When painting the exterior of your home either yourself or if you are hiring someone to do the deed, it is important to understand the different ways paint can be applied to the outside of your home and how that may effect the final product. Here’s a question for you homeowners, what is the difference between paint spraying versus the traditional brush & roller method?
There are pros and cons for paint spraying as well as the traditional roller & brush method. We want to educate you as best as possible on both methods so that you can make the best decision for which method to choose when it comes time to paint your home.
Paint Spraying
Paint spraying is a method for applying paint that is known to make the painting process faster and more efficient. On the other hand, paint spraying comes with some cons that should be addressed such as paint usage, possible risks, and even safety measures. First, we will start off with the pros of paint spraying the exterior of your home.
Paint Spray Pros
1. Speed & Efficiency
Paint sprayers can apply paint, stain, and clear finishes faster and more efficiently than any brush & roller can. Paint sprayers use high pressured air to push the paint out of the tip of the spray gun. When the paint comes out, it is atomized due to the pressure. This allows the painter to cover a larger area compared to using the traditional paint & brush method.
2. Painting Uneven Surfaces
Paint sprayers are great for covering all of the nooks and crannies of a home such as window shutters, underneath stairs, lattices, and any other uneven surfaces that are difficult to reach with a brush & roller.
3. Paint Sprayers Can Apply An Even Application (With Proper Technique)
This is considered a pro because if you are careful, the paint sprayer will produce a paint job that is unmatched. As long as you make sure to swipe the spray gun at a reasonable pace as well as maintain the correct distance away from the surface you are painting, a spray gun will perfectly coat the surface. Learn more about paint spraying techniques! Click Here.
Paint Spray Cons
1. Paint Usage
A paint spray gun is uses 3 times the amount of paint that the traditional brush & roller method uses due to over spray. Make sure to keep this in mind when you are at the store purchasing paint. Grab 33% more paint than you would usually need. On the flip side, some painters agree that since a paint sprayer is so much quicker than a brush & roller, it is worth spending a little more money on paint to get the job done faster.
2. Prep
In order for your paint spraying project to be successful, the prep work for the job is just as important if not more important than actually applying the paint. Masking off anything in the vicinity that you don’t want painted is crucial. Consider moving deck and patio furniture, plants, grills, and even your vehicles. This will ensure that paint only gets on what you intended to paint. The team here at Zuck Painting Inc. will make sure to move everything out of the way to ensure the homeowner’s belongings are not ruined.
3. Risk Factors
A paint sprayer should be handled by an experienced painter or professional due to the many risks that this method comes with. First and foremost, if you are using a high powered paint spray gun keep your hands away from the tip because you run the risk of injecting paint under the surface of your skin. If this happens, go to an emergency clinic and tell them that you have an injection wound. Paint has toxins that you do not want inside your body and proper medical attention is necessary. As long as you make sure to never point the sprayer at yourself then you should be good to go!
If you would like to hire a professional to paint spray the exterior of your home in RI or MA give us a call at (508) 250-7272 or visit or contact us page to schedule your FREE estimate!
Brush & Roller
The brush and roller method has been used for many years and is still being used to this day simply because it works great, it’s cost effective, and it can be used by a non-experienced painter. Let’s talk about some pros and cons about the brush & roller method when it comes to painting the exterior of your home.
Brush & Roller Pros
1. Inexpensive
Purchasing the materials needed to paint the exterior of your home using the brush & roller method is much cheaper than purchasing a spray gun. Depending on the brand of brushes & rollers you buy, the difference in cost between that and a spray gun may be more or less. However, the brushes and rollers are most likely going to be the cheaper option. Also, like I mentioned above in the “paint spray cons” section, a brush and roller uses much less paint compared to paint sprayers therefore, you save money on paint cans. If you are looking to paint the exterior of your home on a budget then the brush & roller method is the way to go.
2. Less Risk Than Paint Spraying
This depends on who is doing the job, but regardless a paint sprayer has a higher chance of malfunctioning or causing issues compared to the traditional brush & roller method. If a paint spraying job is not prepped well, meaning everything in the vicinity that is not supposed to be painted is neither masked or moved then you run the risk of getting paint all over shrubs, grass, personal belongings, or even onto a neighbor’s property.
3. Good Adhesion
No matter what, a poor scraping and sanding prep job will leave you with a poor paint job using either method. However, painting with a brush & roller works the paint into the grain of the wood better than a sprayer can therefore, making the paint adhere to the surface better.
Brush & Roller Cons
1. Time Consuming
Using a brush and roller to paint the exterior of your home means that you don’t have the help of a power tool to get the job done quicker. You must rely on sheer will power and manual labor. With that being said, this is one of the main reasons why professional painting services like us use a paint sprayer for most jobs.
2. Brush & Roller Marks
Brush & roller marks won’t always appear on textured surfaces, but on smoother surfaces they are definitely visible. Brush & roller marks will be visible on smoother surfaces as well as hard to reach nooks and corners. Most of the time, you will not even notice brush & roller marks unless you look closely.
3. More Effort Is Necessary
The brush & roller method requires pure manual labor compared to a paint sprayer which can be powered by electricity, gas, or even an air piston. To effectively paint the exterior of your home using a brush & roller you need to work the paint into the grain of the wood therefore, a decent amount of work goes into the application process.
Conclusion
Paint spraying and the brush & roller methods are both effective ways to paint the exterior of your home. Paint spraying is perfect for someone that is experienced, needs the job done quickly, and doesn’t mind spending a little extra money on paint. On the flip side the brush & roller method is perfect for DIYers, low budget paint jobs, or for painters that want to mitigate risk of messing up the job. Either option that is chosen works great and has proven to work for many years.
If you were hiring us to paint the exterior of your home, we make sure to consult with you (the homeowner) about the method we will use to paint your home and we will recommend the best option to suit your needs. If you are looking for an exterior paint job in Massachusetts or Rhode Island give us a call at (508) 250-7272 or visit our contact us page to schedule a FREE estimate!