10 Essential Tools for Painting Your Home's Exterior

Key Insights

A few years ago, my family came together at my parents' place to paint their early 20th-century farmhouse – and we completed the job in just one day. The younger crowd painted the trim with brushes while my brothers and nephews handled the paint sprayer. Unfortunately, my toddler wandered off with a brush and decided to add their own 'art' on the porch's concrete steps. Fortunately, my parents found it charming.

Painting a house involves more tools than you may expect. However, taking the time to gather the correct tools for prepping and finishing your home's exterior can save you time and deliver a more polished, professional outcome.

A fresh coat of exterior paint is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to refresh your home and increase its value. When done correctly, the result can last 15 years or more, just like if you hired experts. Here are 10 essential tools to help ensure your project is a success.

10: A Versatile 5-in-1 Tool

It’s always great to discover a tool that does the job of two, but what if it does five? A multipurpose painter's tool, also known as a 5-in-1 tool, is an essential item for the prepping process before painting your home’s exterior. Plus, it fits conveniently into your pocket. Some of its many uses include [source: Hazelton]:

A standard 5-in-1 tool typically suffices for most tasks, but you can find variations with more features, such as a 7-in-1 or even a 17-in-1 tool.

9: Ladder

If you want to reach higher than the 6-foot (1.8-meter) mark with your paint job, you’ll definitely need a ladder.

There are several types of ladders, but stepladders, extension ladders, and straight ladders are the most useful when painting the exterior of a home. Stepladders typically reach up to 20 feet (6 meters) and are non-adjustable. They have a hinged design that creates two self-supporting sides, one of which features flat steps for easy climbing. Most stepladders include a horizontal platform at the top, which is perfect for holding a paint can or other tools.

Straight ladders can extend up to 30 feet (9 meters) and should be set at a 75-degree angle against a stable surface. When painting roof eaves, ensure the ladder extends 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 centimeters) above the roof edge. Extension ladders are similar to straight ladders but consist of two sections that can be extended, reaching up to 60 feet (18 meters). A three-section version can stretch up to 72 feet (21 meters). For added convenience, you can buy or make a paint shelf as an accessory [source: American Ladder Institute].

8: Drop Cloths

As you prepare your home for a fresh coat of paint, it’s easy to overlook the impact the chemicals might have on your landscaping. To avoid damage, be sure to cover your greenery and keep it protected during the project.

Before scraping off excess paint or using a pressure washer, protect trees, plants, grass, and shrubs with plastic sheeting or drop cloths. Both options work well, but many professional painters prefer drop cloths because they allow water to drain through while still catching paint chips. They’re also less likely to tear. When using a high-pressure washer, stick to just water to avoid harming plants and grass with chemicals. Be careful not to hit trees, plants, or shrubs with the high-pressure stream, as the force of the water can damage them.

To secure the plastic sheeting or drop cloths in place, use landscaping staples or 2x4 boards. Leave them in place until the painting job is finished, as they will catch paint drips, which are especially common when using a paint roller [source: Johnson].

7: Surface-Prep Tools

You know the saying about preparing your canvas before you paint? The same principle applies to your home’s exterior. So, if you want to create a masterpiece, gather the necessary tools to properly prep the surface.

Start by cleaning the exterior walls. You can use a power sprayer to blast away debris from the siding with a jet of water. However, keep in mind that a pressure washer isn’t ideal for wood, as it can damage the surface. In such cases, a garden hose is a safer option. For materials like painted siding or masonry, a pressure washer works perfectly and can even help to strip off old peeling paint.

After the surface has dried, use a stiff wire brush or a putty knife to scrape off any loose paint. For wooden surfaces, a handheld sander is an effective tool for quickly stripping paint away [source: House Painting Guide].

Around 75% of homes built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint. Even if your older home has been repainted several times since, it’s likely that one of those earlier layers still contains lead. If that’s the case, you might want to call in professionals. If you choose to proceed, be sure to take precautions: wear a commercial-grade respirator mask and eye protection, and seal all windows, air conditioning units, and dryer exhaust vents to keep lead particles from entering your home [source: Minnesota Department of Health].

6: Caulk Gun

Sealing up cracks in your exterior walls is a crucial step before painting. Choosing the right caulk gun is equally important. There are three main types to consider: manual, battery-powered, and pneumatic.

Manual caulking guns require you to push a plunger and squeeze a trigger. While they’re affordable, they can be messy, causing caulk to ooze out in an uneven stream that often lingers longer than you want. To make the job easier, look for a manual gun with a smooth rod, which provides better control than the ratcheted version, and a built-in cutter to neatly slice the caulking tube’s tip.

