As you well know, especially so if you caught my stories on Instagram a few weeks ago, my first attempt at using a paint sprayer did not exactly end well. And to course-correct after that debacle, I completley repainted our bedroom hallway with a short-handled angled brush and a smooth surface roller. Thankfully, this hallway project turned out well in the end. And while it was a bumpy ride to the finish line, I did learn a few things along the way. If you’ve been considering purchasing a paint sprayer or have wondered how using a sprayer compares to using a brush and roller, I thought I’d share what I believe are the pros and cons of using a paint sprayer.
Even though my first attempt didn’t end well (streaky, blotchy and orange-peel texture on trim – ugh), I’m keeping my paint sprayer. The Wagner Flexio 3500 may not be the best sprayer for painting trim work (in my opinion), but I do believe this sprayer will come in handy for other projects.
However, after this first paint spraying experience, don’t put me on team sprayer for any more interior projects.
Is it better to roll paint or spray?
Well…….
For me, the cons outweighs the pros, specifically for interior projects. Paint prep is just not my ministry. I loathe having to tape everything off, but also, I found spraying to be quite the messy undertaking. Aerosolized paint wreaks a special kind of havoc. And it’s not only messier, but the clean up is a real pain too.
For interior projects, I’m going to stick to using an old fashioned paint brush and roller. Hand brushing trim is no doubt a tedious job, but the results I get from using Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel makes it totally worthwhile.
Is a paint sprayer a worthwhile investment?
I think so, yes. But it all comes down to what kinds of projects you have planned.
Ultimately, I think a paint sprayer could really come in handy for detail work like painting furniture, cabinets, doors, built-in bookcases, and trim work. But I think if you want to use a sprayer for interior projects such as these, I’d really recommed getting a better quality, airless sprayer. Which would likely cost upwards of about $500, but I really think it would be a worthy investment to get a sprayer that will yield more professional results.
The Wagner Flexio is a HVLP (high volume low pressure) sprayer, and even with the adjustable settings I wasn’t able to get the super smooth, glossy results I was looking to achieve.
However, if you’re mostly going to be using flat finish paints on walls or you’re looking for a sprayer that can be used for outdoor projects (like fences, railings, outdoor furniture), a sprayer that will work with both paints and stains, the Wagner Flexio that I purchased will likely work really well for you. I think this paint sprayer is a decent one for a hobbyist/occasional painter.
Honestly though, while I think the Wagner paint sprayer I bought would work really well for flat finish paints on interior walls, I’m still not planning to ever use a paint sprayer inside ever again. For me the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Because I personally feel like the amount of time you save using a sprayer rather than cutting in by hand and rolling is balanced out by the amount of time it takes you to tape everything off in order to prepare a room to spray. And that still doesn’t even account for the clean up time.
You’re essentially saving time in one area but spending more time in another. And that doensn’t equal any actual time saved. So, I think it really comes down to where you would rather spend your time? On prepwork? Or on painting?
That being said, I do recognize that for painting projects like trim work and built-ins that extra prepwork may be totally worthwhile because doing those types of jobs by hand can be really laborious.
Just my two cents. 😉 But I do hope this is helpful!
Do you have a paint sprayer? What brand/model? Are you team sprayer or team roller?
