How To Paint Rooms with Your Paint Sprayer

Paint is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to redecorate your home. With a Graco sprayer, you can change the look of any room in the house in a fraction of the time it would take you to paint it by hand with a roller or brush.

 

 

Prep/Getting Started

Before starting any painting project, clean the surface to be painted as thoroughly as possible. Allow surface to dry completely before painting.

Safety Notice: Whenever operating equipment it is important to take proper safety precautions, be mindful of potential hazards, wear protective clothing and eyewear, and stay alert. Always refer to the specific instructions and safety procedures for the spray equipment you are using.

Clear – Move as much of the furniture out of the room as possible. Any furniture left in the room should be moved to the center and completely covered. Make sure to have plenty of space for your tools and equipment.
Cover – Cover everything you don’t wish to get paint on. Mask and paper around trim, doors and windows.
Remove – Loosen or remove cover plates from light fixtures. Turn off the electricity to the room and remove cover plates for electrical fixtures, outlets and switches. Remove heating and air conditioning vent covers.
Repair – Fill in all nail and screw holes with spackling compound using a putty knife.
Clean – Wash the entire area that is to be painted with a mixture of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate). Allow surface time to dry thoroughly.
Safety – When painting indoors, make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Wear protective clothing. This may include: gloves, eyewear, clothing, spray sock (hood), hats, footwear, dust masks and respirators. If you’re painting in the vicinity of any appliances turn them off. (See Safety Precautions in your Sprayer Operation Manual.)

Step By Step

Before you start spraying, be sure that all surfaces are properly prepped. Any surfaces you do not want painted should be covered or blocked using a spray shield. If you are in a smaller area or don’t want to spray, use a Graco Pressure Roller Attachment for great results and time savings.
Select the spray tip that best meets your needs for the material (paint) you are spraying and the surface to be sprayed. Be sure the hole size selected does not exceed the maximum capacity of your sprayer. (see tip selector.)
Typically, when painting, it is best to start at the top and work your way down.
Work in sections, only as far as you can comfortably reach. First spray the outer edges, “banding” the area that you will spray and cutting in any corners. For inside corners, aim the spray tip directly into the corner so it overlaps both sides. Next, point the spray tip at the edge of the previous painted area to overlap by approximately 50%.
Cut in around windows and doors first, and then spray paint the remaining flat areas using overlapping strokes.
See - How to use a paint sprayer: Spray Techniques for more spraying pointers.

Clean Up

Allow significant time for the paint to dry before removing tape from your trim. This will result in crisp, clean lines.
Remove all coverings from furniture and other areas.
Replace any lighting fixtures, cover plates and vent covers that may have been removed.
Clean your airless paint sprayer after each use. Follow the directions in your user’s manual for Power Flush™ cleaning with water based materials or use the bucket method of cleaning for Graco 190ES and solvent based products. For more info see Power Flush Video (wmv 1.4MB) or refer to your Sprayer Operation Manual.
Move furniture or other items back into place.

Suggested Tools & Equipment

• 2 empty buckets – For priming sprayer and clean-up.
• Stir sticks.
• Paint strainer bag – Helps eliminate tip plugging and provides a better finish.
• Prep items: tarps or drop cloths – plastic sheeting – masking tape.
• Paint / Stain – If using paint from multiple containers it is recommended that you transfer / mix paint from multiple containers together in an empty 5 gallon container. This is known as “boxing” the paint and ensures consistent color even if small differences in color exist between paint batches.
• Paint brush for touch-ups.
• Graco or Magnum Paint Sprayer (see comparison chart or sprayer selector).
• Spray Tips (see tip selector) – A wider spray pattern for large surfaces and narrow size for smaller surfaces.
• Tip Extension(s) – For hard to reach areas that would otherwise require a ladder.
• Pressure Roller Attachments.
• Two – 8 inch or larger adjustable wrenches.
• Additional airless hose sections if needed.
• Spray shield.
• Pump Armor for storage after use and TSL for Graco 190ES .
• Cleaning rags.
• Cleaning brushes – Stiff nylon (small and large) for clean-up.
• Safety and protection equipment such as: Safety glasses/goggles – dust masks/respirator - spray sock (hood worn over head to keep off overspray)