll want to ensure there's a perfect, clean line at the corners. The same applies to painting the molding along your ceiling; repainting the ceiling before doing the molding in a room simply makes sense.

Another time when repainting makes sense is when there's a noticeable flaw, such as chips in the existing paint. Further, if the ceiling is discolored and/or dirty, due to dust, grease, or mildew buildup, it may be time to clean it, address any underlying issues to the ceiling, and then repaint it for a fresh, new look. Fading and damage shouldn't be something you put off tackling either. There could be flaky areas of the paint coming off due to poor application the first time or inferior paint itself. Other times, fading can become uneven and even significantly noticeable, especially if one area of the ceiling gets a lot of direct sunlight. This could make the area look dated very quickly.

Ceiling paint is said to last about twice as long as wall paint. Basically, because of their location, ceilings are often protected from the kind of damage walls are susceptible to. But if you want to repaint your ceiling now, say for aesthetic purposes, there's no need to wait.

For example, painting the ceiling the same color as the walls can make the ceiling feel higher and the room larger. If your space has angled ceilings or drop-down areas, repainting the ceiling and walls the same color can help to minimize the visual break that occurs when a stark white ceiling is in the main view of the wall.

Do you have popcorn ceiling or stucco-style material on the ceiling to give it texture? Though quite popular in years past, many people prefer a smooth, clean finish these days, so while you may not otherwise need to repaint your ceiling for several more years, updating your ceiling's texture will naturally expedite the repainting timetable.

When your ceiling is a part of your aesthetic, don't be afraid to paint it — or wait for a specific time to do so. While some may say ceilings should be repainted every five to seven years (depending on the room), others note a ceiling's paint should last up to 10 years or more if it's done right. That said, how long you should wait to repaint your ceiling really depends on what you want to do with it, what condition it's in, and what it does for your home.