About the author: Abdullah Riaz is a writer, who alongside content writing, also takes part in fiction writing. He has already been published in a book as one of the winners of a fiction writing contest. In addition to writing, he also has experience with all sorts of research, particularly in IT-related fields. He has always been a fan of writing and learning about new topics. Outside writing, you’ll find him spending time with his dog, Terry.
by Abdullah Riaz
Paintwork is essential for every space, whether it be your office, school, home or outdoor decking. It is in your best interest that they look fresh and maintained. Before you begin painting your walls, you need to be equipped with the right tools for the job. Having every tool sorted and planned will save you a trip to the store in the middle of painting when you realize you might have forgotten something. A good plan of all essential tools will also save you from overspending on equipment that may not be necessary.
Which painting tools are critical and which will ultimately be a waste of money.
Sometimes you do not realize you need a tool until you are put in a situation where you need it. Therefore, we have assembled this article to inform you about all the essential tools you will need to paint your home’s walls.
Let’s dive in.
1. Paint Scraper and Sandpaper
Every professional painter will advise you how important it is to scrape old paint off before adding a layer of new paint. Not completing this will result in fresh paint peeling off along with your old layer of paint and will turn your whole project into ruins. For this task, a reversible blade for longer scraping sessions is advised. They fulfill not only the job of scraping old paint, but also unwanted paint and any plaster of Paris used in the process. Use the sandpaper to smooth out surfaces prior to painting.
2. Brushes and Rollers
While this may be one of the obvious ones, it is essential to note that you must pair the brushes and rollers and that you cannot use only one tool for the whole paint job. Spray painting is also an option, but most choose to do it the traditional way to save more paint and prevent a mess. While picking paint brushes, it is essential to opt for small brushes since those usually get left out. Everyone buys the standard sizes, but they don’t realize they will need to paint in corners and small spaces until the time comes.
3. Extension Pole
An extension pole will save you the hassle of climbing a ladder to paint or straining your arms and legs while trying to reach vaulted ceilings. The added leverage can reduce the amount of physical labor required to paint any size wall. Plus, you’re not constantly moving your ladder around and you can easily load paint on your roller without bending down. You can attach scrapers, sanders and even brushes if you use a brush holder, this is also handy for touch ups.
4. Painter’s Tape
Painter’s tape is your best bet to acquire clean edges and save yourself from messy strokes in the corner of accent walls. It can also make your walls look crisp and trimmed and protects your windows and baseboards from accidentally subjecting them to paint stains. Be sure to wipe off any dust before applying painter’s tape to baseboards and trim. That way you will get a good bond, and the paint cannot get under the tape. Evenly stick the tape as a border for the area you wish to paint inside. Then simply remove it when you are done painting.
5. Drop Cloths
If you do not want a major mess, you must place drop cloths over your floors and furniture. Thinking that you will paint more carefully and prevent paint from falling is very unlikely. This is because paint drops will somehow make their way to your floor and, if you are unlucky, even your furniture. To prevent this from happening, adequately cover as much surface with a drop cloth as possible. This will help avoid having to deal with scraping off unwanted paint from unwanted places.
6. Ladder
A ladder is another essential to acquire for your home’s paintwork and other out of reach tasks. Reaching the upper side of walls or ceilings would be impossible without a ladder or extension pole. Some areas require detailed paintwork, and some may be out of your reach. In those situations, rollers without an extension pole or spray paint would not be of much help. Alternatively, a stepladder would do the job just fine if your home walls and ceilings are 8-foot ceilings. It would be best to ensure your ladder is sturdy enough to keep you safe while performing this task.
It’s Go Time!
Before beginning your paintwork, it is professionally advised to scrape off old paint to prevent the new paint from peeling. This is why your paint scraper is an essential tool. Cover the area with drop cloths to save your furniture and floors from a mess and apply painter’s tape around the edges you wish to protect. Begin painting using your brushes and rollers. Finally, ladders or an extension pole are a requirement if you want to get to those high unreachable spots without straining your limbs. We hope this article helps you get the necessary tools to complete a successful and adequate painting job. Thank you for reading!