Painting a garage w 14' ceilings?

[Rob07002]

What is the best and easiest way to paint a garage with high ceilings?

1) the old roller on a stick
2) airless paint sprayer
3) vaccum fed paint roller
4) prof paint sprayer
5) rent a personal lift and get to work
6) ????

the first one is most economical but probably a real pain in the a** , not to mention sloppy. But I really don't want to spend alot to rent equip and make abigger project then it has to be.

Thanks for the info in advance.

 

[REFLEXX]

Rob,

I'm going to use the Wagner 220 airless from Costco ('round $180) it sits on the ground, needs no compressor, holds two gallons at at time and has 30'ft(?) hose to a gun. Much easier than doing the roller over your head for a long time and easier up and down a ladder!

10 ft (5+5) scaffolding from HD is like $140 for three days or for a month (same price, go figure)

later,

REFLEXX

 

[bmwpower]

This is very timely... I getting ready to paint today. 14' ceilings using a Graco airless sprayer (like $300 several years ago). You put the suction tube into a 5 gallon bucket and spray. I'm using a long hose and a rolling scaffolding to get the job done. Got my buddy down below to move the scaffolding from place to place.

 

[trovato]

I don't see how choices 2,3 or 4 help you. You still have to get up there, right? You're not going to shoot paint at a 14' ceiling standing on the floor, I don't think. I would think the other questions would be how big is the garage and how much pain are you willing to endure. The roller on a stick will work, but if it's a big area and you'll be doing it alone, you just have to decide if you're up to it. I did a 16' by 40' family room with cathedral ceiling sloping from 14' to 8' across the short dimension. I did it with a roller on a stick. My back and neck were a little stiff for a couple of days though. I would think that you could also rent some sort of scaffold thing that you assemble and climb up on. That would have to be a lot cheaper than one of those fancy motorized personnel lift things. Less fun though.

 

[MXtras]

a ladder and a sprayer.

Scott

 

[dink]

I also favor the Wagner route

 

[The Hot Rod Grille]

I had a similar situation when I painted the ceiling in the 30' x 45' Hot Rod Grille Garage. The ceiling is smooth finished drywall and I used a Glidden flat white ceiling paint that is pink when wet and dries to a bright white in a few minutes. The pink color allows you to see what area has been painted and where you need to paint next! Trust me, when you are up near a large (1350 sq. ft. in my case) ceiling, it is difficult to tell what has been painted! I used a rolling scaffold and a Wagner power roller. A buddy moved the scaffold while I kept the button pushed to keep paint pumped to the roller. The Wagner has a splatter shield which really kept paint spots to a minimum. I had already stained the T-111 walls and did not want to get paint splatters on them. That issue made spray painting not an option for me. The Wagner also had an option which allowed use with either one gallon or five gallon paint buckets. The unit was around $125 at Lowe's. It appears to be a good quality item and should last for years if time is taken to do a thorough clean-up after use. Pics of the Hot Rod Grille can be found in the Gallery Section. Good luck with your project!


Jim Winter
The Hot Rod Grille

 

[Rob07002]

wow good replies!

The garage measures 22x23 with bare drywall. I'll probably have to rent a mobile scaffold, although the person lift thing was only $140 per day, but I don't know if my local tool rental place has them anymore nor do I know how I would get it to my house w/o a trailer..... I was really trying to figure out how to get around the scaffold deal but I don't think its feasible. So I think the best thing to do is get the wagner power roller and a scaffold and send the wife up the ladder while I supervise with beer in hand!!!!

 

[trovato]

22x23 isn't that big. I've painted bigger ceilings than that on a ladder with a brush and sand paint. Any of the plans discussed would work. I'd just do it with a ladder and a roller on a stick. Save the money for other stuff.

 

[jonkav]

Of course, if you did a ladder with roller on a stick (esp. a Powerpainter deal), you could make ok time, and it would save your wife from having any blackmail material for later use...

