Paint Sprayer vs Roller – Which Method Is Better?

Paint sprayer vs roller – which one is better?

When you decide to paint your walls DIY style, it may be a difficult decision to choose between a paint sprayer and a paint roller for a number of reasons. Although using a paint sprayer is fast, a lot of preparation is needed in order to get that quality coat. On the other hand, making use of a paint roller is slower, however it sets down a better quality of coat compared to spraying.

Making Use of a Paint Roller

If you are keen about the quality paint coat on the surface of your wall, choosing a paint roller is your best option. You will surely get a layer of paint that is much thicker as well as have better consistency of color compared to spraying. However, when considering other factors like preparation time, cost, as well as the condition of the surface you are going to paint, making a decision may become a little more difficult. Consider the following circumstances:

• Opt for a paint roller when you are painting walls in the interior.
• Using a roller is cheaper since almost every drop of paint goes on the wall surface. When using a sprayer, you waste a considerable amount of paint when paint that is atomized drifts away ending up elsewhere instead of the surface to be coated. Additionally, rollers are cheaper compared to purchasing a sprayer and maintaining it.
• A roller, paint tray, tray liner and roller cover are the major items you need when opting to use a roller to paint. When painting with a roller, you can have breaks or can attend to other things and continue your painting project when you already have the time. With a paint sprayer, your painting project is “all-or-nothing” which can use up your whole day.
• Although it is best to clean the wall thoroughly prior to painting, let’s be honest, this doesn’t happen all the time. In this case, using a roller is best since the initial coat is thick and is able to better bond with the surface, unlike when spraying wherein the small droplets don’t bond with each other.

Making Use of a Paint Sprayer

Similar to paint rolling, utilizing a paint sprayer has its own set of advantages as well. Take into consideration the situations below:

• Use a paint sprayer when painting an exterior surface that has an unobstructed perimeter.
• When priming new, huge inside spaces, or if you are in the early stages of your remodeling project, or perhaps only masking areas like electrical boxes or plumbing stub-outs, opt to use a paint sprayer. When you use a paint sprayer as primer, this makes it easier to use a paint roller after.
• If your surface has lots of complicated texture or detailed work, like crown moldings, masonry, textured ceilings, built-up baseboards or dentils, paint sprayers can reach the narrowest crevices. Paint rollers or using a paint brush on surfaces that has a lot of details or textures can cause paint drips or pooled up paint.