Painting is a sure way to update or refresh the surfaces and objects around your home. If you have a painting project ahead of you, you also need to make a decision about how you are going to do it! Painting with a paint sprayer can be an extremely efficient approach to your home improvement project, so it’s worth considering for your needs.

Of course, you don’t have to make up your mind on your own. Choosing the method for your painting needs to be done with care — especially if the idea of a paint sprayer is new to you! So read on for more information and our recommendations for your next project.

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The Perfect Way to Paint With a Paint Sprayer

What is a Paint Sprayer?

A paint sprayer is a piece of equipment that applies paint in a spraying fashion thanks to air or pressure. With a reservoir that contains paint, the system propels paint through the unit and onto your surface easily. It allows you to paint much more quickly as the spray covers area faster and more evenly than when using a roller or brush.

Paint Sprayer

Paint sprayers are available in airless or air-powered models. Airless models use a pumping action that builds pressure to force paint out of the nozzle and onto your surface. Models that use air, use it to build pressure within the reservoir to push the paint into the nozzle.

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Paint Sprayers vs Paint Rollers Which is Best?

Depending on your project, you’ll want to evaluate each option for the best results.

Paint Sprayer Pros

  • Fast way to paint
  • Perfect for uneven surfaces
  • Provides smooth and even paint application
  • Amazing levels of coverage in terms of area and consistency

Great for: skirting boards, multiple-room projects or larger rooms, exterior walls including brick or siding, furniture projects, door painting, uneven or multi-level surfaces

Paint Sprayer

Paint Sprayer Cons

  • Extensive preparation required
  • Multiple thin coats necessary for coverage
  • More paint used
  • Overspray can cause a mess
  • Performance of sprayer dependent on weather
  • More expensive equipment

Paint Roller Pros

  • Quality first coat
  • Variety of sizes to suit your project
  • Great for ceilings and flat surfaces

Great for: small to medium-sized rooms, interior walls and ceilings

Paint Roller

Paint Roller Cons

  • Difficult to gain coverage on uneven surfaces
  • Roller or stipple marks may be visible from the roller surface
  • Hard to get into small areas
  • Doesn’t always provide an even finish
  • Frequent reloads of paint

How to Use a Paint Sprayer For Interior Painting

Step 1: Prep Your Area

As with any painting project, whether you're painting with a paint sprayer, roller brush, or a combination of both, make sure you are prepping your work area. Lay down drop cloths on any surface that needs to remain paint-free. Paint sprayer overspray can lead to droplets on everything! Using drop cloths is especially important when painting furniture since you want to achieve even coverage but not make a mess.

Prep Your Area

Near Me Tip: Keep your eye on the weather! Painting is best done in weather neither too hot nor too cold. Too much heat, and your paint dries too quickly and unevenly. Too cold or humid and it will be slow to dry.

Step 2: Load Your Sprayer With Paint

Depending on the type of sprayer you are using, you may be filling a reservoir with paint or priming your pump using a hose attachment. Check out your sprayer’s directions to ensure you are loading it properly.

Load Your Paint For The Paint Sprayer

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Step 3: Install The Tip

Different kinds of nozzle ends will enable you to change your spray pattern by adjusting the angle of spray. Most paint sprayers allow you to swap out these nozzles to find something that works well for your project and your painting distance.

Types of Paint Sprayer Nozzles

Install the nozzle of choice onto the gun part of your sprayer. For some models, you’ll need to release the pressure in the hose before adding the nozzle by turning it off.

Step 4: Practice on Cardboard First

Some skill is required to paint properly with a sprayer! So as our recommended step four, hook up your sprayer and practice on a piece of scrap cardboard. Aim for slow, even strokes to get full coverage of your surface. After you know how much pressure it takes to get an even coat, you can move on to your painting project.

Cardboard

Ensure that your sprayer is applying paint in an even pattern. It should come out evenly, without any areas of too much or too little coverage. Check out your results once you are comfortable with the sprayer to see if you need to adjust the pressure.

Step 5: Paint Your Project

Before you reach the edge of the wall or furniture you are painting, apply pressure to your trigger. You’ll want to start dispensing paint before you reach the starting surface for even results.

Paint Sprayer in Vertical Lines

Keep your sprayer parallel to the surface and move quickly but smoothly across the width of your project, releasing the trigger after you are past the opposite edge. Add thin coats over thick ones to allow your surface to dry properly.

Overlap each line of paint over approximately half of each previously painted strip to guarantee full coverage, always keeping your paint sprayer even.

Near Me Tip: Work in a left to right, then top to bottom pattern. This allows for full coverage without causing overlap or drips. Plan out your work too — aim to get the edges of furniture or doors first before tackling the larger surface of the sides, top and bottom.

Summary

Applying a new coat of paint is a great way to refresh anything from interior walls to furniture to the outside of your home! But while some paint projects are easier than others, they all need the right equipment to complete. Knowing whether your project calls for a paint sprayer or paint rollers can help you obtain the best — and fastest — results. With your equipment in hand, you can get ready for your next painting project.

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