ᐅ Interior walls, ceilings, and similar surfaces: spraying instead of painting?
Created on: 22 Sep 2017 21:21
M
Mizit
We are both not very skilled at DIY, and painting by hand takes an incredibly long time ... and it doesn’t really look professional.
Do you have any experience with these spray systems?
I’ve read quite a bit about them but still don’t feel much wiser. Advice at the home improvement store seemed very sales-driven.
Advantages: supposedly much faster than using a roller, especially on ceilings, probably much easier than rolling?
Disadvantages: costs around 350 euros (about 370 USD), although some devices are somewhat cheaper. Online reviews often criticize the quality of the spray systems, mentioning poor application and nozzles clogging often.
What are your experiences?
Do you have any experience with these spray systems?
I’ve read quite a bit about them but still don’t feel much wiser. Advice at the home improvement store seemed very sales-driven.
Advantages: supposedly much faster than using a roller, especially on ceilings, probably much easier than rolling?
Disadvantages: costs around 350 euros (about 370 USD), although some devices are somewhat cheaper. Online reviews often criticize the quality of the spray systems, mentioning poor application and nozzles clogging often.
What are your experiences?
As a professionally unskilled painter who knows how poorly he can paint ceilings with a roller, I treated myself last year to a paint sprayer to whitewash our walls and ceilings.
After researching different devices, I chose one from Wagner, where the compressor is separate from the spray gun (Wagner Flexio W with some number). Both are connected by a hose, so you only hold the gun in your hand while the compressor stays on the floor. This was important to me because it provides a significant weight advantage.
First, it is important to read the instructions to understand how the paint needs to be mixed, as it does not go into the device at the same consistency as it is applied with a roller. For me, one liter of water was added as a thinner per 10 liters of paint, but this is only a starting point and can be adjusted individually. In my case, it ended up being about 1.2 liters.
(There is also ready-to-spray paint, but at that time, it was not available at the price of regular wall paint and was not sold in my area.)
I started in a less important room, the utility room, to practice and get a feel for spraying (speed, distance, etc.). After a few square meters, it got better, and I managed it without any drips or spots. Therefore, a practice area or room is recommended.
I finished our entire house (130m² [1400 sq ft]), including ceilings and masking of windows and doors, in about a week. It might have gone faster if it had not been so hot that week, but at 28-30°C (82-86°F) outside and closed windows, the speed decreases.
Masking is a critical point when spraying, as paint mist gets into even the smallest crevices, so you have to be very precise. Good quality masking tape should be used, as cheap tape tends to be blown away by the air pressure. For this reason, I would only use such a device if the room is completely emptied. Masking furniture carefully enough to avoid any overspray is too labor-intensive.
Regarding the result, my wife and I are satisfied, and we have already been asked which company did the job. Two colleagues also borrowed the device and found it great.
In summary, I can say:
- It is worthwhile for a whole house or an entire room
- With some practice, it is usable even for beginners (contrary to uninformed opinions)
- The consistency and proper thinning are crucial to avoid drips or clogged nozzles
- Masking is extremely important
- I was faster than with a roller, but this depends on the user
- In my opinion, it is not suitable for partial areas
- I am satisfied with the result and would buy or borrow the device again if available nearby
Before the question arises: Yes, you can see a difference between rolled and sprayed surfaces.
After researching different devices, I chose one from Wagner, where the compressor is separate from the spray gun (Wagner Flexio W with some number). Both are connected by a hose, so you only hold the gun in your hand while the compressor stays on the floor. This was important to me because it provides a significant weight advantage.
First, it is important to read the instructions to understand how the paint needs to be mixed, as it does not go into the device at the same consistency as it is applied with a roller. For me, one liter of water was added as a thinner per 10 liters of paint, but this is only a starting point and can be adjusted individually. In my case, it ended up being about 1.2 liters.
(There is also ready-to-spray paint, but at that time, it was not available at the price of regular wall paint and was not sold in my area.)
I started in a less important room, the utility room, to practice and get a feel for spraying (speed, distance, etc.). After a few square meters, it got better, and I managed it without any drips or spots. Therefore, a practice area or room is recommended.
