10 Must Have Painting Tools
1. Sureline Paint Edger
Perfect for cutting along the edges of walls, ceilings and other trim. You simply load up the absorbent white pad with paint, and then place the rollers along the edge of your wall or trim, and push the paint out into a smooth clean line. No paint brush needed!… or tape really!
2. Sturdy, Foldable Bench
The best way to reach those hard to paint places (especially if you’re 5’3). You can purchase aluminum benches for as low as $30.00 at your local hardware store, and the folding capability is perfect for storing your bench after you’re done using it.
3. Rotating Protective Eyewear
If you’ve ever had to paint a ceiling, then you know that splatters and drips happen frequently. These protective goggles from Advanz will eliminate any of that from getting into your eyes, and also keep you from having to waste time cleaning or clearing off your glasses. Once your goggles need a cleaning, simply just turn the little red knob and a new clear film is exposed!
They sell these goggles at Sherwin Williams.
4. Angled Paint Brush
A good quality angled paint brush can make all the difference when cutting into corners or painting detailed molding. It may seem like a bit of a reach to pay more then $10 for one little paintbrush, but if you take good care of it and store it properly, it will last for a very long time.
You can read about the techniques that we like to use when paint trim and molding in this post here.
5. Mess Free Paint Pour Attachment
When clipped onto the top of any standard 1 gallon paint can, this simple, inexpensive plastic pouring attachment makes for mess free paint tray refills and SUPER easy clean up. You can snag one of these for about $2.00!
6. Handy Paint Pail
Having to stop and refill a brush is sometimes what takes the most time during a painting project. If you have a handy paint bucket or pail at your disposal, with the color in it that you need, then you can can cut your time running up and down off of your step stool in half!
7. Painting Stick
Extend your reach with an adjustable painting stick. You can find lots of different brands and styles. Even most regular roller brush handles are equipped with a threaded bottom, so that you can attach a painting extender to the end.
8. Door Hinge Covers
Talk about saving time! These quick stick door hinge covers are a painters best friend when you aren’t feeling up to removing a bulky door from it’s hinges. I’m not gonna lie, we haven’t used this brand before, and in the past have just had to tape off the hinge (which is time consuming), but I think these are super innovative and cool π Especially if you’re just touching up a scuffed door with some fresh white paint!
9. Paint Guard
One of the best tools for small touch-up projects, when you don’t want to pull the tape out. Just press the metal or plastic narrow edge up against the adjacent wall or flooring that you want to protect, and paint on the opposite, exposed side.
I have a big 22 inch metal paint guard that I use when painting baseboard. IT’S A LIFE SAVER! I just run some tape along the carpet that’s next to the baseboard (to keep the fibers down) and then use the guard above the baseboard on the wall, to protect the wall while I paint along the baseboard. It saves me tons of time, because I don’t have to tape off twice… just once on the carpet.
If using a latex based paint, clean up is easy too, with just warm water and a bit of hand soap, the paint comes right off.
10. Flotrol
This paint conditioner works like a dream, especially when added to trim and door paint, eliminating any brush or roller marks, caused by quick drying paint. When using Floetrol count on a longer drying time, because your paint will remain tacky and dry slower, to allow for the smoothing process to work properly.
Angela says
I've always been skeptical about those edger tools. Maybe they do work though, they sure would save a lot of time!
arrielle_p says
I think I'm gonna need those tools because my condo needs a new painting. π
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Unknown says
Wow, thank you so much for posting this. There are a few things here that I didn't even know existed. Next time I paint, I'll definitely be doing it more efficiently – and thinking of you guys. π
Unknown says
Wow, thank you so much for posting this. There are a few things here that I didn't even know existed. The next time I paint, I'll definitely be doing it more efficiently – and thinking of you guys π
Jean C says
I've used one of those paint guards and it works great, but I always wished there was a little more handle to hold onto.
My solution was to buy a 12" drywall taping knife.
It works the same, but has a 6" handle – easier to control.
Anonymous says
I used to use a shur-line when i first started painting but it i didnt like the gap left by the wheels between the wall and the ceiling so I started using my angle brush and doing it by hand. Lately though I am not getting the results i want and will probably go back to the edger.
