Best Painting Products That You Should Never Miss in a House Painting Project

If you are adequately prepared, a home painting project can go pretty smoothly, and you’ll come out of it with fewer complications and a greater sense of accomplishment. Not to mention, you’ll be more impressed with how things look.

The key is to have the right supplies for every stage of the painting process, and the following looks at some of the best items you can have.

Products for Preparation

Whether you are painting the exterior or the interior of your home, you need to prepare the walls. What you will need might depend on the condition your walls are in, but the essentials include:

• Patching materials. If you have cracks or holes, you need to get these filled prior to painting. Choose a caulk or spackle that’s appropriate and follow the directions to get a nice finish.
• Primer. A good primer is another essential product that can take care of problem areas and produce a better finish. There are many specialty primers, so make sure you identify what you need (stain-hiding, waterproofing, and much more) and get the primer that best satisfies that need.
• Sandpaper. If you are painting wood, especially, you may need to sand the area to remove old paint. Sandpaper is also necessary for smoothing out patches.

Products for Protection

Painting a home can result in disaster if you aren’t careful. Paint that gets on furniture, ceilings, and floors is almost impossible to remove, so you need the right products to make sure everything is protected.

• Drop cloths or plastic. When you are painting, you want to have an adequate supply of drop cloths and rolls of plastic. This way, you can cover up furniture, rather than move it, and the plastic will protect the floors from paint drips.
• Tape. Tape is an essential product that every painter should be using. You need to tape off the areas that you don’t want to get paint on, so you can put a layer of tape where the wall meets the ceiling and another layer where the wall meets the floor or the trim. Tape is also useful for securing plastic coverings.

Products for Painting

When it comes to the actual painting, the products you choose will dramatically impact the difficulty level of the job. The most important products include:

• Bucket and grid unit. Bucket and grid units are often far more effective than flimsy roller pans. With a bucket and grid, your rollers will absorb more of the paint, and you don’t have to pour paint as often. Buckets are also more difficult to spill, and they are easier to carrier around.
• Rollers. Paint rollers pair with the bucket and grid system, and they give you more coverage than a paint brush.
• Rigid roller extension. An extension for your roller is essential so that you’ll be able to reach the high points of your walls with little effort. You want the extension hand to be strong and rigid so that you can keep your painting quality consistent all along the wall.

FAQ

1. What are the essential tools needed for prepping walls before painting?

Before painting, preparing your walls is crucial for a clean, smooth finish. You should have painter’s tape to protect trims and ceilings, drop cloths or plastic sheeting to shield floors and furniture from paint splatters, and a putty knife along with spackle or wall filler to repair any holes or cracks. A sanding block or sandpaper is needed to smooth out surfaces and remove any old, peeling paint. Gather these preparatory items to make sure your walls are in perfect condition for a flawless paint job.

2. Which types of brushes and rollers are best for different surfaces and paint types?

There’s no one-size-fits-all brush or roller for house painting. High-quality synthetic brushes are ideal for water-based paints, ensuring even coverage and fewer brush marks. Natural bristle brushes work well for oil-based paints. For flat, large wall spaces, a roller with a medium nap is preferred, while smooth rollers are effective on doors and cabinets for a sleek finish. Having a selection of different sizes and types of brushes and rollers allows for more precise work around corners, trims, and textured surfaces.

3. Is primer really necessary, and which kind should I use?

Applying primer before painting can make a significant difference in the outcome of your project. Primer helps paint adhere better to the surface, covers over stains or darker colors, and creates a uniform base, especially on porous surfaces like new drywall or patched areas. Choose a stain-blocking primer for surfaces with water or oil marks and a bonding primer for glossy or hard-to-paint surfaces. For most interior walls in good shape, a general-purpose latex primer is sufficient.

4. What safety and cleanup supplies should I keep on hand during painting?

Safety and easy cleanup are key aspects of any painting project. It’s important to have gloves to protect your hands, a mask to avoid inhaling fumes or dust, and ventilation fans if painting in enclosed spaces. Keep a damp cloth handy for wiping away accidental spills or splatters as they occur. You’ll also need a sturdy ladder for reaching high places and a paint tray or bucket for proper paint transfer. For cleanup, ensure you have soap, water, or the appropriate solvent (such as mineral spirits for oil-based paints) to wash brushes, rollers, and trays.

5. What are the benefits of using painter’s tape and which type should I select?

Painter’s tape is a must-have product for achieving clean, sharp paint lines and protecting areas you do not want painted, such as trim, windows, and ceilings. It’s available in different widths and tackiness levels; standard blue painter’s tape works well for most surfaces and is easy to remove without leaving residue. For delicate surfaces like freshly painted walls, look for tapes specifically marked as safe for delicate surfaces. Using painter’s tape ensures your project has a professional finish with minimal touch-ups required.