Spray paint or brush? What your painter should use
Whether your painting project should be done with a spray machine or with a paint brush is a question often asked of Auckland Master Painters such as Wall Treats.
It would seem like spray painting is a great option, it is faster and there are no brush marks, so you may be surprised to know that at Wall Treats we still use traditional brush and roller application techniques. And that our clients choose this when they trust us to paint their multi-million homes.
So, is spray or brush the best way to paint your home?
Spraying paint
This is a fast way of applying paint. Often, surfaces can be coated in minutes using an airless spray machine, whereas the same surfaces would take hours to paint using the traditional brush and roller. And with airless spraying there are no brush and roller marks to worry about.
So if spraying works so well, why are paint brushes and rollers still being sold? If spray painting is superior, wouldn’t brushes and rollers become superfluous?
Limitations with spray painting:
Application
Applying paint with an airless sprayer can be challenging for novices. Beginners will get overspray, drips and runs. They’ll often have an uneven coat, with patches of heavy paint build up and places where the paint is too thin.
If the painting contractor you are talking to is applying paint with an airless sprayer, make sure they have enough experience to do this well.
Finish
When assessing a spray painting finish it can be difficult to determine the number of coats that have been applied and the finish may not be what you are expecting.
We had a client who had paint sprayed on the exterior of their bungalow. Even though the paint was semi-gloss, the finish was matt - to the point where dirt and grime was evident on the weatherboards shortly after painting. Semi-gloss paint is chosen for exterior painting as the sheen finish stays clean for longer; dirt and grime stick to matt surfaces because there is no ‘slippery slope’ for them to run off.
Paint usage
Paint spraying also uses two to three times more paint than brushing or rolling. While you may think this would work to remedy the risk of a patchy finish, not all the extra paint goes onto the surfaces. Most of it ends up wasted in the hose line or as over spray.
Brushing paint
No one can deny that brushing paint onto surfaces is slow and tedious. However, the control it offers the painter is second to none. You can cut in tight corners and create straight lines that are difficult to achieve with spraying. For detail paintwork, using a brush is the only acceptable method.
In our experience, a surface that has had paint brushed onto it looks much better than those that have been spray painted. Yes, it is a laborious process however, the depth of coverage is second to none.
Quality oozes from expertly brushed on paint finishes, and that finish is likely to last longer than that from spraying. This is because it is virtually impossible to achieve an even, uniform coverage with less than two coats of paint. Two even coats of paint will provide better protection for surfaces than uneven paint coverage.
Limitations with brushing on paint:
Brush marks
It is impossible to eliminate brush marks, so the challenge for the expert painter is to minimise them. A good painter will know the optimal climate to work in and will use the best tools and techniques to reduce the appearance of brush marks.
Cost
Brushing on paint is a laborious process. Therefore, this technique will usually result in a higher quote than a spray job. As always, we believe that you get what you pay for with house painting, and while painting can carry a significant upfront cost, it is critical to look at the cost over the life of your paint finish.
If there is a significant difference between painting quotes, ask each painter to confirm if they are planning to spray or brush on paint. What may seem like the more cost-efficient option in the short term may end up being more expensive long term.
If you want your home painted by award winning Auckland Master Painters who consistently provide excellent workmanship and superior customer service, get in touch for a quote.
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