Painting Equipment

Wouldn't it be nice if you could just buy a bucket of paint and a brush then get going? But any interior or exterior home painting project will require much more.

Painting equipment is more than brushes and rollers. For all but the smallest jobs, a ladder is a must.

Make sure you overspend here. That doesn't mean buying foolishly, but getting more ladder than you think you need. Walls are always higher than they look and you need to stand two or even three steps down from the top rung for safety.

Get something ultra sturdy. The ladder will have to support your body weight, plus a bucket of paint or a heavy spray canister. Add to that, brushes, pans, rollers and other equipment you want with you and the ladder needs to support about 10-15% more than your weight. If you fall, even if you don't injure yourself, you'll have a heck of a mess to clean up. Overspend.

Most jobs will require a bucket or two. Though paints obviously come in cannisters or buckets themselves, you'll often be mixing thinner, water or other compounds into the paint. You don't want to do that in the original container. Plus, when using a roller, you'll need a paint pan or two.

There are optional lids that can be helpful, too. A standard paint can lid can be a real pain to open, especially after paint dries around the top lip. Slip on lids, some with paint pouring spouts can save you a lot of trouble.

But before you can even get started on the actual painting, you'll need to do a lot of preparation work. That can be up to 80% of the total time spent. Keep that number as low as possible by getting good materials.

Masking tape, sometimes known as blue tape, is a must for those jobs that require painting window sills, walls near baseboard and other close areas. Even the most skilled professional can't avoid getting paint on other surfaces without it.

Drop cloths, plastic or canvas tarps, and other large covers can be vital for certain jobs. Ceiling paint projects are an obvious example. But even when paint isn't dripping from above, it's all too easy to splatter some around. A slight flick of the brush or a little too much speed with the roller is all it takes to fling paint droplets against a floor. Cover everything well.

Then, thankfully, every painting job comes to an end - at least for a day. Once that stage is reached, cleanup begins. Masking and covering will help make that quicker. But there will still be brushes and rollers to clean. Few will want to endure the expense of simply throwing the day's tools away and starting with new ones tomorrow.

Paint thinner is essential for cleaning off oil-based or alkyd paints. Soap and water will do for latex. Gloves will make it super quick to clean hands and a good head covering will save time trying to wash paint out of your hair. The occasional scraper will be needed for those areas where you weren't quite careful enough.

Get the proper supplemental equipment and your home painting job will be quicker, easier and higher quality.

Brushes and Rollers

Whether you're painting the interior or exterior, you'll want a number of different types of brushes. Even when you use a power sprayer to do the exterior, there will almost always be a number of spots that call for hand painting.

But, wouldn't you know it, brushes and rollers come in a bewildering array of sizes, materials and types. Which is best for the job? The answer to that question depends, of course, on the job being done.

Brushes

There are two basic types of brushes: natural bristle and synthetic.

Natural bristle brushes tend to be a little more expensive, but this is one area where it's unwise to try to save a few dollars. The ultimate result will be determined, in part, by the quality of the tools you use.

Natural bristle brushes are perfect for oil-based or alkyd type paints. They're not generally recommended for latex paints, since they absorb too much water, leaving the paint dryer. That makes the paint spread less evenly. They may not last as long as synthetic. Though some will last longer, compared to cheap synthetics. But they'll provide a smooth, even look that is easy to generate.

Still, a quality synthetic brush definitely has its uses. Latex can be applied with natural or synthetic, where they do an about equally good job. Some can be used with alkyds as well.

In either case, ensure that you get a quality brush of the right size. A brush with split ends may look ragged and used. But it's the perfect tool for evenly spreading paint. A much finer surface can be more easily created using a split end. Paint tends to lodge between the split, where it's dragged over the surface much more smoothly and evenly.

For most jobs you'll want a brush that is about 50% longer than it is wide. So, a 2 inch wide brush will need to be at least 3 inches long. That saves on hand fatigue, provides enough flex and helps create a smooth texture. If you really need to cover a lot of area quickly, use a roller instead.

Rollers

Like brushes, rollers come in natural material or synthetic. The same considerations apply to rollers as to brushes, with a few additions.

The nap of a roller determines to a high degree the final texture left behind. A long, rough nap creates a rougher look. That may be just what you want. But if you want the smoothest possible surface, get a very fine, low nap. Smooth plaster requires a nap of 1/8-1/4 inch at most. For a rougher texture, 3/8-1/2 inch is ok.

Make sure you get a roller that 'bounces back' to its original shape when squeezed. That happens inevitably when the roller is moved over the surface.

Here again, quality counts and saving a few dollars for cheap rollers is self-defeating. The percentage of the total painting costs required for brushes and rollers is very small. You didn't skimp on the paint. Apply the same principle to the tools used to apply it. Go with the best and you'll save time and create the best possible result.