I finished our entire house (130m² [1400 sq ft]), including ceilings and masking of windows and doors, in about a week. It might have gone faster if it had not been so hot that week, but at 28-30°C (82-86°F) outside and closed windows, the speed decreases.
Masking is a critical point when spraying, as paint mist gets into even the smallest crevices, so you have to be very precise. Good quality masking tape should be used, as cheap tape tends to be blown away by the air pressure. For this reason, I would only use such a device if the room is completely emptied. Masking furniture carefully enough to avoid any overspray is too labor-intensive.
Regarding the result, my wife and I are satisfied, and we have already been asked which company did the job. Two colleagues also borrowed the device and found it great.
In summary, I can say:
- It is worthwhile for a whole house or an entire room
- With some practice, it is usable even for beginners (contrary to uninformed opinions)
- The consistency and proper thinning are crucial to avoid drips or clogged nozzles
- Masking is extremely important
- I was faster than with a roller, but this depends on the user
- In my opinion, it is not suitable for partial areas
- I am satisfied with the result and would buy or borrow the device again if available nearby
Before the question arises: Yes, you can see a difference between rolled and sprayed surfaces.
May I ask how much you paid for the device? I think, to avoid surprises, we’ll stick with traditional rolling for this renovation, but as new homeowners, this topic will probably come up more often... maybe we will invest in it after all.
And how do you do it now: as evenly as possible, rolling from top to bottom, or applying paint to one section with up-down-right-left movements?
And how do you do it now: as evenly as possible, rolling from top to bottom, or applying paint to one section with up-down-right-left movements?
Load plenty of paint onto the roller; it should make a smacking sound as you roll. Apply it edge to edge. Trim the edges first with a brush.
The key is good quality paint, which also hides unevenness. Either get it through a professional painter, or if buying from a DIY store, use Hagebau Renovo Kristall or Polarweiss. It’s made by Brillux and is very good for DIY paint. Karsten
The key is good quality paint, which also hides unevenness. Either get it through a professional painter, or if buying from a DIY store, use Hagebau Renovo Kristall or Polarweiss. It’s made by Brillux and is very good for DIY paint. Karsten
I paid €130 for it, as stated in the offer. In my opinion, and as mentioned above, the device should only be used in completely empty rooms because the paint mist will find its way around. Keep this in mind, otherwise you might end up damaging your furniture.
As Nordlys already pointed out, apply a proper amount of paint on the roller. Definitely avoid rolling back and forth randomly—always roll in one direction only.
Some friends of ours asked the painter from a neighboring construction site if he could provide them with some paint. This gave him a small additional income, and our friends got good-quality painter’s paint at a reasonable price (according to them, cheaper than the Alpine paint).
Alternatively, try looking for a paint supply store in your area. If you inquire in person, they sometimes sell to private individuals as well.
As Nordlys already pointed out, apply a proper amount of paint on the roller. Definitely avoid rolling back and forth randomly—always roll in one direction only.
Some friends of ours asked the painter from a neighboring construction site if he could provide them with some paint. This gave him a small additional income, and our friends got good-quality painter’s paint at a reasonable price (according to them, cheaper than the Alpine paint).
Alternatively, try looking for a paint supply store in your area. If you inquire in person, they sometimes sell to private individuals as well.
W
winnetou7824 Sep 2017 08:42If you want something good and affordable, try looking for Herbol products; many painting companies use them.
Both Herbol and Sto, as well as other professional-grade paints, are freely available online. However, you need to know what you are looking for. For this, it is best to consult the manufacturers’ websites. You can find the relevant information on the sites of Sto, Herbol, or Maleco. Yes, these professional paints are not necessarily very expensive; they are worth the price.
But as I said, the only really good alternative to professional paints that I know of in hardware stores is Renovo/Hagebau. My brother, who is a master painter himself, told me that Brillux is likely behind it. He has used Renovo multiple times, and it is okay to good quality. The Polar White has particularly good coverage. However, it is also quite expensive. Karsten
But as I said, the only really good alternative to professional paints that I know of in hardware stores is Renovo/Hagebau. My brother, who is a master painter himself, told me that Brillux is likely behind it. He has used Renovo multiple times, and it is okay to good quality. The Polar White has particularly good coverage. However, it is also quite expensive. Karsten
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