There are basically three exterior painting methods when applying paint to any wall—brush, roller and sprayer. Which one is the best method for you to use? It depends.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Painting with a Brush

When you use a paint brush, you use the least amount of paint. If you are on a tight budget and have more time available than cash, you can save money by using a brush to paint your home. The results won’t look any less professional, as long as you follow some basic rules.

• Make sure the paint is thoroughly mixed. This means you need to stir the paint every once in a while as you work. Because painting with a brush takes longer, pigments can settle out to the bottom of the can. (Depends on the type of paint.)
• Brush the paint on with light, even strokes. As the brush becomes dry, don’t try to make the paint go farther. Get more paint.
• Smooth overlaps and brush strokes with light strokes, lifting the brush at the end of the stroke. If you are seeing the strokes, you may be skimping on paint or letting the paint get too dry before the next brush stroke.
• Always work with a wet edge. That way the paint will lay on smoothly. Brush strokes show up in paint that has begun to dry.

 
There is really only one major disadvantage to painting your entire house with a brush. It takes a lot of time!

Advantages and Disadvantages of Painting with a Roller

Using paint rollers speed up painting time considerably, even though they absorb a lot of paint. Anyone who has painted with a roller knows that little flecks of paint tend to spatter all over. That’s paint that doesn’t end up on your wall!

At the same time, a roller makes quick work of smooth walls such as stucco or slightly textured walls such as masonry. This can be a real time saver. If the exterior walls are heavily textured, a long nap roller cover is the best choice.

The biggest problem with paint rollers is their design. They work best on large, uninterrupted surfaces. While you can use a narrower roller for wide siding, the standard large roller is more difficult to get into all the nooks and crannies created by most siding.

Check-out Brushing and Rolling Exterior Paint

Advantages and Disadvantages of Painting with a Sprayer

High pressure paint spray guns, airless paint sprayers, are a time pressured homeowner’s best friend as long as you have a steady hand and mask the exterior of your home carefully. There are some key rules to consider as you work, if you want professional results.

• Always hold the spray gun perpendicular to the surface you are painting.
• Use a steady sweeping motion.
• Never spray paint on a windy or damp day.
• Choose low enough pressure, psi, to prevent the paint from creating a fog. The slightest breeze will blow your paint away. Any paint that doesn’t reach the exterior of your home is money lost.

 
Whereas using labor intensive exterior painting methods like painting with a brush or roller can take weeks on a large home (or at least require many painters to get the job done quickly), a sprayer can streamline the process so effectively that the major concern becomes letting primer coats and finish coats dry properly before adding the next coat.

Check-out Exterior Spray Painting