The Smart Trick That Makes Painting High Walls & Ceilings A Breeze

Painting your own home can be a money-saving and fulfilling endeavor, but even the most ambitious DIY-er may be tempted to leave certain paint jobs to the pros. Among these technically tricky painting projects is tackling spaces with high walls or ceilings; these projects generally require ladders and scaffolding, both of which can be dangerous and intimidating to use. If you find yourself faced with a high wall or ceiling that needs to be painted but simply don't want to shell out the money to pay someone to do it, there's a simple solution that might make doing it on your own much easier.

The painting hack is showcased on TikTok channel @FamilyHandyman. Instead of holding a long paint roller in your arms and pushing it up and down on walls or over your ceiling (which will become exhausting in a matter of minutes, if not seconds), you'll strap on a tool belt and rest the paint roller's extension pole in one of the belt's slots. This will both stabilize the roller and remove the need for you to hold the brush pole in your arms, diverting the physical toll to your legs, which can put up with a lot more exertion without tiring. The channel also recommends using a plastic grocery bag to cover the paint roller if you need to take a break from painting to cut down on cleanup time and prevent wasting paint between painting sessions. If you don't already own one, you can easily purchase a CLC Heavy-Duty Work Apron for about $30 on Amazon or less than $20 at your local ACE hardware.

Stabilizing your painting extension pole with a toolbelt will no doubt make it less exerting to paint a high wall or a ceiling, which should, in turn, translate to a better-looking end result. However, there are still a few points to remember if you want the absolute best finished product. Firstly, since this technique requires a paint roller, remember to tape off and cut in your paint at the top of the walls or the edges of your ceiling. Otherwise, you'll be unable to reach the entire space. To do this safely, be sure to use the right ladder, such as a folding extension ladder, so you can securely configure it while you climb up to reach the highest corners. To play it extra safe, wait until a friend can be there to hold the ladder in place while you're up high.

When it comes to painting high spots, the risk of paint dripping down is always a reality. Since you cannot stop the paint from coming down, follow professional painting tips for when it does drip. This can include wearing a hat or bandana to protect your hair from getting messy, as well as wearing painting clothes that can be stained without causing you any distress. Finally, remember to still prep your space as normal, placing down drop cloths and keeping a wet, soapy rag nearby so you can wipe away drips before they dry on your baseboards or floors. With a couple of small purchases, you can say goodbye to sore arms on your next tall-order painting project.