# Making a clean painted corner where a rough wall meets a rough ceiling **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707 "2017-02-12T23:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/1 "2017-02-12T23:43:44Z")
We had the “popcorn” removed from our ceiling, and replaces with a nice skip-trowel finish. I did a similar finish on the walls. The problem is, the corners are rough, and it’s essentially impossible to make a sharp, painted line where the wall meets the ceiling. Any suggestions on how to do this? My wife has the idea of putting 1” cove molding in the corners, which might work, but sounds like a like of work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/2 "2017-02-13T00:06:15Z")
Paint the walls and ceiling the same color. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/3 "2017-02-13T00:10:13Z")
nm - Ninja’d 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/4 "2017-02-13T00:11:20Z")
This is a suggestion because I haven’t tried it but the cost to try is low. attach [weatherstrip](https://www.zoro.com/value-brand-foam-seal-10ft-gray-pvc-closed-cell-foam-2rre6/i/G3486463/?gclid=COfTv6rji9ICFYO4wAod6Q4JLw) foam to one side of a [paint guide tool](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Warner-23-in-Paint-Guide-and-Wallcovering-Tool-2735/205052402?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CTHD%7Cgoogle%7C&mid=sUOtCWJqp%7Cdc_mtid_8903alh25183_pcrid_171993688510_pkw __pmt__ product_205052402_slid_&gclid=COfnzcXii9ICFQ9EfgodnSsJjA) along the edge. push into edge so one surface seals. clean tool as you move down the edge. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/5 "2017-02-13T00:15:45Z")
Dado/picture rail, and paint the ceiling colour down to the top of the rail and the wall colour up to the bottom, like so: [https://goo.gl/images/0rz6E8](https://goo.gl/images/0rz6E8) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/6 "2017-02-13T00:16:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Paint the walls and ceiling the same color. That’s in consideration, but I think a light-colored ceiling looks much nicer. I’d rather take the time and effort to create a clean dividing line. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/7 "2017-02-13T02:57:56Z")
How clean is clean enough? My walls and ceiling are the same sort of finish you describe. The walls and ceiling are quite different colors. I had nothing to do with the painting; the previous owner had it done. But the line is far from perfectly straight. It burbles along +/- 1/8 inch all the way as the texture dictates. And overall it looks just fine. The big thing I see is they ensured the wall paint intrudes onto the ceiling rather than vice versa. There’s no place along a couple hundred feet of wall where the ceiling white extends down the wall even a smidgen. On close examination it looks like a basic brushed cut-in, just done carefully by a skilled guy. There’s definitely no sign of masking; the texture wouldn’t allow it. YMMV. My only advice is to not confuse painting a room wall with painting the hood of a car. The finish detail expected is very different. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/8 "2017-02-14T12:42:12Z")
As long as the ceiling is white, I have got a cleaner edge in situations like this by running a thin bead of decorator’s caulk along the junction after painting (which also has the benefit of filling any cracks at the angle). ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/9 "2017-02-14T13:00:17Z")
You don’t need to jam your paint up into the corner. The simple solution is to cut your paint line slightly lower on the wall so the contour of the ceiling has no effect . This will create the illusion of a nice crisp corner. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/10 "2017-02-14T13:33:07Z")
Extend the ceiling colour down the wall, 1" or less, as required to reach a really smooth surface. You could even use masking tape to get a really nice smooth line. The effect will be just what you’re looking for, and no one will really notice the colour break isn’t right at the intersect. It’s often done, very successfully, in mis shaped old houses! Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/11 "2017-02-14T17:05:02Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > You don’t need to jam your paint up into the corner. The simple solution is to cut your paint line slightly lower on the wall so the contour of the ceiling has no effect . This will create the illusion of a nice crisp corner. > [@elbows](#): > > Extend the ceiling colour down the wall, 1" or less, as required to reach a really smooth surface. You could even use masking tape to get a really nice smooth line. > > The effect will be just what you’re looking for, and no one will really notice the colour break isn’t right at the intersect. It’s often done, very successfully, in mis shaped old houses! > > Good Luck! Looks like you missed the part where the OP said that both his ceiling and his walls are heavily textured. There is no smooth surface anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/12 "2017-02-16T13:34:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Looks like you missed the part where the OP said that both his ceiling and his walls are heavily textured. There is no smooth surface anywhere. Nope, it’s just easier to paint a straight line in 2 dimensions than adding the 3rd along the ceiling. Although, I was suggesting a line ~1/8" from the ceiling as opposed to elbows 1" ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/13 "2017-02-16T13:57:18Z")
