Are there any tricks to cutting in neatly?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

For once in my life I'm trying to do a really decent job decorating. But try as I might I can't get a really neat line between the ceiling and wall. It is recently plastered and a really nice finish so its not bumps causing the issue its cack handedness.

Spen 7 1/2 hours painting today. Can barely move now! But I'm going to get a nice line - I am determined!

I use masking tape (means bit of repair work required), then fill in with one of my son's paintbrushes.

maybe I should try that then. So you paint the ceiling then mask off the ceiling edges?
I'm on a bit of a tight timetable - needs to be completed tomorrow.
Thanks :)

Def mask the ceiling, about a foot at a time, wait the wall bit and then take it straight off so as not to take the paint off the ceiling. You can buy special masking tape from b&q and the like that isn't as tacky as normal, so less chance of taking the paint off. I also find a slanted brush about half and inch thick works well.

this brush

A really good brush

Excellent thank you :)
I suppose a better pair of eyes would also help!

Paint the walls and ceiling the same colour (the lazy girl's answer to cutting in ).

Load a smallish brush with paint. Paint along the top of wall parallel with ceiling. Then use same brush to brush over paint again, taking it up to ceiling. Do not use the side of the brush, but the flat top.
With practice this works.

lol CV!
Will try that Mollymax. Thank you :)

Like this...

www.dulux.co.uk/video/da_painting_walls.jsp

turn the brush diagonally to the line

oh excellent - I do like a good video :)

I think I tried that bronze but without consistency. kept having 'oh bugger' moments.

No, it's easier if you...

Put the tip of the bristles up to the edge of the wall at a 90 degree angle then pull the brush sideways left or right (depending on whether your left or right handed). The bristles will bend in the opposite direction to the drag and give you a lovely straight line.

This might explain it a bit better than me!

www.helpwithdiy.com/painting/painting_interior_walls.html

My DP is a painter and decorator. He says it's best to use a caulking tool and place it flush to the ceiling line, paint up to it, wipe it then move it along. Masking tape can be very fiddly and time counsuming apparently.

He says that the secret is to have a very good brush.

Otherwise you could always ask my DP to finish the job for you - very reasonable prices

lol - it is done now and actually for me it is a pretty bloody impressive job. I am very pleased I took it very slowly, climbed right to the top of the ladder and did it like chupa suggests.

Gosh it is hard to explain - not sure this will help.

I was going to say a really good brush too.

And a steady hand.

The first is easier to arrange than the second though!

You need to have a decent amount of paint on the brush as you go (but not too much), squidge the excess on the wall below the angle for dabbing into later, then bend the bristles a bit before pulling as ChupaChops describes; and when it's the ceiling you want to be at a really comfortable height.

Practise helps...is there somewhere that doesn't matter where you can have a few goes before doing this room?

oh good lord, I didn't notice you'd posted on Tuesday!

well done anyway, kitten

Oops sorry didn't realise that your OP was on Tuesday!

Well done, I bet your room looks fab

well it will do mrsB once it has a kitchen in it

Floor arrived today. It is very lovely and the floor chap didn't mark my lovely paint job.

Thank you Ponders :)

Cool

It's very satisfying when you grasp the concept. Feel like painting a wall now... :o

we have a few more that you can come and do here if you like?! (I've discovered that building works generally require the destruction of random bits of the house that I'd never considered...)