This question has been kicked around by professional exterior painters for decades. What’s best, paint sprayers or brushes for exterior painting?
You can find big fans of both methods, and each has its own set of problems and advantages. However, when it comes to exterior painting, the question of which method is best for your Sandestin home is beginning to crop up again.
Do you want to know the best method for your exterior painting project? Today, we’re going to explore our options, and talk about what you need to consider when making a decision.
Preparing the Surface
Painting your building exterior is a big job. You want to do it right the first time so that you don’t have to go back in and paint over anything later.
No matter if you are spraying or painting, a new paint job needs to be well-prepped for it to look good. Sand the old layer of paint until it is smooth.
Remove all loose or bubbled paint and repair all cracks in the exterior surfaces. Then wash the entire exterior down to remove built-up film and grit. A water blaster is good for this.
Prime or seal any exposed bare timber or sheets if you are hand brushing.
For spray painting, you will need to do more preparation. You have to mask and cover windows, doors, and other areas you don’t want overspray to reach.
Once finished, you are ready to start painting.
Brush Painting
Brush painting is the best option for exterior surfaces in Sandestin made of wood or metal. You don’t want to brush paint on surfaces with a lot of texture or an uneven surface. This can leave streaks and create bubbles that are difficult to get rid of without sanding the area first, which is time-consuming.
Brushes are
- Best for detailed work, like painting trim or a ceiling fan
- Gives thicker coverage
- Uses less paint
- Less preparation work
Spray Painting
Spray painting is a quick, efficient way to get paint on the exterior of your Sandestin home. When done by professionals who know their craft, it will yield a beautiful and even finish in less time than brushing would take, without those annoying brush marks.
Spray painting is ideal for exterior surfaces such as stucco, brick, concrete block walls, and vinyl.
Paint sprayers
- Cover large areas quicker
- Extends reach
- Covers details well
- Gives a smooth finish
Using Tools
Unless you are a professional painter, you probably don’t have the specialized tools needed to spray the exterior of your building. You can buy cheap spray guns from the local hardware store, but the results do not compare to professional-grade equipment used by painting contractors.
Brushes, trays, and pails are affordable for DIYers. Quality of workmanship depends on preparation, brush skills, and the time taken to complete a paint job. You most likely will find this tedious and difficult to match the finish a professional can do.
What are You Painting?
Exterior painting is an outdoor project. This means you will be exposed to the elements, like changing weather and insects of Sandestin, making it difficult for even the most seasoned professional painter.
Typically, the choice of using brushes or a spray gun can be decided by the surfaces you are painting. Painting a newly built structure lends itself to spraying. It is faster and less tedious.
If you are painting an exterior surface that has been previously painted, a brush will be the better choice. Brushing is more likely to need patching or sanding after the paint has dried because brushing causes ridges in the surface that need to be evened out before painting again. You will find this tedious and difficult to match the finish a professional can do.
The decision on whether to use brushes or spray guns should be made by examining your current project’s surfaces with consideration for what type of paint coverage they would require.
Spraying has the advantage of needing less cleanup than brushing because there are no solvents to dispose of. You can collect and dispose of the water used for cleaning. Spraying also leaves less room for error. Sprayed material will not drip down from a ladder.
Brushing over a sprayed surface that has can release flakes or particles of un-dried material into the air. This is not only annoying for homeowners but also can be unhealthy.
Why are You Doing Exterior Painting?
Are you painting the exterior as part of normal maintenance or to make the property ready for sale?
Your choice of exterior paint colors can be determined by your reason for painting. If you like bold, vibrant colors, your realtor may recommend you paint your property in muted colors to appeal to a larger cross-section of buyers.
If it is a commercial property, you may use exterior house paint that does stand out and increase your street visibility.
Exterior house paint colors can range from mild to wild. The best exterior paint colors to use will differ depending on the reason you’re painting.
DIY versus Contractors
Should you DIY this project or call in the professionals?
You need to consider all the factors on this. A painting contractor may take 3 to 4 days with a crew of 3 people to paint the average house. This equates to a total of 9 to 12 days of work.
You can expect contractors to finish in half the time it would take an average homeowner. It could take you somewhere between 9 to 12 weekends to do the job.
The End Result
DIYing this may be attractive from the outset but not necessarily the best option for Sandestin property owners. Weighing up the quality of workmanship, time and cost, and the finish you seek is important to do.
For most people, that would mean engaging a painting contractor to do this exterior painting work. They have the skills and equipment to recommend the best approach to brush versus spraying. This is an important decision for you, and we’re always ready to help you figure out your options.