Painting Walls and Ceilings

Painting Walls and Ceilings

Questions about painting walls and ceilings and the many challenges they pose.

Ask Your Question

Questions that Need Answers

• Texture and Tint KILZ - I have been using tinted KILZ for years as a one-coat solution with good results. We want to paint a ceiling a light tan tint with a sand texture (Homax) additive and sparkling paint crystals (Valspar) if we can to create a special effect. Would...
• Last paint job was too thick. - I'd like to re-paint my bedroom. However, the dark red paint that is currently on the walls looks to have been applied too thick. There are a few drips here and there and it's peeling up near the floor boards. Is sanding the walls sufficient? Or i...
• Screen Molding - Is screen molding used for the cracks in the paneling? And what is screen molding?

Questions with Answers

• Primer over paint? - I am painting a child's room and painted part of a wall to see the color...however I didn't prime it first. What do I do now? Do I have to use primer first?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Painting over ceiling sand finish. - Existing ceiling sand finish. I want to paint over?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Painting with a textured roller. - Do I allow the first color to dry all the way before going over it with textured roller in another color?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Yellowing Ceiling - We recently had the popcorn removed from our ceiling and replaced with knockdown. There was yellowing showing through the knockdown. The ceiling was then painted. After 2 coats the yellowing is still visible. Any suggestions
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Carboned base heaters & painting - Is it necessary to cover up the darkening of my walls from the carbon from an old base heater prior to painting my walls?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• What comes first stipple or paint? - We have primed our basement walls and want to stipple our ceiling. Is it better to stipple the ceiling first before we do our final painting? Or should we paint the walls first before we stipple the ceiling?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Added Too Many Coats of Paint - I just painted my daughters bedroom pink. We were painting over a blue/purple, so we had to use primer. On the very top of the wall by the ceiling, it appeared that we could still see hints of the purple - so I painted that area 4 or 5 times (2X ...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• PAINTING OVER KIDS ZONE PAINT - I ORIGINALLY PAINTED MY INTERIOR WALLS WITH KIDS ZONE PAINT FOR THE DURABILITY AND EASE OF CLEAN-UP. I HAVE SINCE PAINTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME KIND OF PAINT. HOWEVER THIS TIME THE PAINT HAS NOT ADHEARED WELL. IT CHIPS OFF EASILY AND ONCE CHIPPED IT...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Cranberry Red Color - I have a big problem.. I recently painted my dining room with my roommate. The walls were white...however, we stupidly did not use a primer. We painted the walls a cranberry red color..and soon discovered the paint was streaky..partly bc it was...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Interior Peeling Paint Problem - We remove the popcorn ceiling by scrapping and sanding. Then we were using a primer with a sealant paint but the paint will not stick it just peels off. What do I do?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Correcting wall color. - I recently painted my bedroom walls and the color dried slightly off from what I wanted. Was thinking of applying an opal glaze product, by mixing in with the remaining can of paint. Will that work?
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Splotchy ceiling. - We have painted our living room ceiling and we keep getting a splotchy, chalky appearance. Why is this happening and what can I do to correct it?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Cutting-in in stages. - Can I cut in the rooms (I have several I'm doing with high ceiling and lots of corners!) ahead of time? I have back problems and can't afford to hire a painter. I wondered if I could do it in stages over say a two week period? Then I could have...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• How much paint. - When you paint over painted walls do you need to use primer paint first? I have been told if you don't the paint will not stick. Is this true? Because it would be cheaper if I don't use primer or two coats of paint so I can budget for my project....
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Painting Walls - I used a brush and painted all of the walls just under the crown molding then took a roller and painted the room. The painting I did with the brush is now darker than the walls even after rolling on two coats. What did I do wrong?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Fire residue or soot. - I have soot on the ceiling in my kitchen from burning candles and I would like to paint. What kind of paint do I use and/or do I have to clean this first with a special solvent because it seems to have seeped through the last paint job.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• What type of paint to cover paneling? - I have 4.5 walls that have paneling on them. Do I need to fill the creases or can I paint right over it? Also what type of interior paint do I use for this?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Prep New Drywall - How would you prep and paint freshly hung drywall?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Runs in fresh paint. - So the painter left heavy runs over a freshly primed and drywall area. We notice in the evening what should we do? Scuff it, peel it off? Aura paint from Benjamin Moore.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• New paint peeling off walls. - I painting my bedroom. I used painters tape around the bases etc. But once I take off the tape, my paint starts to peel off the walls. What do I do?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Trimming around carpeted stairs? - Any tips for trimming around carpeted stairs?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Painting over Shire Fields Green - Painted over green with Dover white. Used 2 coats...still won't cover. What should I do?
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• How to apply red interior paint? - I am trying to apply red paint to a interior wall and the paint wont coat evenly. I keep getting different shades through out the walls. I have put down white Kilz primer already.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Can steam damage paint? - A few months ago I repainted our bathroom, primed plus 2 coats, it looked perfect. Now the ceiling looks like I only put on one coat. My husband takes very long hot showers, could the steam be ruining the paint?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Tape peeling the paint away. - When I remove the painters' tape that I've used to mask door facings, trim etc., when painting a wall, some of the new paint will peel off too.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Please use the following form to quickly search our files of previously answered questions. If you cannot find the topic for which you are searching, please use the link below to ask your question.

Ask Your Question