Cut the ceiling in and let that dry completely, then roll it. Roll as tight as you can to the wall edges. Use some floetrol or extender to help keep your wet edge while you roll.

Thanks Paint Guy,

Dumb question- since I'll be starting with a full gallon, (little bit taken out to cut in ceiling), is there enough room in paint can to mix in an extender?

I won't be painting today- arghh- I pulled a back muscle brushing my teeth before bed last night, and I can barely move today_ guess I should have done warm-up and warm-down exercises before painting for the past two days!

Plus (obviously I have never used an extender before), if I don't use all the paint for this ceiling (wishful thinking), will the paint keep for a few months with the extender added?

Yes, the paint will keep fine for years as long as the lid is on tight. The key to keeping the paint from drying out is not letting the rim of the gallon get all filled with paint. That way the lid can go down all the way into the rim of the can. I've never heard of Floetrol or extender affecting how long paint will keep. I usually roll out of buckets or pans, so when I pour the paint into the bucket or pan I mix the extender in there. But, you don't add much anyway per gallon....maybe a cup or less. Read the instructions for whatever you buy that tells you how much to add per gallon.

Hi,
I'd recommend sanding the primer before the first finish coat, and plan on doing 2 finish coats.
There will be rough areas surrounding the nails and the tape seams, where the drywall finishers sanded. If you have a textured ceiling, ignore.
A light source correctly positioned (or glare coming in from a window) can aid in seeing where there are roller marks. Misses are harder to spot, which is why a second coat is called for. Don't work too fast (spatter, misses) or too slow- edges drying) Don't worry that you had trouble with the primer, because bare drywall and mud are very "thirsty".
Casey

Thank you Paint Guy and Casey,

My hubby will be happy that his request that I sand the ceiling before painting is the way to go (though I was resisting doing more work- guess my aching back was influencing my decision!)

I took the day off cuz of the back pain, and spent a good part of it with my Kitchen Designer who suggested I rent a sprayer to do the ceiling. Any thoughts on that? BTW, we will be putting up crown molding, so should I still 'cut in'? It is a flat ceiling, no texture.

Yes, the splatter definitely increased when I rolled too fast. I tried to let the roller 'do the work', but as the primer seeped in so quickly it was hard. Should be easier with the paint?

Have a conference to go to for the next two days, so hopefully, Sunday I'll be able to get at this- am looking forward to the final product.

Oh yeah everything is easier after you prime. The surface is no longer porous because you sealed it with the primer. Painting on top of the primer is easy. Yes, there is no reason to cut in if you are hanging crown as long as you roll tight to the walls....I can usually get 1/2" away from the wall with the roller. No way is a sprayer worth it for one ceiling. All the sprayer will do is get the material on the ceiling faster....you still have to backroll it.

Unless you are in a completley vacant house roll the paint on.

By the time you seal all the openings out of the room, protect the floor and windows, then back roll anyway, you will not have saved much time (if any) over just using a roller and a pole.

If the ceiling is a light color do not worry about keeping it off the walls very much.
When you cut in the walls you will cover it up.

OK- thanks Guys,

Ceiling is done. I did two coats- in opposite directions (thanks to an answer on another post- never would have thought of that otherwise). Looks pretty darn good (if I may say so myself! :>). Not perfect, but I bet no one except hubby will notice any of the tiny imperfections.

Rae, did you roll the ceiling first across the longest distance (25 ft) and then across the shortest (11 ft)? Did you have any trouble with going across such a long distance? What did you use for primer and final coat? I have Muresco on my ceilings and the person that painted did a horrible job and left all kinds of roller marks. He never primed. I hope you don't mind me asking all these questions but I have the job of re-doing my ceiling and I am really nervous about it.

Arapaho,

Yes, I did the long way first. But, I did it in sections. ie, I rolled the length of my roller on the pole that I could do in one sweep- perhaps 5-7 feet? (It's been a while, so I don't remember exactly)and went across the width for that 5-7 foot 'stripe' and then moved back across another 5-7 feet deep, trying to keep a wet edge at all times. I did not add the extender (can't remember why I didn't). So, to make it clear, I would start on the right side of the room, move across in one 5-7 foot stripe towards the left side. Then move up another 5-7 feet and go back from left to right, until the whole 25 feet was covered. When that coat was dry- probably the next day, I went across the room in the other direction.

By Muresco, do you mean Muresco paint? I googled, and came up with BM Muresco paint.

I used BM primer. Definitely, make sure surface is sanded smooth. I thought I had sanded everything well, but there are a few spots that I could have done a better job. Now, that kitchen is complete, it will never get done- wish I hadn't been in such a rush.

I use all Benjamin Moore (BM) products. For the final coat I used Benjamin Moore Collection Acrylic Enamel 'Cloud White' in an eggshell finish. I did end up cutting it all in- still haven't put up the crown molding- so am glad it all looks nice and finished.

I don't like the Muresco - it seems to have a gloss to it, even though can says "flat". Painter used it after we had to have ceilings retaped and it flashes like crazy - can't touch up at all, he left roller marks. He only did 1 coat primer, 1 coat paint - I had to hire someone else to put another coat on all the downstairs ceilings and the second guy didn't get close enough to cut-in edge, can still see where he tried to go over it and it flashed. And now I have some seams or tape edges coming back out a year later, so we'll just wait a few years and patch, repaint everything again. Upstairs is Pittsburgh Paint Ceiling White we originally used in 2007, that touches up fine. Not as bright a white, but definitely flat.