Are you trying to tackle an exterior paint job yourself to save money? Wanting to add a fresh coat of paint on your homes siding without the hassle of scheduling a professional? If you don’t use the correct tools, this DIY project will cost you more time and money than if you would have just let the pros do the job.
With that, we have put together a list of the best exterior painting tools and their purpose for you!
Surface Prep Materials
Hard Knife
Before painting, ensure you scrape off that old, flaking paint. The best tool that will make the job easiest on you is called a “hard knife,” or a “prybar scraper.”
It has 2 edges for scraping – a flat one and a curved one. The curved edge is best for removing flaking paint quickly and easily without damaging the wood underneath. It is also the best for scraping paint from lapboard siding.
The flat side is best for removing old window glazing because of its shape.
Putty Knife or Caulking Gun
It is inevitable that you will have cracks, nail holes, or other surface depressions. You want to get rid of these to ensure the smoothest surface for painting. To do so, you can use putty or caulking.
Sandpaper or Steel Wool Brush
Removing the powder from mineral leaching can be done on stucco or masonry with a steel wool or wire brush. Sandpaper can smooth out flaws, drips, or runs. A damp cloth can then remove sanding dust.
Painting Tools
Spray Guns
These are idea for large surfaces as they cover areas more rapidly than both rollers and brushes. If using a spray brush, you must have a careful hand and careful masking or shielding before applying the paint. Unless you have used a spray gun before or have someone who can show you how to properly use it to get the results you want, we wouldn’t recommend jumping into this method.
Brushes
If using latex paints and coatings, nylon and polyester blended brushes work well. Natural bristled brushes are best for oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes. Brushes are best for small spaces such as, trim, touch ups, and detailing.
Rollers
If you aren’t wanting to get into the art of using a spray gun, rollers are very acceptable. They do a great job with gloss and semi-gloss coatings and can be used to apply latex and oil paints.
By using these exterior painting tools, your DIY painting project will take one giant leap in the right direction. For any professional assistance with your residential painting projects, contact the Ft Myers painting experts from Noel Painting today for more information!