 

[bmwpower]

I don't know about you guys, but my time is money to me.

I just did my garage (30x30x14) tonight in about 3-4 hours with an airless sprayer. I don't think I'd do it any other way.

The less time I spend painting, the more time I have to wrench and/or spend with my kids.

 

[JohnHenrys48]

I've painted the inside of my house with "vaulted" ceilings, the first time using a Wagner Power Roller, and I think I spent more time moving the ladder and cleaning the roller/hose than painting. When the can/bucket neared empty the roller sputtered quite a bit. The second time...in as many years (yuck) I used the roller on stick method, much faster and cleaner. I also used the roller when I did my garage...if you keep the roller wet and keep a nice steady motion rather than try to speed through it you will minimize the spatter. I left the Wagner kit all nicely re-packed in it's box on the curb for Big Brother/Big Sister.

 

[Rob07002]

Of course, if you did a ladder with roller on a stick (esp. a Powerpainter deal), you could make ok time, and it would save your wife from having any blackmail material for later use...

And she would use that blackmail material too! Well i checked w HD and I can rent a 10ft scaffold w casters for $34 a day, so definatly going that route. And unless I can rent an airless spray gun for under $50 a day I'll prob get up there with a stick and roller. The main reason to go with a spray gun is I know that its going to take 2 coats, but with the scaffold it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[ChucksCrib]

I would roll it out with a telescoping pole. I would get some height by using an 8' step ladder. But if you got a bud to help you out and don't mind the rental costs/pick-up/return factor then go get the scaffolding.

 

[bmwpower]

BTW, my airless sprayer came with a power roller attachment, too. I just haven't used it.

 

[bmwpower]

Done.

Got finished Thursday night. Took me 2 nights - one for the primer, one for the semi gloss. I think it came out pretty nice. I can't imagine doing this with a roller. BTW, ceilings are 14'3".

 

[Rob07002]

Very nice... Your garage is almost the same size as mine. Who did your door tracks, need to do that as well....

 

[bmwpower]

Very nice... Your garage is almost the same size as mine. Who did your door tracks, need to do that as well....

Thanks. Took a while to find someone who'd do it. I finally ended up having South Jersey Overhead Door do it. Big mistake. They started in February of LAST YEAR and just "finished" a little while ago. You can read more about the fiasco here:

http://www.garagejunkies.net/showthread.php?t=705

 

[Rob07002]

Thanks. Took a while to find someone who'd do it. I finally ended up having South Jersey Overhead Door do it. Big mistake. They started in February of LAST YEAR and just "finished" a little while ago. You can read more about the fiasco here:

http://www.garagejunkies.net/showthread.php?t=705

ok can you recommend someone else then, I'm in Old Bridge....

 

[jonkav]

As far as painting goes, don't be foolish like my house builder has been... for whatever reason, after the primer was done(a lousy job), the electricians came in and did all their finish work (hanging lights, smoke detectors, switches/wall plates, outlets and covers). Now, the painters have to cut in around everything before painting. Rumor has it that they will spray the walls... I can't wait to see the overspray.

Anyway.

 

[bmwpower]

As far as painting goes, don't be foolish like my house builder has been... for whatever reason, after the primer was done(a lousy job), the electricians came in and did all their finish work (hanging lights, smoke detectors, switches/wall plates, outlets and covers). Now, the painters have to cut in around everything before painting. Rumor has it that they will spray the walls... I can't wait to see the overspray.

Anyway.

Lucky for me, I'm the painter, the sheetrocker and the electrician. So if one guy screws up, I have no one but myself to blame!

 

[bmwpower]

ok can you recommend someone else then, I'm in Old Bridge....

Depends on the brand of door. I went to the Clopay site and did a search for dealers in my area. I literally called every phone number on the list. Some of them were too far north, so for you that would be good. Go to the site and give it a shot. Get a bunch of prices.