Are you planning to paint the exterior of your own home? If so, you might be doing a little bit of research to see what the best way is to apply the paint, should you opt for the traditional brush and roller or use something a little more modern, such as a paint sprayer. There’s been a large push towards DIY paint sprayers over the last few years, you could pick one up for as little as £50 at Argos or B&Q. While both methods will ultimately lead to a painted house, the techniques involved in the process are quite different, and further to that, ask yourself, should you even be considering doing it yourself. Your house is on view to everyone that walks or drives by. Any mistake, however small will be visible to everyone.
That said, here’s what you need to know about using a brush and roller compared to a paint sprayer to paint your home’s exterior.
Paint Sprayers for Painting
Pros:
- They’re fast. Paint sprayers can paint large areas quickly. For example, after masking, a professional decorator can paint the exterior of a small home in just a few days. Note, the secret to success is in the masking, get that right and things go smoothly.
- They cover more area. In addition to being fast, paint sprayers can also cover more areas, which is great when you need to quickly paint large areas of your home. In fact, according to some paint sprayers, they can cover up to an impressive 120 square feet per minute, which makes them great for painting your home’s exterior. I make a point of this being noted on sprayers as even though our sprayers can do the same, a professional sprayer will take into account the texture of the wall and layout of the exterior, thus changing the time it takes.
- They’re consistent. Paint sprayers also give you a consistently professional finish. That’s because paint sprayers can spray paint smoothly and evenly, which is great for those who want to keep a consistent paint finish on their home’s exterior.
Cons:
- If you’re trying this yourself, they’re not very precise. One of the most significant downsides of using a paint sprayer to paint your home’s exterior is that without attention to detail sprayers can become very messy. This means that you won’t be able to paint with pinpoint accuracy. A professional spray painter will spend a great amount of time masking to help with overspill.
- They’re noisier. Paint sprayers are also louder than brushes, which makes using one a lot more disruptive. That’s fine for most situations apart from occasions like when trying to get the baby to sleep.
- Without training they can be dangerous, as per any high pressure device they have the ability to break the skin and hurt you if not used properly.
Brushes and Rollers for Painting
Pros:
- They’re very precise. As far as painting your home’s exterior is concerned, brushes and rollers offer much better precision than paint sprayers do, perfect if you’re not a fan of masking. That’s because a brush lets you paint with pinpoint accuracy, which makes it easy to paint around things like electrical switches, outdoor taps, windows, and more. Though masking is part of the job, if you’re trying to skip the masking process then DIY painting is not right for you and you really do need a professional.
- Brushes and rollers are perfect for those that want to take their time. Paint sprayers are quick and efficient, perfect for keeping labour cost down when hiring a decorator, not so great if you’re doing it yourself and looking to procrastinate. Brushes all the way in that instance.
Cons:
- They can’t cover as much area. When it comes to painting your home’s exterior, the biggest downside of using a brush and roller is that it can’t cover as much area as paint sprayers can.
- They’re not as fast. When you’re painting your home’s exterior using a brush or roller means spending more time with each stroke of the brush or roll of the roller and carrying the paint up the ladder.
- You can’t move quickly. Since brushes are not as fast as paint sprayers, moving quickly is not an option. You are technically forced to paint the same spot for much longer to ensure it is thoroughly covered versus a paint sprayer.
Conclusion
So, when it comes to the above question, brush & roller or paint sprayer which should you choose? It really depends on what you’re looking for in a painting method. If you want to paint your home’s exterior quickly and with a consistent professional finish, a paint sprayer is the right choice for you. But if you want a more traditional look, brushes are likely your best bet. That said, whichever method you choose, we recommend that you hire a professional to help you paint your home. They can ensure a quality job is done that promises a durable and stunning finish!
Just Spray It specialises in spray paint services to help homeowners achieve stunning quality homes. If you are looking for exterior spraying services in Derby, reach out to us today!