Unlike some aspects of construction that get conveniently hidden in the walls or floors (think wiring or ductwork), the quality of the paint finish is the first thing the customer usually sees.
Fortunately, enhancements in paint accessories are helping professionals meet their clients’ high expectations while reducing hours spent on tasks such as masking and tool maintenance.
Airless Sprayers Indoors
Airless paint sprayers are increasingly finding favor with painters for interior painting, particularly for large-scale and new-construction projects.
These sprayers use a small electrical motor to pump paint from a bucket through the hose to the spray gun and tip. They can be used to paint walls, ceilings and trim, and can accommodate a wide range of coatings.
The sprayers can be accessorized with a pressure roller, which further enhances their ability to tackle interior paint jobs. Airless paint sprayers typically allow you to paint a surface twice as fast as a traditional manual roller and make it easier to apply a uniform coating.
Several professional-grade models are available from Minneapolis-based Graco For example, its Ultra Max II 490 is a lightweight electronic airless sprayer designed for everyday use by residential painting contractors. It features Graco’s patented SmartControl (an advanced microprocessor system), which allows the sprayer to deliver a consistent spray fan at all pressure levels, as well as fine-finish spraying.
Better Brushes
There are times, particularly for small jobs (such as painting a single room or an area cluttered with furniture) when it’s best to use “old-school” techniques such as handheld brushing and rolling.
Both Portland, Oregon-based Purdy and Wooster and Ohio-based Wooster Brush Co. have introduced new brushes and roller covers designed to improve paint application.
For example, Purdy’s XL Cub short-handled brush series features a lightweight handle with an ergonomic thumb grip for superior control in tight spots, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The grip “enables users to apply extra pressure to keep the brush steady in particularly hard-to-reach areas,” says Tom Hatcher, Purdy senior product manager. Its
nylon and polyester filaments make it suited for either oil-based finishes or water-based paints.
Roller covers are benefiting from new material technology. Purdy Pro-Extra Colossus covers, for example, use a high-capacity polyamide woven fabric that can roll one-third farther than traditional lambskin roller covers, the company reports. The covers come in three pile heights (sometimes referred to as nap sizes; both reflect roller-cover thickness): ½-, ¾-, and 1-inch. (The rougher the painting surface, the thicker the pile height you should use.) They are suitable for latex and oil-based paints.
Wooster’s new Avalon roller cover reportedly sheds 50 percent less paint than knitted covers (resulting in less wasted paint) and produces a virtually lint-free finish. It can be used with all flat and satin paints, stains and waterproofing and comes in four nap sizes: 3/8-, ½-, ¾- and 1¼-inch.
To make changing roller covers easier, Huntersville, North Carolina-based Shur-line has introduced the Easy Release roller frame. Its patent-pending lever system “allows you to remove a paint-filled roller cover without getting paint all over your hands,” says Paul Hemingfield, Shur-Line product director.
Streamlining the Masking Process
One of the most labor-intensive aspects of interior painting is masking, particularly for room corners and door hinges.
Minneapolis-based 3M is offering its Scotch-Blue painter’s tape die-cut to fit a standard door hinge, as well as perforated to form two corner pieces. “Scotch-Blue painter’s tape can remain on an exterior or interior surface for up to 14 days in direct sunlight and still be removed cleanly from the surface,” says Amelia Hardy, marketer, 3M Construction and Home Improvement Division.
Another labor-saving device offered by 3M is its Hand-Masker tape applicator, which has rollers specifically engineered to ride along molding curves and contours while applying tape flush against the walls. It’s suited for a wide variety of applications, including cove, wainscoting and base and casing.
Whether you’re painting trim, ceilings or walls, there’s a product designed to help you do your job better and in less time.
Primed for Painting
A high-quality paint finish begins by properly prepping the paint surfaces.
Interior Paint Surfaces
- Use a sponge and mild detergent solution to wash away accumulated dust, dirt and grime before painting an old interior surface.
- Patch any cracks and holes with drywall compound, let dry and sand smooth with fine-grit sandpaper. “The more sound the surfaces, the better the paint will adhere,” advises Richard Stewart, pro senior brand manager for Glidden paints.
Exterior Paint Surfaces
- Use a hose with a brush attachment and an anti-fungal cleaner if the siding has mold or mildew.
- For wood siding, scrape away loose paint and repair any holes with exterior-grade wood-patching compound.
- Place drop cloths over plants and shrubs.
How’s the Weather?
- Cool temperatures and high humidity increase paint drying time.
- Warm temperatures and low humidity do the opposite.