I have never seen door hinge covers to me. seems interesting but honestly it seems like a bit of a waste of money too me. some good wide tape and a sharp knife to trim it seems more economical.
Over all a great post with some good products. got to get me a gallon pourer like that somewhere. never seen one quite like that and it looks good.
Jennifer Goodin says
i think taping is the worst part!! i would paint a lot more if i could do without the tape! next time i paint, a sureline paint edger will be a must!
Jasmine Hellogmsunshine says
Thanks for this! I am having a time trying to finish our Master Bedroom. Had I known I could slow the drying process then this satin paint would not be giving me the blues with the brush strokes!
How do you prevent the little wheels and what not from getting on the Shur line pad? Steady hand? I feel like it would be just my luck that I would get paint on the roller guides and have lines up and down my ceiling. Is there a way that you load the paint carefully?
Anonymous says
I definitely starred this in Google Reader so I can reference it when I get a house. Thanks for the list!
Anonymous says
I was told by a professional painte, if you want straight lines (the corner between the ceiling/wall or if you are doing stripes) to tape off the section you don't want painted with the cheap tan masking tape. Then you spray a quick line of flat enamel spray along the tape let it dry for a couple minutes, then you paint your walls like normal. When the paint dries and you pull your tape off, you have a perfect straight line. Best painting advice I have ever got.
Anonymous says
I was told by a professional painte, if you want straight lines (the corner between the ceiling/wall or if you are doing stripes) to tape off the section you don't want painted with the cheap tan masking tape. Then you spray a quick line of flat enamel spray along the tape let it dry for a couple minutes, then you paint your walls like normal. When the paint dries and you pull your tape off, you have a perfect straight line. Best painting advice I have ever got.
PaRtY of 5! says
Shelley- I had to just comment on how THIN you're lookin girl!! You're always adorable in your pics but I know you've been working so hard- lookin' GOOD!! π
Thanks for the painting tips too, I guess LOL (no, seriously- I will be re-visiting when we move and begin painting again!)
Lisa says
These are some great tips! I plan on implementing some of these real soon. I have some painting projects on the horizon. Thank you!
Mr. wRight and Mrs. Always wRight says
thanks for the good tips! I am about to start painting our master bedroom that has tons of trim and angles and these tools will be a lifesaver!!! I'd love to see a tutorial on how to best paint trim around windows and baseboards if you have time!!! thanks for all your great ideas! I love your blog!
Kara says
I have several of these–love the sureline edger! I've always wondered if the paint guard actually works, so now I know I need to get me one. Thanks Shelley!
Jess says
YAY!!! Thanks for the tips! These were definitely needed π
xo Jess
Unknown says
do you think you will be adding a PinIt button? I can never pin your blogs, it says there is no picture found. I LOVE all your posts and I want to save them!
Marnie says
My husband!
Mindy says
so, riddle me this miss painter extraordinaire: painting the ceiling.
i am trying to win a battle of sorts with my very stubborn husband about what color the ceiling should be. we have low(ish) ceilings, average really, and he wants them the same color as the walls, like they are now, and i am leaning toward the whitish side of the spectrum, not necessarily white white, but certainly not the same color as the walls!! give me your expert opinion, help me to win my battle maybe? π
Anonymous says
I have been following your blog for just a couple months now, and I love ways you update your home. Have you ever posted anything on the outside of your home? Do you have a garden? Pretty landscape???
Unknown says
Have you ever used the floetrol? we just moved into a new place and ALL the doors and trim needs to be painted (yes…ALL of it…ugh!) so it would be nice to make sure it all looks good so we don't have to do it again any time soon.
Unknown says
Oh wow! I've never seen that before: Sureline Paint Edger
Thank you for this awesome tip!
Heather at Happy Chippy Junk says
Forget the paint…someone is looking THINNER!!!
Heather at Happy Chippy Junk says
Forget the paint…someone looks THINNER!!!
Shauna says
Y'all are so flipping cute. And this was a really helpful post!!
