- Been there with the self-priming paints—tried it on old plaster walls and ended up with uneven sheen, especially over patched areas.
- For historic homes, I always stick to a dedicated primer (oil-based for stains, shellac for water marks). It’s extra work but saves headaches.
- Overhead sanding is brutal. I rigged up a shop vac to my pole sander too, but still get dust everywhere and sore shoulders.
- One trick: feather out joints way wider than you think you need, then use a bright work light at a sharp angle to spot imperfections before painting.
- Not sure there’s any real shortcut, but good tools and patience help... even if my arms disagree.
- Not sure there’s any real shortcut, but good tools and patience help...
That “feather out joints way wider than you think you need” advice is spot on. Learned that the hard way—thought I could get away with a narrow patch, but every light angle showed the seams. Overhead sanding is a killer, but you’re right, patience pays off. Worth it when you finally see those smooth walls.
Feathering those joints wider than you think is such a game changer. First time I tried to rush it, I ended up chasing shadows on the wall for days—every time the sun shifted, there was another line staring at me. Now I just accept it’s gonna take a few more passes and a bit more mud. Overhead work is brutal, no doubt, but I’ve found a good pole sander and a bright work light make a huge difference. It’s one of those things where cutting corners really comes back to bite you... but man, when it’s done right, it’s worth every sore shoulder.
Overhead work is brutal, no doubt, but I’ve found a good pole sander and a bright work light make a huge difference.
Ain’t that the truth. I thought I’d save my neck by skipping the pole sander once—bad idea. Ended up with popcorn ceilings in spots that weren’t supposed to be popcorn. The ghosts of every old patch job in this house show up under the right light, too. I swear, the previous owner must’ve used a garden trowel and closed his eyes.
Now I just embrace the slow pace. Feather wide, let it dry, sand, repeat... and try not to curse too loud when the dust gets everywhere. The best part is when you finally get it painted and can’t see a thing—makes all those sore muscles almost worth it. Almost.
- Totally get the pain with dust—my shop vac’s basically my sidekick now, but it still gets everywhere.
- I’ve tried those sanding sponges instead of pole sanders to save a few bucks, but honestly, not sure it’s worth it for ceilings.
- Anyone ever used one of those cheap drywall dust catchers or are they just gimmicks? I’m tempted, but don’t want to waste money if they’re useless.