Products to usePainting an ornate, aluminum ceiling in fine detail is easy because it is painted before it gets fixed to the ceiling. Most aluminum paneling is sold with etch primer already on it so it is immediately ready to paint. You can use one color over the whole ceiling, you can add just a touch of color on the moldings or you can paint every detail in various shades of paint. The patterns in aluminum ceilings are more deeply pressed than other types of ceilings so they create lovely shadows themselves just from electric light or from natural daylight. Most people use one color of paint over the whole ceiling. It is strongly recommended that pale shades of paint be used. Darker colors can be appealing in theory but in practice they can often give a heavy oppressive feel to a room. Oil based paints, otherwise known as enamel paints, are the best products to use on metal. They give a tough finish, which will last a long time. You don't want to re-paint your lovely ceiling at any stage so use good quality paints.
In tough wear and tear areas such as on pub walls or in front of bars, it can be a good idea to consider powder coating. This is a high-heat treatment, which coats the panels on both sides and produces a tougher finish than standard oil paints. There is a limited range of colors used in powder coating but there are colors to suit most tastes. Always consider how you will paint your panels before you order them. If powder coating is your choice, then you will need to order your panels minus the etch primer. Powder coating and etch primer are not compatible. Powder coating companies can be located in the Yellow Pages. Powder coating would generally be considered excessive on a normal ceiling that is not subject to wear and tear.
Brushes
Brushes with a width of about 2-3 inches (6-7 cm) are the largest you should use when painting the base color of your panels. You will need to paint at least two coats. If dark colors are used then you may need a third coat. Choose the best quality brush you can afford so that you are not continually picking off hairs from your beautiful paint job. When painting the fine details, you will need a much smaller brush. Use artist brushes, sizes 6 and 4 to start with, and progress from there. Always try to be consistent in the way you paint. For example, always paint your leaves with brush strokes in one direction only. Have a small pot of turpentine at hand and a box of cheap cotton buds. Any paint excesses or errors can be smartly wiped away with a cotton bud that has been moistened with the turpentine.
How much detail to paint
Remember that the ceiling will always be several feet above your head, so exceedingly fine details may not be seen from that distance. It is easy to paint too much detail into ceiling panels. Remember, "Less is often best." Too many colors can make your ceiling look too "busy." Every so often, you should stand back from your work and evaluate it from several feet away.
After the ceiling is installed
When the ceiling is nailed up, you should look at the nail heads to see if you can find them. Because small nails are used, you may find that they are not visible. If necessary, you can paint a tiny amount of paint on the nail heads.
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