Jorge Ravani, Project Director, DZP Group

As any painting contractor knows, there is more to a painting job well done than meets the eye. "Paint brings the most dramatic transformation in the construction process. It's the last step that brings it all together, the icing on the cake," says Jorge Ravani, project director for DZP Group, a licensed general contractor in Coral Gables, Fla.

For Ravani, achieving the best results in terms of durability and cost efficiency means embracing new materials and paint-application techniques. "Using spray guns makes painting fast and easy, while keeping our costs down," he says. His crews also roll or brush areas to fill cracks or seal surfaces for a longer-lasting job.

A perfect finish starts with the right prep work. "Paint doesn't cover or fix everything," Ravani says. "As a contractor, you probably spend as much time prepping and repairing as you spend painting."

Linzer 3-and 5-Inch Rollers. "These rollers hold just enough paint to leave a great finish with a single coat, plus they work with all paints. The smaller size is excellent for trims and touch-ups."

Glidden Ultra Hide Latex Aquacrylic Gripper® Stain Killer Primer/Sealer. "This interior/exterior primer adheres to nearly anything and helps cover tough stains. We recently worked on a kitchen that had a fire incident, and this product did an excellent job covering the mishap and giving us an even finish."

Purdy XL Paint Brushes. "These brushes are great for indoor and outdoor projects and give you a streak-free and clean finish. No hairs behind to ruin your walls!"

Graco 190es Hi-Cart Professional-Grade Airless Paint Sprayer. "On top of being reliable and consistent, I like the metal gun's hose swivel. This sprayer can handle even the biggest paint projects."

Kimberly-Clark Professional All-Purpose Coveralls. "These disposable coveralls resist dry particles and paint splashes, but are breathable enough for our crew."

3M Paint Spray Respirator. "This respirator reduces exposure to paint vapors, particularly when spray painting."

ProSteel Squirrel Mixer, 5-10 Gal. "These mixers are very durable, fast and mix all kinds of paints and textures."

Milwaukee Digital Heat Gun, Model 3300. "This is a new tool I highly recommend. As general contractors, we find a lot of uses for this gun besides stripping paint."
-By Adriana Sibaja

"Having professional-grade tools and materials makes prep time go faster." -Jorge Ravani