Painting and Decorating

You have decided to spruce up your property by giving it a new coat of paint, but have you thought about how you are going to do this? If you head down to your local DIY store they will likely suggest to you a variety of paint rollers, but wait, that is not your only option.

As modern techniques improve all the time, using a paint sprayer eliminates many of the annoyances of a roller or paint brush. This will require a longer preparation time and certainly will require a higher skill level. First time users of paint sprayers often have difficulties which can result in a poor finish.

Traditional Painting With a Roller

A painting roller is the best applicator to use for the vast majority of common household paint projects which require smallish areas to be covered. A typical 9 inch painting roller is what you will most commonly use to cover walls and ceilings and you do not have to be very highly skilled to do this yourself. As long as you use a very high quality roller, this method of painting your property will result in evenly painted surfaces and that the paint is thick enough to cover your walls or ceiling.

Low quality paint rollers and brushes will often shed hairs and this will eventually lead to a very poor finish. Cheap rollers and brushes can also start to dissolve the moment they come in to contact with your paint.

PROS

The best option for beginners: Even with little or no experience in painting, the roller is simple and easy to use.
Can be paired with an extension pole for higher areas. This allows for added reach and a less strained painting experience.
Minimal clean up or maintenance. Simply wash the roller with soap and water or dis-solvent depending on the type of paint being used and you're good to go.
Relatively inexpensive: While it is important that you choose a high-quality roller that won't shed hairs etc, the tools themselves are inexpensive in comparison to other paint tools.

CONS

Hard to use on textured or rough surfaces. With surfaces like an artex ceiling, a standard paint roller can be ineffective in filling in small nooks or bumps.
Time consuming in large areas. While preparation is quick, you will have to roll over every inch of your walls usually two or three times while being extremely cautious of creating that perfect finish.
You do not want to create any gaps in paint or areas that are thicker than others, so it is important to be meticulous and take your time.
Can be messy during use. Paint can often drip, and the exposed nature of a paint roller means that you will need to be very careful not to drip paint over other surfaces.

Painting With a Sprayer

Using a paint sprayer is a the best option when you are painting a new build, empty space, or covering very large surface areas like a complete property.

The paint sprays out in a fine even mist which helps you achieve the most pristine finish when painting surfaces, doors or windows. Paint sprayers are quicker and with the correct skill level will produce a better finish then traditional means.

PROS

Covers large areas quickly. Because you are using a sprayer, much more ground will be covered with one swipe of a spray. Be sure to know the width of the spray to insure you don't paint anything unplanned.
Creates a smooth and pristine finish. Unlike a roller, the device has full control of the evenness of its spray, covering surfaces evenly all the time.
Great for filling the gaps in textured surfaces. Paint sprayers will tackle complicated textures and small crevices, coating any space with an even and thin layer.
Gives a better finish on non-flat surfaces: Using a roller on rounded surfaces can be a challenge for non experienced painters, while a sprayer requires the same technique regardless of the surface shape.

CONS

Requires practice before use. A sprayer is a powerful tool, so getting to know how yours works is extremely important before you begin painting your walls.
Requires extensive masking and preparation. Sprayers always have some level of over-spray so you have to mask your entire space and cover literally every inch of your room if you don’t want to risk paint getting on your furniture.
Paint sprayers require cleaning and maintenance after each use. They can clog up and are a pain to clean. There are a lot of parts that must be cleaned properly after every use.
The actual paint sprayer itself is expensive and not worth the price unless you are a professional.