Walls and ceilings provide us protection, privacy, and security. But ceilings are often overlooked and not given equal treatment compared to walls, leaving them dirty, darkened and full of dust and cobwebs, and possibly some surface damage. So, if you want to hire the best commercial painters in Lathrop to have your high ceilings repainted, you have made the right decision.
There are a lot of reasons why ceilings do not get redone regularly, in comparison to the other parts of a building. First, it is bothersome to reach. You must step on the ladder or use any other type of elevating platform to get an access to the ceiling. Second, it is a messy job – the paint is most likely to drip as you apply it on the surface. And last but not the least, painting the ceiling leaves you to a high risk of accidents, especially if you don’t use the proper safety gear.
Among the commercial areas that feature high ceilings are large shopping malls, warehouses, facilities and office buildings.
Why would you gamble yourself by choosing the DIY way when you can choose to hire professional painting contractors to do the job? Not only they have the skills and experience, but they also have the right tools to handle such a (literally) high task. The best commercial painters have also received regular safety trainings. They would usually come to the job site with the proper tools and equipment, which allow them to paint safely and efficiently. This is especially true when painting higher areas of a building such as ceilings.
Speaking of tools, you may want to know about the tools and equipment that most professional painters use in working on high ceilings (and high walls too). The following are some of those:
1. Scaffolding
it is probably the oldest method of painting high walls and ceilings. You may be surprised to find some painting companies that still use bamboo scaffolding, particularly in Asian countries. Bamboo scaffolding has been used for centuries and despite its decline, it is still used up to this day.
Other usual types of scaffolding consist of metal tubes that are made of steel, aluminum or a composite material. They are the more widely used types of scaffolding nowadays.
Several painting service companies may have their own scaffolding, or otherwise rent it.
2. Mechanical lift or aerial lift
If scaffolding is not advisable, commercial painters may opt for the mechanical lift or aerial lift which will carry them up to the high walls and ceilings.
Although there are many types of mechanical lifts, the scissor lift is the best choice for indoor painting. A “scissor lift” is so called because of its crisscrossing metal support that looks and moves like a scissor. It moves up and down vertically and usually features a wide platform that can support up to two people, although there are larger scissor lifts that can carry more than two people.
However, it is important to look into the manufacturer’s specifications to check the exact lift capacity, and this should not exceed beyond the recommended number for health and safety reasons.
3. Paint roller (with an extension pole)
Using a paint roller with an extension pole is ideal for painting ceilings of a little more than average height (which is usually eight feet). Although it may be easy to use, a roller will not cover all the way into corners, so you have to use a paintbrush to be able to cut in the corners and areas around the trim.
4. Paint sprayer with air compression
This option is more ideal for covering wider ceilings more quickly and more efficiently. An air-pressurized spray gun is used to distribute paint onto the surface. The spray gun has a nozzle, and when you press the trigger the paint combines with the compressed air stream, and the spray gun pushes the paint out of the nozzle in the form of a fine spray.
5. Airless paint sprayer
This equipment utilizes an airless sprayer which pumps the paint under high pressure. As the name implies, an airless paint sprayer doesn’t use air compression to thrust out the paint with force. Instead, it uses a motorized pump to pressurize and push the paint out of the sprayer’s nozzle.
This method is the most preferred because it leaves a smooth and even finish on the surface. Airless paint spraying leaves the most durable finish, giving the surface maximum resistance against fading and corrosion.
6 Safety gear
Painting a ceiling, or generally working at heights, is a risky business indeed. Truly professional painters who paint high areas of a building will always come complete with safety gear, which usually consists of a proper working uniform, hard hat, a pair of gloves, a face mask, safety goggles, and harnesses.
Are there the right paints for the ceiling?
Painters may use a regular flat paint for the high ceiling. But for extra durability, painters would use paints with sheen which also add a bit more drama to the space.
There are paints that are formulated for the ceiling. Ceiling paints are quite rare and are intended to be a niche product. They will make the process easier, smoother and less laborious, aside from giving the ceiling a better look. One significant difference between a ceiling paint and an ordinary paint is viscosity; the former has higher viscosity, so it is less prone to dripping. This means you can apply a ceiling paint above your head and not create a lot of mess. Another, a ceiling paint is better in hiding stains and any other surface flaws. It is also available in wide variety of colors and sheen options.
It takes more than skills and experience to paint high ceilings. It also requires the proper tools, equipment and safety gear. The best commercial painters in Lathrop should have all these attributes to complete this (literally) high job safely and successfully.