I put the first coat of flat black paint, over a dark grey primer last night. Got up this morning and it looks like crap. I have never painted black before and wanted to know if there is anything special I should know? I had roller marks and it just looked sh**y. It s high quality Diamond Vogel paint, so I know it;s not the paint. I had new 18" rollers so I sure it not that either.

Dark Colors Very Often need multiple coats to look good.

While my black ceiling only needed one coat, my maroon dining room needed 3 coats.

Apply another coat and see what you get.

made a call, as we do business with the top professional painter in the area. He said he would stop down and take a look at it tonight. I hate painting.

Sounds like you need more coats.

I had roller marks and it just looked sh**y.

You need to have a single source very bright light (Like a 300w halogen. You need to perfect your roller technique so that you never leave raised edges.

2-3 coats with a quality 3/8 nap roller. That 18 incher may be too big for you to handle.

Make sure you are never pressing the roller to get out more paint. It should just glide on effortlessly.

Play some smooth jazz music and relax.

Thanks, I fired up the 1000w halogens and worked very slowly and methodical. Always left a wet edge and it still turned out terrible. We'll see what the pros have to say tonight.

I just went through the same issue with a dark brown paint. Here is my recommendation:


Like Bigmouth said... 3/8th in nap, and a normal 9" wide roller. Unless you are really good, your are going to leave ropes with the 18 incher.
You are gonna need to do 3 or 4 coats before everything looks nice and smooth.
Floetrol is your friend. Go pick some of this up. It is an additive you mix with your paint to help smooth it out, and keep it wet longer. I used about 1.5cups per gallon. You can get it from HD or Lowes or likely any paint store.
Make sure you are using really flat paint. I made the mistake of using "Behr Flat Enamel"... and not "Behr Flat". It had too much sheen and just wasn't working out. Some brand's flat is another brand's semi-gloss, so be careful.
As soon as you hear or see your roller getting dry, reload the thing. If it gets dry, or the paint gets dry, as you roll over the paint, it pulls the paint down and gives it a different texture... which will make it looks streaky with any light shining on it.


I put 3 coats of the wrong paint on, and it took another 4 coats with the proper flat paint. My technique got better with each coat, so I had that going for me.

You just need one or two more coats.

After a 2nd coat you should see some improvement but probably still a few imperfections. The 3rd coat should blend it all into a uniform finish.

I just went through the same issue with a dark brown paint. Here is my recommendation:


Like Bigmouth said... 3/8th in nap, and a normal 9" wide roller. Unless you are really good, your are going to leave ropes with the 18 incher.
You are gonna need to do 3 or 4 coats before everything looks nice and smooth.
Floetrol is your friend. Go pick some of this up. It is an additive you mix with your paint to help smooth it out, and keep it wet longer. I used about 1.5cups per gallon. You can get it from HD or Lowes or likely any paint store.
Make sure you are using really flat paint. I made the mistake of using "Behr Flat Enamel"... and not "Behr Flat". It had too much sheen and just wasn't working out. Some brand's flat is another brand's semi-gloss, so be careful.
As soon as you hear or see your roller getting dry, reload the thing. If it gets dry, or the paint gets dry, as you roll over the paint, it pulls the paint down and gives it a different texture... which will make it looks streaky with any light shining on it.


I put 3 coats of the wrong paint on, and it took another 4 coats with the proper flat paint. My technique got better with each coat, so I had that going for me.


I just can't use a 3/8 roller. The nap is just not think enough as my ceiling has a heavy texture on it.
I have to see about the floetrol-never heard of it. but sund like it would work
The black is nice and flat in the "good looking sections and Im' happy with it. Now if the whole ceiling looked like it. Second coat will go on tonight.
I have no problems with the 18" roller and do not have any rope left. The paint is just very uneven for some reason. Like I said eariler, I took my time, the wife edged and I did the main part of the ceiling and the fornt wall. I'm hoping the second coat goes well or else I going to come unglued!
The contractors are back on monday to start trimming it out and the carpet people are in on the next monday. So time is of the essence!!

I just can't use a 3/8 roller. The nap is just not think enough as my ceiling has a heavy texture on it.


Then what are you complaining about? the texture will hide most sloppy paint jobs. You just don't have enough paint on the ceiling yet.

I thought it was a smooth surface which can be a PITA.

Yeah, if it is a textured ceiling, then all you need is more paint to make sure you get enough coverage. I assumed you were working w/ a smooth ceiling as well.

I had mine sprayed and it looks great. But I had bare joists and not a drywalled ceiling.

put the second coat on lasy night and it looks a little better. have to go and get another gallon and I'll put the 3rd coat on today. I hope that's it as I'm getting sick of painting this ceiling. It is all worth it right?

If you are using 1KW halogen to light the ceiling for painting, then it will take a lot of effort for it to look good under that lighting condition. I have a textured ceiling (knockdown) that I painted black with a roller, and under 500w halogen direct lighting on the ceiling, you can see many imperfections, but under normal room 100% lighting, you can't see those imperfections at all.

It is all worth it right?

Yes. Do not give up! You'll be watching movies in no time.:)

I was in the exact same boat when I painted my room black a while ago. After the first couple coats I was like what the hell. It looked awful. I ended up putting on 5 coats, each subsequent coat looking better. While it still could have used another coat or two it is a huge improvement over the first couple.

Same thing here......heavy texture, grey primer, three coats of Behr flat black "Mouse Ears". By the third coat, it looked great.

You'll get there!

Cheers,
Jay

No primer, 1 coat of Black from Sherwin Williams for mine and it looks fantastic (although the ceiling is slightly textured - dimpled). It's all in the rhythm.

If I had to prime AND use 3-5 coats, I'd slit my wrists.

Try a high quality wool roller. I used a medium grade polyester roller and got hideous results with flat matte Behr Mouse Ears black. After upgrading to a 100% wool roller, voila! no roller marks.

The thing looks like a shaggy dog when in use, but it dries even and smooth. The result surprised me. They also seem to clean up easier that a polyester roller, but that may be my imagination.

I used a grey Behr Premium primer followed by 1 coat of Behr Deep Base black, i just asked for the blackest flat paint. Apllied with a longer nap roller, I forget but I think 3/8" nap is a standard for smooth walls and I used a 1/2" or maybe 3/4" for my ceiling, not sure though. My ceiling has got 'knockdown' texture so I just did small areas and kept the roller plenty wet.
I am very happy that one coat turned out very nice and even.