Paint Like A Professional: House Painting Equipment Checklist

Whether you are tackling exterior painting, refreshing the existing colour inside your home, or updating the entire house altogether, you’ll want to know exactly what you need before you start painting. It can be overwhelming to stand in your local paint store, trying to remember all the different painting tools and supplies you need. There’s nothing worse than taking up your paint brush ready to start and realising you forgot to grab the right primer.

As professional painters, we understand the importance of having a high-quality toolkit at your disposal to get that flawless finish you want. That’s why we have put together the ultimate house painting tools and supplies checklist, to ensure you have everything you need to get the job done and start your painting project the right way.

For quality advice, support and professional services, contact Hunter Valley Painting today!

Imaged Sourced – Hunter Coast Painting

Painting Tools and Supplies for the Preparation Stage

Before you even think of putting paint on the wall, there is going to be some preparation required if you want that super smooth, long-lasting finish.

Take a few minutes to examine the area you are about to paint. You might need to sand or strip back existing paint or fill in unsightly holes and cracks in the wall itself. There may be spots where previous owners have filled gaps but left the excess putty, which will need to be sanded down. Essentially, you want to create a smooth, even finish across the entire surface. The time you take during this stage will pay off down the track when you start to paint.

If you are lucky and the surface to be painted is pretty much perfect, you can move on to the next step: clean the walls with sugar soap to remove any dirt, dust, or other residue sitting on the paint, as that could potentially cause problems with adhesion further down the track.

Tools & Supplies Checklist:

• Putty knife – to apply wall filler
• Canvas drop cloths / plastic sheeting – to protect floors, furniture, and other belongings
• Paint scrapers – to remove loose paint
• Caulk gun – to fill gaps in seals and trims
• Stiff wire brush 
• Sugar soap – to clean a dirty wall
• Sandpaper – to smooth rough surfaces
• Sanding block 
• Electric sander – for large areas that require significant sanding 
• Paint stripper – a chemical product that breaks down existing paint that can then be easily removed using a paint scraper

Safety and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

With all of your house painting projects, it is critical to take the appropriate steps to protect yourself, and those around you, from the risks and hazards associated with painting.

If you are painting inside, be sure to wear a mask or work in a well-ventilated area to protect yourself from the fumes. Many types of paint contain solvents and other toxic components that can cause serious harm after repeated exposure.

It also serves well to remember that some painting supplies can be highly flammable, so take care when working and ensure you have a fire extinguisher on hand in case the worst should happen.

Safety & PPE Checklist:

• Old clothes (that you don’t mind getting paint on)
• Gloves – to protect your hands from harmful solvents
• Safety goggles – to protect your eyes from paint dust and drips
• Ventilation mask – to prevent you from breathing in fumes

Essential Tools for the Painting Stage

Now that you have a clean surface with a nice, sanded finish, you can finally start the painting component of your paint job.

The kind of painting you will be doing will inform which painting tools you will need. In some cases, you might need everything we have listed here. In others, a single paint roller and brush will be sufficient.

There is also a learning curve to some of these tools, such as a paint sprayer, which might mean you need to accommodate for some trial and error on a sample board.

Paint Brushes & Tools Checklist:

• Paint brushes of various sizes i.e., wall brushes
• Paint rollers – (ensure your roller nap matches every size you get)
• Extension pole – to paint those difficult and hard-to-reach areas
• Paint sprayers – for exterior walls and very large surface areas
• Paint cans i.e., latex paint, oil paints, house paint
• Painter’s tape/ masking tape – to protect door frames, windows, and trims
• Stanley knife / Pen knife – to cut through the film that forms beneath painting tape
• Paint tray / Roller tray 
• Plastic wrap – to wrap your brushes and rollers at the end of your painting day
• Tape measure
• Roller cover
• Roller screen – for situations where it is more efficient to use a paint bucket and screen rather than repeatedly refilling the reservoir in the roller tray
• Paint thinner – to be used when your paint is too thick to be applied to the walls
• Paint primer – to create an even, consistent undercoat to reduce the presence of dull or shiny spots in your paintwork
• Step ladder / Extension ladder – (be sure to double-check the weight specifications)
• Paint can opening tool – this can be as simple as a butter knife or flat head screwdriver

Post Painting and Clean Up for After the Painting Job

Once you have finished painting, there will undoubtedly be paint chips, dust and debris in your working space that will need to be swept up. If you have used a drop cloth, the majority of the mess should be able to be gathered up in the sheet and thrown away, but there may still be some cleaning up to do.

Take care when cleaning up in a room with a fresh coat of paint though. The last thing you want is to ruin your hard work by stirring up paint dust that will get stuck to the walls while the paint is still wet.

If you end up with more paint than you needed and don’t want to keep it for future touch-ups, you must remember that paint cannot simply be thrown away. Check your local council website for instructions and advice for the safe disposal of unwanted paints.

Cleaning Equipment Checklist:

• Broom – for gathering up large amounts of dust and debris
• Dustpan and Brush – for gathering up dust piles made by the broom and detail dusting on trims and in corners
• Plastic bag – for disposal of drop cloths, paint-stained clothes, and debris
• Brush and roller cleaner – used to clean your painting tools when finished to completely remove any residue that might cause damage or render the tool completely unusable in the future

The Ultimate Checklist of Different Materials to Work Like the Pro Painters

Now that you know exactly what tools you need, you can choose the right tools for the job – no matter the size of the DIY project.

If this is a ‘one-off’ job and you won’t be doing any more painting after this, you should be able to get away with the lower-end supplies. These are usually the cheapest options available on the shelf and might not last as long as the higher-quality alternatives that professionals will use.

When properly maintained, top-quality paint supplies can last for many years and offer a significant return on their initial cost. It all depends on how you intend to use and maintain your tools.

Looking for Help from Painting Professionals

Whether you’re seeking a new colour scheme to revitalise your property or simply maintaining the existing paintwork, being the family handyman can be tiring and expensive work. If you’d rather keep your weekends for yourself and forget the hassle of DIY, why not invest in professional painting services?

Hunter Valley Painting combines affordability and quality workmanship to deliver results our clients love, every time. We offer a wide range of professional services from interior and exterior painting though to commercial and maintenance jobs.

We use only the best quality painting tools and supplies in order to achieve the best possible results, with a wide range of colours to choose from and a clean, consistent finish that will last.

Our team is fully licensed and insured with over 10 years of delivering exceptional results to the Newcastle and Maitland area, so you can have confidence that you’ll end up with a final product you’ll love.

Whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial painting you need, Hunter Valley Painting will always deliver a consistent, professional job.

For more information or advice on completing your painting projects, contact us today on 0401 216 403 or send us an enquiry today.