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I’ll need to do some experiments. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/14 "2017-02-16T15:15:02Z")
**LSLGuy’s** comments in post #7 is what I have done … it takes a bit of tinkering but you can get a satisfactory finish without the perfection of a perfect line … and always use **Colophon’s** less risky technique … no sense getting hurt on this type of job … ETA: Your wife is right, that cove is some extra work but … man … it’ll look GREAT … throw in **RobRoy’s** idea and the hardwood flooring you’ll be putting in will shine … it’ll look like it belongs in the Taj Mahal … ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/15 "2017-02-16T15:59:38Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > As long as the ceiling is white, I have got a cleaner edge in situations like this by running a thin bead of decorator’s caulk along the junction after painting (which also has the benefit of filling any cracks at the angle). I’d guess you could do one of two things- either scrape enough of the texture away to give yourself a clean, smooth corner that you can freehand cut in. Or, for the smoothest line, run your bead of caulk along the corner and smooth it over to give yourself a smooth surface, let it cure completely, then run painters tape down the smooth caulk, paint over the tape making sure to paint over the edge, and then peel up the tape after your paint is dry, giving yourself a really crisp defined line. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/16 "2017-02-16T16:26:00Z")
Quarter color ceilings are much nicer. I just finished a job with your exact situation. I just cut it in with a brush. Honestly, no one will notice the occasional imperfection after it’s all said and done. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/17 "2017-02-17T02:09:53Z")
I have a certain painting mindset for ceiling and walls. I overlap the wall onto the ceiling and then edge the ceiling. I think it’s easier to touch up the wall than the ceiling. You can use something like a cheap[fan brush](http://www.unitednow.com/product/879/dynasty-1350-white-bristle-brushes.aspx?item=3586&gclid=CI7z2PyFltICFUi2wAod-9EJKg) for this purpose. Only put paint on one side of the brush. I have trouble working with my arms above my head so it’s what works best for me physically that dictates the process. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/18 "2017-02-17T08:35:34Z")
I think the rough paintwork in the corner of rough surfaces is just to be tolerated. Or you could paint a third colour , eg black, along the corner to hide the rough nature of the corner. ---
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/19 "2017-02-17T12:55:44Z")
Doing anything right and well, will be "a lot of work. " You have to decide which “a lot of work” you want to do. That, or decide to “adjust” how you think about the wall/ceiling interface, so that you don’t CARE that it’s crude. Basic options: - do a lot of work to use detailed painting work to make it APPEAR that the meeting of the wall and ceiling is clean. It will only look right, even with the best effort, from one vantage point in the room, so pick the one that you will be in most of the time. - cover the meeting with molding, as your wife suggested. That’s not simple either, since the wall and ceiling must be absolutely flat where the molding touches it, or the molding will look “wavy,” or have ugly gaps. - fix the joint. Drill out the crude mess at the corners, and then replaster using a corner edging trowel. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707/20 "2017-02-17T13:46:45Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > We had the “popcorn” removed from our ceiling, and replaces with a nice skip-trowel finish. I did a similar finish on the walls. The problem is, the corners are rough, and it’s essentially impossible to make a sharp, painted line where the wall meets the ceiling. > > Any suggestions on how to do this? My wife has the idea of putting 1” cove molding in the corners, which might work, but sounds like a like of work for me. Q for the OP: I interpret your use of the word “corners” here to mean the entire 2D line or edge where any wall meets the ceiling. Others seem to have interpreted “corners” here to mean the 3D intersection of two walls and the ceiling in a single point. IMO the latter is more geometrically correct, but the former is more likely to be what you really meant. Which did \*you \*mean? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-clean-painted-corner-where-a-rough-wall-meets-a-rough-ceiling/779707.md?page=2)