Paint sprayers are a more efficient--and often cheaper--way of painting large surfaces than are brushes. However, they are difficult to use, and it is easy to spread paint onto unwanted surfaces if the proper precautions are not taken. When learning how to paint exterior walls with a paint sprayer, special steps should be taken to ensure that damage is not caused to your wall or other areas surrounding the wall. The steps below will teach you proper technique for using a paint sprayer and what needs to be done when using one on the outside of a building.
1Cover all plants, sidewalks, railings, and other sensitive surfaces around the wall with a tarp or a cloth. Secure the tarp or cloth with stones or weights.
2Cover any windows and doors in or around the wall with tarps or sheeting. Secure the sheeting with tape so that there are no gaps between the tarp or sheeting and the wall or the surface.
3Remove any elements that are not easily covered, such as protruding grates, screws, outlets, or switches.
4Practice using a paint sprayer against a disposable surface such as a plank of wood.
5Become familiar with the rate of spray, the ease with which the trigger moves, and the consistency of paint you desire.
6Plan a path along which you will paint the wall.
- You should begin in corners and move laterally. Start at the top of the wall so that you can move down in smooth motions rather than being obliged to move up your ladder or stairs after starting at the bottom.
7Begin to spray paint with a steady stream.
- You should keep the sprayer about one foot (or 30 cm.) away from the wall. Make sure that the sprayer is at a 90-degree angle from the wall.
8Maintain a constant motion as you paint.
- Do not pause in one spot or let your finger off the trigger.
9Take special care not to add additional paint to corners or other areas over which the sprayer passes constantly.
10Finish the coat of paint at the bottom of the wall by keeping the paint sprayer a few inches (or several cm.) above the ground rather than pointing the tip towards the foundation.
11Go over your first coat of paint again if you desire a more durable paint job or a deeper color.
Questions and Answers
Give us 3 minutes of knowledge!
- Painting an exterior wall is not much different with regards to technique than painting an interior wall. If you are painting both inside and outside, begin on the inside so that you are familiar with using a paint sprayer. Then, take extra caution in covering surfaces that you do not want to be painted outside and use the skills you have learned to create a consistent, attractive coat of paint.
- Try using a narrower spray tip if you are still having trouble controlling the stream of the spray paint and finding that your paint is spreading messily.
- Never spray paint on a windy day. Paint can spread onto areas that would otherwise be untouched, and the consistency of the paint will be affected.
Things You'll Need
- Paint sprayer
In other languages:
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 9,722 times.