How to Use a Paint Sprayer for Your Home

When to Use a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Room

If you have a freshly plastered room, it’s the perfect time to use a paint sprayer. However, many readers may not have this situation, as it’s typically more common in new builds or extensions. In this article, we will focus on the standard homeowner looking to decorate one to three rooms.

If you're planning to paint a room all white or in one color, this is an ideal time to consider using a paint sprayer. When the ceiling and walls are the same color, you can spray away. However, there are a few things you need to be aware of, which we will cover later in the article.

When Not to Use a Paint Sprayer?

If you have a small room filled with furniture, such as wardrobes, and you want the ceiling and walls in different colors, forget about using a paint sprayer. This approach can lead to several issues. For instance, if you spray the ceiling white, you will then need to mask it off to spray the walls. When you pull the tape off the ceiling, you risk pulling off paint as well. A good guideline is to stick to one color in a room for spray painting. Otherwise, using a brush and roller is usually quicker.

Can You Paint the Woodwork?

The answer is yes, but not just yet! Spraying walls is simpler and easier. When you make mistakes while spraying walls, correcting them is relatively straightforward. Spraying woodwork, on the other hand, requires more experience and precision. You need to follow the right process to achieve great results. Let's leave the woodwork for another time, but the answer is definitely yes—just not until you gain more experience.

Best Scenarios for Paint Spraying for Homeowners

The best places to start using a paint sprayer are in a living room, dining room, or large bedroom. The larger the space, the more beneficial paint spraying becomes. Your goal is to minimize masking and covering carpets and furniture.

Consider rooms that you plan to paint all white or in a single color, such as Jasmine White. As mentioned earlier, if the walls differ from the ceiling color, it is better to avoid spray painting altogether.

Things to Know Before Starting Paint Spraying a Room

One important consideration is the amount of masking involved. You need to mask everything that isn’t getting sprayed. This includes lights, light switches, windows, doors, and often overlooked, skirting boards and carpets. You cannot spray your skirting boards while spraying your walls, so make sure to mask them off.

Additionally, use plastic-backed dust sheets. The fine dust and overspray from spraying often find their way into carpets. For your first project, it might be wise to start in a room with hard flooring. Mistakes can be cleaned up easily with water and a cloth.

Here are some masking products to help you get started. Click the links to view the products on the website:

• Papermask for skirting boards

• Masking Film for windows, doors, and lights

• FrogTape

• Waterproof dust sheets

• Socket cover for switches

  
  

Conclusion

A paint sprayer will help you complete your painting quickly. However, remember this: you will spend about 90% of your time masking and only 10% spraying. The emptier the room, the less you need to mask—making it a more suitable choice for spray painting.

Think ahead and purchase the correct masking products upfront. This preparation will make your life easier and ensure a better finish. We won't dive deep into the spraying technique today, as we have other articles available on that topic. But as long as you're ready to commit to paint spraying, it can be a fast and enjoyable process. Happy Paint Spraying!