Alyssa says
Can I just say, BLESS YOU. I have recently embarked on the journey that is figuring how to paint your house and I have to say, I was initially a little daunted! So many stinkin' variations of color, what tools do I really need? ETC. You. Are. A. Lifesaver. π
Melissa Coleman says
Door hinge covers? Sweet! I have never heard of those but definitely will be on my painting shopping list next time I need to paint a door.
That's Ms. Amy to You... says
Sherwin Williams makes a short handled, angled trim brush that is LIFE CHANGING. And for $5, I buy multiples so that I don't have to wait to paint trim or cut in. I don't even tape off any more!
heidi says
off the subject! just noticing from your pictures how awesome you look! thanks for your inspiring weight loss stories.
Rob says
I'll toss in another vote for the Shureline edger! And the way we make sure the little wheels stay clean is that we load the pad with a brush and never dip it into the paint tray directly. Yeah, it's a little more effort – this is where having that 2nd person down on the group while you're up on the ladder sure makes that easier – but it's well worth the extra effort.
Also, we swear by FrogTape for those areas that do have to be taped off. I can't tell you how many times we used the blue tape only to be heartbroken when paint seeped under the edges and ruined the nice straight line we bothered taping for in the first place. FrogTape doesn't do that – ever.
One of the best tools I have is a Wooster Painter's Comb. It makes cleanup of your brushes so much easier and really extends the life of your brushes. You may have considered brushes disposable and thus only ever bought cheap ones, but with a painter's comb, you can splurge on a nice brush and keep it for years.
And recently I discovered Glad Press & Seal plastic wrap is wonderful for covering your paint bucket and/or tray when you need to walk away for a few minutes. Definitely well worth the few bucks!
2Dolphins post: Two for Tuesday – Painting Tools
Steph Keaney says
You can't pin in a reader, you have to open the actual website and then you can pin. π
Steph Keaney says
Aubrey — I find that I can't pin when I am reading in Google Reader, but when I open up the website thehouseofsmiths.com, I am able to pin. Hope that helps!
Steph Keaney says
I tried finding those great hinge covers, but I am coming up empty-handed! Can you tell me where you bought them?
Steph Keaney says
One more thing — I get this comment when I go to the Quickey Stickey website link from your page: quickeystickey.com expired on 05/03/2012 and is pending renewal or deletion.
Victor says
Well I guess it's time to toss out all of my blue tapes and get that Shureline edger. The handy paint pail is ingenious too, though I don't know how that would fare well if the pail is heavy…
Anonymous says
Thank you for your tips. I must say that I am also used to lining by hand. I've tried the Shur-line edger and one must be extremely cautious on the amount of paint when dabbing it. Otherwise, when it's pressed to the wall it will spread out. Also, when dabbing in the paint, it is important not to get the paint on the wheels at all. Overall, an angle brush is much more efficient. I'll keep windex and paper towel nearby in the case paint goes onto a spot I do not want it. As long as it's taken off while wet, it comes right off.
Anonymous says
The pails are very light!
Unknown says
Painting house is the best and simple way to freshen up your place . But painting a house requires good planning and also a good sense about the colorβs effect otherwise it will turn into a nightmare of splattered paint and endless coats. And also I am agree with that using of painting tools give an additional effect to your painting.
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Sunil Sharma says
Jenn Anderson
Boston, MA
I am having l nightmares over the Rhino Shield covering on my house, installed just over three years ago. Large bubbles are in the material that I can slit and hand peel the material, right down to the bare red cedar clapboards, which were also primed with an oil primer and finished with latex paint before the Rhino-Shield was applied. The material has a lifetime guarantee, so when I called several persons, including the owner Rhino Shield they all came over quickly.
Rhino Shield said that the material was probably put on when the cedar was damp, and thus would strip everything and apply a new primer and finish coat, let dry, then apply new Rhino Shield, adding that there will be no more work till flashing is….
Read more about my issue here
bostonglobe.com/business/2013/09/14/coating-home-bubbled-after-years/EvVT7CXrTWHf9A6Ky9eF9N/story.html
Sarah Brockman says
I wonder if we couldn't just use that edger for the entire wall. I know, I know, it's odd and unusual, but it sure would be cool if we could avoid the stupid rollers all together.