It’s no secret that a fresh coat of paint can make a home look new again. In fact, painting your home’s exterior is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve its appearance.
But before you can paint, you need to gather the right tools. Here are six essential tools for an exterior paint job.
1. Multipurpose Painter’s Tool
With a distinctive curved edge, this multipurpose tool goes by several different names based on the number of functions it can perform. The original was the five-in-one tool, but there are now products that offer up to 17 uses for one tool. The functions that most multipurpose tools share include opening paint cans, scraping paint, applying patching material, cleaning rollers (that’s what the curved edge is for), driving nails, and pulling nails. Buy a sturdy one that feels good in your hand and keep it with you as you work through the project.
2. Drop Cloths
Every paint job warrants a set of drop cloths to keep the paint away from where you don’t want it to go. To protect lawns and hardscapes, like patios and walkways, look for heavy canvas drop cloths with plastic backing. These will absorb the paint without allowing it to leak through the fabric. Use light canvas or even plastic to drape over bushes and other plantings.
3. Paint Scraper
To remove loose paint, you’ll need a heavy-duty paint scraper. The type with a long handle will give you some leverage. Also, look for the kind of scraper that uses changeable blades so that you always have a sharp blade handy. You will probably need scrapers of different sizes to reach all areas.
4. Caulk Gun
Caulk is the professional painter’s secret sauce. Caulking around door and window trim and corner boards provides a neat, finished appearance and fills any cracks that will be visible on the finished paint job. Unlike standard caulk guns, dripless guns stop the flow of caulk when you release the trigger. Look for the type that includes a cutter to cut the tip of the caulk tube and an attached puncture tool to reopen caulk tubes.
5. Ladder
The type of ladder you need will depend on how high you need to reach. Most jobs call for a common extension ladder, which is typically made from aluminum or fiberglass. Aluminum ladders are lighter than fiberglass ladders and are usually less expensive, but they do conduct electricity, which is a consideration if you will be working around wires. Look for slip-resistant rungs, top rails capped in plastic so they won’t scrape up the wall of your house, and slip-resistant bases.
Ladders carry a duty rating, which is the weight capacity they are designed to support. The weight includes the person using the ladder and whatever they are carrying. There are five ratings that go from capacities of 200 pounds to 375 pounds. For most homeowners, a type 2 medium-duty (225 pounds) or type 1 heavy-duty (250 pounds) will suffice for painting and other household chores.
6. Paint Tray
Pour your exterior paint into a paint tray for easy access. If you’re using a roller to paint the exterior of your house, paint trays are especially useful, helping you get an even wash of paint on your roller each time you dip it in. If it makes sense for your project, consider using a reusable metal paint tray with plastic liners that you can dispose of after each project.
