How to Paint a Ceiling Without Water Available in Your Home
- 1). Fill two clean 5-gallon buckets with water at a gas station or friend's home. Transport the water to your home with the lids on.
- 2). Remove each item from the room you plan to paint if you believe the object may interfere with your ability to access the ceiling.
- 3). Cover the entire floor with thick, absorbent canvas drop cloths. Do not use polypropylene plastic drop cloths; these allow paint splatters and drips to pool.
- 4). Access the top of each wall, using a stepladder. Cover the portion of the wall directly adjacent to the ceiling using a low-tack painter's masking tape.
- 5). Pour two gallons of flat latex paint into a clean, empty 5-gallon bucket. Equip your roller frame with a nap cover and extension pole.
- 6). Paint the ceiling, using the roller. Begin at one far corner and roll back and forth in a vertical motion; do not roll horizontally. Continue until the entire ceiling is painted. Do not take breaks, or the ceiling will appear streaky due to uneven drying times.
- 7). Wrap the roller with plastic masking sheeting to prevent it from drying out. Immediately touch up the ceiling, using a nylon brush.
- 8). Empty all of the remaining paint from the 5-gallon bucket. Pour one gallon of water into the bucket. Clean the bucket, using rags. Repeat this procedure until the bucket is clean. Wash each tool inside the clean bucket, using fresh water.