Battery-powered caulking guns range from $35 to several hundred dollars. For most people, a basic, low-end battery-powered model will be sufficient. A gun that holds 10 ounces (283 grams) of caulk, for example, will be affordable and far less tiring to use than the manual kind.

Pneumatic caulking guns are the priciest option. As the name suggests, these tools connect to an air compressor, offering smoother control and easier activation than manual or battery-powered models. However, unless you're a professional contractor, you likely won’t need one [source: House Painting Info].

No matter which caulk gun you choose, it will take some practice to apply a consistent bead of caulk. The goal is to create a thin, even line of caulk around windows, doors, and chimneys before priming or painting the surfaces.

5: Buckets and Cans

You’ve probably seen the comedic mishap where a full paint can falls off a ladder and lands on an unsuspecting homeowner. This is definitely a situation you want to avoid!

So, instead of hauling a full can of paint (and tempting fate), try a more practical approach. Pour a modest amount into a clean, empty can or bucket and take that with you to your painting area. It will be much easier to handle when you're climbing a ladder, will help you avoid wasting paint, and, if a spill occurs, it won’t be as catastrophic.

Once you're done with the can for the day, cover it with plastic wrap and replace the lid. This will keep it fresh for the next use [source: The Family Handyman].

4: Roller Screen and Tray

A roller screen is a metal grid that fits inside your paint bucket, allowing you to easily remove excess paint from the roller. After dipping your roller in paint, run it across the screen to evenly coat the roller with paint [source: The Family Handyman].

A roller tray is another helpful tool, especially when working on a stepladder. This sloped, ribbed tray holds paint for loading onto your roller. The shallow well at one end holds about half an inch (1.3 centimeters) of paint, and you can place the tray on the stepladder, saving you trips down to refill [source: McMillan].

3: Paintbrushes

After all the effort spent gathering supplies and prepping the walls, applying the paint to your home's exterior will be a thrilling transformation. But first, you'll need the right paintbrush for the job.

There are two primary types of paintbrushes: natural bristle and synthetic bristle. Natural bristle brushes are typically made from animal hair, like black or white hog hair, offering a soft texture that's perfect for smooth, fine finishes. They can hold a substantial amount of oil-based paint without absorbing it.

While a natural bristle brush is ideal for applying primers or oil-based paints, it’s not the best option for latex (water-based) paints. Natural bristles can absorb up to 40% of their weight in water, causing the brush to become too soft to use effectively [source: Wooster Brush].

For latex paints, opt for a synthetic brush made of nylon and polyester. These bristles are durable, water-resistant, and don't absorb paint. A 4-inch (10-centimeter) straight-bristled brush is perfect for large surfaces, while a 1.5-inch (4-centimeter) angled brush is great for tight corners and trim work [source: The Family Handyman].

A paint roller is an essential tool for tackling larger areas quickly and efficiently.

Along with choosing the right paintbrush, you’ll need the right paint roller. Rollers let you work at a faster pace compared to using brushes alone. For covering large sections of shingles, stucco, or brick, go for a 9-inch (23-centimeter) roller with a half-inch nap. For narrower areas or large sections of siding, a 7-inch (18-centimeter) roller will work better [source: The Family Handyman].

Before dipping your roller into the paint, lightly dampen it. This will help reduce the amount of paint it absorbs, minimizing wastage. If you're using latex paint, just moisten the roller with water. For oil-based paints, dip it in paint thinner and then use a 5-in-1 tool to scrape off the excess [source: McMillan].

To prevent rollers from drying out between coats, cover them with plastic wrap or place them in a plastic bag. If you're storing them overnight, refrigerate them. This way, you won’t have to clean them, and they’ll be ready for use the next day. This trick also works for paintbrushes [source: Fontana].

Before using a paint sprayer on your house, practice on a piece of wood to get comfortable with the technique.

Professional painters favor sprayers for exterior jobs because they are up to 10 times quicker than brushing and four times faster than rolling. They also provide an even finish, even in hard-to-reach spots.

When renting a paint sprayer, make sure it’s designed for exterior use. If you plan to work with thicker paints, opt for a sprayer with a larger tip and one rated for higher pressure and power.

Spraying paint takes practice. Start by filling the sprayer with water and practicing on a scrap board. Use side-to-side motions while overlapping each pass. When you begin painting your house, expect to apply two coats, and plan for extra paint, as sprayers tend to use more than brushes or rollers.

Renting a sprayer typically costs between $70 and $100 per day, although purchasing one can set you back over $400. Be aware that some models can be quite noisy, so having ear protection ready is a good idea. Additionally, make sure to wear a respirator mask and safety goggles to protect yourself [source: Flietner].