The key to doing any job well and making it so much easier is starting off with the right, quality tools. Painting is a lot like cooking really. If you follow the recipe, gather all the ingredients first and are prepared for the task you about to perform, the end product will turn out delicious! Many people believe that they can simply pick out a paint colour and a couple of brushes and the job is done. If you want a professional look, you need professional tools.
Cleaning time
The first stage is to clean the surface. Paint won’t adhere well to a dirty surface. A heavy scrubber like a wire brush, sandpaper or steel wool works well. Wall scrapers and joint knives can be also be used to remove old wallpaper, peeling or cracking walls. A pressure washer will save you hours of cleaning time. The power washer will remove mildew, mould and dirt before you paint. They are also great for after paint clean up.
Don’t forget a good drop cloth to place on the floor and to cover your furniture with. Paint is bound to splatter in places and your floor and furniture needs to stay protected.
Paint Brushes
Paint Brushes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures and each has its own use
Wall: This type spreads the most paint over the most surface. These are usually 3 – 4 inches wide.
Trim: This brush is smaller, about 2 inches wide and is ideal for painting the edges around doors, windows and corners before using a roller.
Sash: A sash brush has an angled bristle end and comes between 1 and 2 inches in width. The angles bristle makes close, detailed work easier. This reduces the need to use tape to protect window panes, skirting boards and ceilings.
The above brushes usually come in natural bristles, synthetic bristles or foamed urethane, which are sponge like heads instead of bristles and are often disposable and cheap enough to toss after one use. Natural brushes which are made from animal hair are primarily for oil-based paints, varnishes and stains; they hold more paint and need to be cleaned with solvents and spirits. Synthetic brushes, made from nylon or polyester work well with water based paints. If you buy a high quality synthetic brush, it will hold its shape and last quite some time if cared for. These can easily be cleaned with warm water (never hot) and mild soap.
Always wash the bristles as soon as possible after use and gently reshape to original form and let dry. If you cannot wash the brushes immediately, tightly wrap them in a plastic bag and wash them as soon as you can.
By not using the correct paintbrush you can experience hand cramps due the poorly designed brush. The paint will not distribute evenly on the surface which will mean repainting and wasting a lot of time. Cheap paintbrushes also shed and you end up with bristles in the paint and on your wall.
Paint Rollers
These are ideal for large, flat surfaces like walls and ceilings, and would take a quarter of the time a paintbrush would. The type of roller cover you buy is determined on the type of paint you use. The same rule generally applies as with paintbrushes in terms of natural and synthetic. The fibres are designed to soak up the paint from the tray and then release it when rolled over a flat surface. The rolling action creates a vacuum that actually pulls the paint off the roller. For smoother surfaces choose a roller with a short pile and for a more textured surface choose a longer piled roller. Some paint rollers are designed in such a way as to have extension handles attached to them making them ideal to paint high ceilings and walls.
Sprayers
If you are thinking about painting the entire exterior of your house, why not use the airless sprayers that professionals use? Sprayers like this give you a much smoother finish and you can paint about ten times faster than with the traditional brush or roller.
Accessories
Make sure a steady ladder is available. This could be one of your most important tools yet as not only a good job determines on it, but so could you life.
Paint trays are usually made of plastic or aluminium and some trays come with hooks that allow you to attach them directly to the ladder for easy access. Buy some disposable tray liners and line your tray before painting. This makes cleanup so much easier.
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