The benefits of painting a room by hand may seem obvious , but painting in g can completely transform the look and feel of your home. While using a paint sprayer may seem faster and easier, there are some significant benefits to taking the time to paint a room by hand using brushes and rollers. Read on to learn why you should consider picking up a brush for your next paint project.
Painting a House With a Paint Sprayer
Paint sprayers allow you to quickly apply paint in a thin, even coat on walls and ceilings. They are excellent for covering large, open spaces efficiently. However, sprayers have some downsides:
- Sprayers send a mist of paint droplets into the air which can land where you don’t want them. Taping up and covering furniture takes time, and overspray can still happen.
- It’s harder to get paint into corners and do detail work with a sprayer. You’ll still need a brush for edging and trim.
- Sprayers require thinning the paint, which lowers its hide and durability.
- Cleaning a paint sprayer thoroughly after each use takes effort. Dried paint can clog the hose and tip.
For these reasons, a paint sprayer may not be the best choice for a smaller room. The amount of preparation and post-painting cleanup can negate any time savings.
Painting a House With a Brush and Roller
While painting a room by hand takes more elbow grease, it offers advantages over relying solely on a paint sprayer. Here are some benefits of using brushes and rollers:
- Brushes allow you to cut edges smoothly along trim, corners, and ceilings without tape. The bristles push paint into these grooves better than a sprayer.
- You can apply thicker, less-thinned paint by hand. The higher paint film build will provide better durability and hide imperfections better.
- Paint rollers make quick work of large flat areas like walls. The finish they leave is smooth and even.
- Less prep work is needed to mask off doors, floors, and non-painted surfaces when brushing and rolling by hand. The controlled application puts paint only where you aim.
- Cleaning brushes and rollers take just soap and water. Simply allow them to dry after use rather than a lengthy disassembly and cleaning.
How Much Paint to Use
To estimate how much paint you’ll need for a room, measure the room’s perimeter in linear feet, including openings for windows and doors. Multiply this by the wall height to get the room’s square footage of wall space.
As an example a 10′ x 12′ room with 8-foot tall walls and two 3′ wide doorways, the math would be:
(10 + 10 + 12 +12 – 6) x 8 = 128 square feet
Most paints will cover around 400 square feet per gallon with one coat. So a 10′ x 12′ room would need about 1/3 of a gallon for the first coat. The second coat will use less paint. It’s better to have extra than to run out halfway through painting!
How to Conserve Paint When Spraying
If you do use a paint sprayer for all or part of the job, here are some tips for conserving paint:
- Use the lowest pressure setting needed to get an even coat. High-pressure waste paint.
- Don’t trigger the sprayer until the tip is moving and oriented correctly. Starting and stopping the flow creates drips.
- Overlap passes by 50% to ensure even coverage without excessive buildup.
- Keep the sprayer tip 12-18 inches from the painting surface for the best pattern.
- Mix multiple cans into one large container instead of refilling often. This prevents dried paint buildup inside.
- Store paint between coats in sealed containers to avoid skinning over and drying out.
Planning your painting strategy and using a good sprayer technique will use less paint while still getting quality results.
House Painting Essex by Westgates Maintenance
Westgate’s Maintenance has been providing professional painting and decorating services in Essex since 2005. No matter if you need just one room painted or a whole house revamped, Westgates offers reliable and affordable painting in Essex and throughout the East Anglia region.
Westgate’s painters bring years of experience painting both exteriors and interiors. Their expertise allows them to recommend colours and techniques best suited to your home’s unique architecture and style. A vast range of paint colours and finishes are available to match any decor.
Quality application and preparation are Westgates’ priorities. Surfaces are properly scraped, sanded, primed, and caulked to ensure the new paint adheres smoothly and evenly. And you can count on them to keep the work area tidy and completely clean up afterwards. To get a free estimate for your Essex home’s painting needs, contact Westgates Maintenance today by calling 07455 024139 or emailing info@westgatesmaintenance.co.uk Their friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions and provide a competitive bid. See how a fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into your living spaces.