8 Tips for Spray Painting Like a Pro

Using a can of spray paint to cover tired patio furniture or a paint sprayer to coat your home’s exterior is a simple and speedy way to breathe new life into home and yard surfaces. However, sloppy paint sprayer skills can lead to drips, streaks, spatters, and safety issues.

We've got you covered if you’re worried about not getting things right when pressing that nozzle or trigger. These eight tips for spray painting and paint sprayer application will help you achieve a pro finish.

1. Pick the Right Product for Your Project

Applying paint from a can is ideal for small-scale DIY spray painting projects, such as freehand designs on accent walls, spray painting kitchen cabinets, dressers, and metal or wood patio sets. Rust-resistant, lacquer-based products are ideal for outdoor projects on flexible surfaces.

For large projects like painting exterior walls, a paint sprayer is better than a can. Learning how to use a paint sprayer means quickly and smoothly covering the walls of multiple interior spaces or the expansive siding of your home.

2. Protect Your Furnishings, Floors, and Flora

Whether you’re spray painting patio furniture or using a paint sprayer to cover entire walls, this is a messy DIY project. Aerosol paints can quickly spread to surfaces you don’t want them on if you don’t take proper protective measures, and removing spray paints isn’t quick or easy.

Cover surrounding floors, furnishings, or flower bed borders with heavy-duty plastic covers or masking film and hold them securely in place with painters' tape. Drop cloths, cardboard, and newspaper can be a good first line of defense, but paint can bleed through these absorbent materials.

3. Plan Your Project When the Weather Is Right

When planning exterior paint projects, check the forecast and pick a calm, cloudy, but not rainy day. If it's too hot, spray paint could shrink around the edges or produce air bubbles as it dries—ideal outside temperatures are between 55°F and 80°F. If it's too humid, the paint can take too long to dry, causing problems with adhesion. On gusty days, you can experience paint wastage, poor coverage, and drifting.

4. Spray in a Well-Ventilated Area

Unless you're painting indoor walls or chunky furniture items that are hard to move, it’s best to spray paint outdoors. Aerosol paints release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Inhaling these fumes can cause breathing difficulties, eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

If you must apply the paint indoors, ventilate the space well by opening windows and using a fan to direct airflow outside. We recommend wearing a half- or full-face respirator with cartridges rather than a standard face mask.

5. Shake Spray Cans Before You Start

The liquids and gases in spray paint cans separate when left sitting. You’ll get a good arm workout as you need to shake the can for at least two minutes at the start and periodically throughout your project. This blends the mixture of pigments, solvents, and propellants and helps prevent uneven coverage or nozzle clogging. 

6. Test Before Spraying Your Surface

Press the nozzle or trigger and you're off, right? Not quite. Testing your tools and sweeping spraying technique on a large scrap piece of cardboard, wood, or other surface first helps you achieve a smooth, uniform, drip-free finish. Start 6 to 10 inches away from the surface and assess the effect. The further away you spray from the surface, the thinner and wider the coating application will be. 

7. Spray Steadily and Smoothly

Yes, a paint sprayer is quicker than a roller, but it still requires patience. Get into an even rhythm when spraying your surface, allowing each line to overlap by around one-third to prevent patchiness. Several thin coats rather than one thick one produce a smoother look, as does spraying beyond the finishing point to prevent a heavy buildup along edges that can run. If you struggle to get a flawless finish, hire a local paint professional.

8. Store or Dispose of Spray Cans or Sprayers Carefully

Don’t throw your finished can straight into the trash. These pressurized aerosol cans contain flammable propellants that can be a fire or explosive risk if punctured or exposed to heat. They often also contain hazardous chemicals. Check your local regulations for how to dispose of hazardous household waste.

If you plan to use this pricey investment again, take time to properly clean out your spray painter. Run a pump preserver through the system and clean or replace filters. If an efficient airless model is the best paint sprayer for your project, you may need to lubricate the system with a manufacturer-approved piston oil.