Roller, brush or spray gun: which to use and when
For painting walls and ceilings at home, the roller is the best choice. The brush is for corners, cutting in and woodwork. The spray gun is good for large areas or difficult surfaces, but it needs a lot of protection and practice. On most jobs you use a roller and a brush together.
The roller: best for walls and ceilings
A roller covers large areas quickly and leaves an even finish. It is the tool most people use for walls and ceilings. The length of the pile changes the result:
- Short pile: for smooth surfaces, such as well-skimmed walls or doors.
- Medium pile: the most common for ordinary walls and ceilings.
- Long pile: for rough surfaces, such as render or textured gotelé finishes. It takes more paint.
A poor-quality roller sheds fibres into the paint and leaves marks. Before you start, press sticky tape onto a new roller and pull it off to remove loose fibres. An extension pole helps a great deal on ceilings and high areas.
The brush: for corners and details
A roller cannot reach corners, the line next to the ceiling or mouldings. That is where the brush comes in. It is also the right tool for woodwork, skirting boards, door and window frames, railings and small areas.
- Angled brush: great for cutting in and corners.
- Round or flat, wide brush: for doors and wooden surfaces.
- Small brush: for details and touch-ups.
Buy a brush with good bristles. A cheap brush leaves bristles in the paint and makes streaks. If you look after the brush and wash it straight after use, it will last for many jobs.
The spray gun: fast, but it needs care
The spray gun spreads paint as very fine droplets. It covers large areas quickly and leaves a smooth finish, with no roller marks. That is why it is used on facades, walls, large ceilings and on furniture or doors, when a very even finish is wanted.
But it has important drawbacks:
- The paint hangs in the air. You have to protect everything, including windows, floor and furniture.
- It uses more paint than a roller, because some is lost in the air.
- It takes practice. Someone who has never used one can leave runs or uneven patches.
- Indoors, you need good ventilation and a suitable mask.
- Cleaning the spray gun takes time.
For a small room, a spray gun is rarely worth it. It makes more sense on bigger jobs or in empty houses.
Which tool for each case
- Smooth walls and ceilings: medium-pile roller, with a brush for the corners.
- Rough or rendered walls: longer-pile roller.
- Skirting boards, frames and wooden doors: brush, or a small foam roller for the flat parts.
- Railings and radiators: small brush or mini roller.
- Facades and very large areas: long-pile roller or spray gun, with the proper protection.
Looking after your tools
If you paint with water-based paint, wash the roller and brush with warm water and soap as soon as you finish. If you wait for the paint to dry, it is very hard to remove. If you are going to carry on the next day, wrap the roller and brush tightly in plastic so they do not dry out.
Tip: Always combine the two tools. Cut in first with the brush and use the roller straight away, before the cut-in paint dries. If you leave the cut-in to dry on its own, you will see a strip with a different texture from the rest of the wall.