Easy
Simple project; big impact.
1 hour
(1-4 Hours) A paint sprayer will speed up your painting projects, but remember to factor in extra work time for larger spaces.
Take the hassle out of house painting with this guide to using a paint sprayer
What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Paint sprayer
- Mask or respirator
- Goggles
- Plastic tarps
- Drop cloths
- Paint bucket
- Paint strainer
SUPPLIES
- Latex paint, oil-based paint, or stain
- Gloves
- Painter’s tape
Prepare Your Work Area
Photo: StefaNikolic / Getty ImagesPaint sprayers are faster than traditional paintbrushes or rollers. They’re also much messier, so you should spend some time prepping your work area before you start painting.
Start by removing as much furniture and decor from the area as possible. Push larger pieces of furniture away from the walls and cover them with plastic tarps, using painter’s tape to secure the edges.
Cover any fireplaces or adjacent walls with plastic and tape the edges down to prevent paint splatters. Protect your baseboards, electrical outlines, and window or door frames with painter’s tape, and cover your floor with drop cloths or plastic tarps.
Finally, ensure your workspace is well-ventilated if you’re working indoors. Open all your windows and doors and use fans to direct paint fumes out of the room. Make sure you’ve got a respirator or face mask nearby, too, to avoid inhaling paint particles.
Test and Adjust the Sprayer
Photo: sandsun / Adobe StockPractice makes perfect, especially when it comes to using a paint spray gun. To take your sprayer for a test run and avoid any unwanted paint splatters, we suggest heading outside.
Test the sprayer on cardboard, plywood, or drywall scraps. Fill the paint sprayer with paint and prop your test material against a wall, fence, or paint bucket. Holding the gun in one hand, slowly begin to move back and forth.
Practice horizontal and vertical movements until you’re comfortable. Experiment with side-to-side or up-and-down movements to find the best spray pattern for your project. You may also try getting closer or further away from the surface to widen or narrow your spray pattern.
Keep in mind that standing too far away from the surface could cause the paint to dry before it reaches the wall. If that’s the case, you might have to spray the wall again, which could increase your project time and use up your paint supply faster.
Apply Paint to the Surface
Photo: sandsun / Adobe StockReady to start spraying paint? Make sure to refill your paint sprayer reservoir with fresh paint and put on your mask and gloves before you get started.
Hold the sprayer 10 to 12 inches away from the surface. Working from the top down, try holding the gun 10 to 12 inches away from the surface to start. Pay close attention to how and where the paint lands while spraying and determine if you need to move faster or slower to get consistent coverage.
Keep the nozzle even and pointed straight ahead when applying paint. Make sure you’re moving the gun slowly and evenly rather than swinging your arm from side to side, too.
Slightly overlap the paint with each pass. After completing one section, overlap the paint slightly when you begin spray painting the next. This will help ensure an even finish and reduce the number of touch-ups you’ll need to do once you’re done.
Go light on the first coat. It’s tempting to dive in and apply a thick coat of paint on the first pass. We recommend erring on the side of caution. While you may have to add a second coat of paint, you’ll avoid messy drips or splatters that could create more work for you later.
Most importantly, avoid touching the sprayer tip. It’s critical to keep your hands away from the sprayer tip and never point the sprayer at another person or animal. A paint sprayer is a power tool that works under high pressure. Touching the sprayer tip while in use could drive paint and dangerous chemicals under your skin.
If you do touch the nozzle or get paint on your skin while using a sprayer, seek medical attention immediately.
Clean the Sprayer
Once you finish painting, make sure to clean your paint sprayer thoroughly. Some models have a built-in flush feature that makes for easy cleaning, but every spray gun is different. Check your model’s cleaning directions, then store it in a cool, dry place.
Additional Questions About Paint Sprayers
When should you use a paint sprayer?
Deciding whether to use a paint sprayer depends on the project you’re planning. For example, detail work and small spaces will usually require a paintbrush or roller since they provide more control.
However, if you need to cover a large area in a short amount of time or know your surface has cracks, bumps, or other imperfections, a paint sprayer allows you to achieve a flawless finish in half the time. Paint sprayers are also well suited for exterior painting projects.
What kind of paint can you use in a sprayer?
The type of paint you can use depends on the type of sprayer you have. Let’s take a look at the three most common types of paint sprayers and the best paint for each model.
Airless paint sprayers. Airless sprayers are high-pressure spray guns that deliver a smooth, even finish. They’re commonly used by professionals due and can cover surfaces at a rate of up to 2 gallons of paint per minute.
Despite their speed, airless sprayers come with two major downsides: They’re not suited to precision work and they’re often incompatible with latex paint due to the thickness of the material. So, you’ll need to buy oil-based paint or stain if you plan to use an airless sprayer.
High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) sprayers. HVLP sprayers work by pushing large amounts of paint through their systems rather than relying on high pressure. HVLP sprayers work best with oil-based paints, but you can use thinned latex paint. For best results, test the consistency of your latex paint before applying it.
Pneumatic sprayers. Finally, pneumatic sprayers are a versatile option perfect for beginners. Also known as compressed air sprayers, the guns use an air compressor to deliver a flawless finish for larger projects or detailed work. Compressed air sprayers work well with latex, oil-based, and acrylic paints.
Do you have to water down paint for a sprayer?
If you’re using latex paint, you will need to thin it with water before you begin painting. That’s because latex paint is thicker than oil-based paint, making it difficult to spray into a fine, even mist.
To thin your paint, start by adding a half cup of water for every gallon of paint. Stir the paint thoroughly and use a paint strainer to remove any clumps or bubbles when pouring the mixture into the sprayer reservoir.
Finally, test the mixture on a piece of cardboard or plywood before spraying your surface. If the paint is still too thick, gradually add more water until you’ve reached the right consistency.
Can a beginner use a paint sprayer?
Yes! Even the most novice painters can master a paint sprayer with some practice. For best results, choose a compressed air paint sprayer (aka a pneumatic sprayer). Pneumatic sprayers are simple to use and can handle most home painting projects. Plus, compressed air sprayers work well with most types of paint.
