Been stuck in the house too long and getting tired of the same boring paint job on your walls? Aren’t we all. Go ahead, start that new DIY project to keep you busy. But before you start painting, you need to know which painting tools are the best – sprayers or rollers?

Paint Rollers

Paint rollers are the most common tool used for interior paint projects. And for good reason. Paint rollers are inexpensive and can get the job done well without the need for skill or experience. Use a 9-inch roller for wider surfaces, and a 4 1/2-inch roller where more precision is required.

However, there are caveats when using a paint roller.

First, quality is essential. You don’t want to skimp on the kind of roller you buy because some cheaper, low-quality rollers have covers that can track and deposit hairs and lint into your perfect paint job. Nobody wants that.

Additionally, some rollers use materials that will dissolve after exposed contact with paint, making them flimsy and unreliable. If you don’t want the cover of your roller slipping off and splattering your head in the middle of painting your ceiling, find a trusted, high-quality roller product.

Finally, rollers aren’t the best option for every surface. Highly textured walls and ceilings don’t allow for your average roller to hit every detail of your surface, leaving gaps and missed spots. It can also be incredibly time-consuming depending on your space to cover every square inch of your walls with a roller.

Rollers are prone to paint drips and accidental bumps that leave paint behind in unexpected and unwanted areas of your home. However, rollers also are cheap, easy to use, and can be a lot less expensive than a paint sprayer. When making your decision, space, surface textures, and budget will be what you want to consider.

Paint Sprayers

A paint sprayer emits paint in a mist that will coat your walls and ceilings in a neat, even finish, making them a great tool to use where your space and budget allow. Priced usually between $40 and $200, paint sprayers are your more expensive option. But the savings to your time and labor might just be worth it.

Paint sprayers are best used in large and empty spaces, when you need to cover a lot of wall area quickly and easily. For fixtures like doors and cabinets, a paint sprayer can apply a much more even coat than you might be able to achieve by hand, leaving you with a machine-perfect paint job your friends and family will envy. Additionally, they are perfect for the exterior of a home, where fresh air and massive surface area make for an ideal environment for this tool.

The downsides with sprayers come in the preparation, experience, and maintenance needed to use this tool effectively.

If you don’t want to get paint all over surfaces you never intended to paint, a sprayer requires effective masking. This means covering EVERYTHING in the vicinity of the sprayer that you don’t want coated, including your own face. Wear a filtered face mask when using a paint sprayer to avoid breathing the paint.

Then, practice using the paint sprayer on some scrap wood or even some old furniture to give yourself a good indication of how the tool works, how fine the mist coating is, and how the application works. It shouldn’t take long to navigate the feel of a paint sprayer, but a little practice is definitely recommended.

Also, don’t forget to clean all the different parts of the sprayer after each use. Sprayers can easily become clogged with paint build-up, which can affect the evenness and quality of your paint job. This maintenance can be frustrating if not done regularly enough.

If these factors and the higher cost seem worth it, a paint sprayer can significantly reduce the time you spend painting and can give you a neater, cleaner-looking paint job. If you’re wanting to paint the exterior of your home, this could be the perfect investment for you.

Making Your Paint Tool Decision

How big is the surface you intend to paint? Are the textures smooth or complicated? How much are you budgeting for paint supplies?

These are the questions you want to ask yourself when deciding whether a roller or sprayer is right for your painting project. If you’re painting a large or outdoor area, a sprayer is highly recommended. If you’re only going over some smaller rooms in your home, a roller will get the job done splendidly.

Either way, you can always touch-up any mistakes.

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