The well known saying ‘a man is only as good as his tools’ is commonly used throughout the world, especially in industries which rely on literal tools to succeed. Using low-quality equipment and materials is ultimately going to lead to a substandard job. When you are a painter or decorator, your tools are vital to how well you can perform at your job.
If you use sub-standard building supplies, the work you do may not be to a high standard which could result in you being dropped from a project or left unpaid for the hours you have put in. So if you think the supplies you’re using are affecting the quality of your work, it’s time to invest in new building supplies.
Luckily MTS Trade Supplies have put together this great guide for painters and decorators, so you know exactly what you need to perform at your best. Here are five building supplies that you need as a painter and decorator.
Paint Brushes & Rollers
It may seem obvious, but paint brushes and rollers are an essential part of a painter or decorator’s arsenal. And this is why you must ensure you are only using the best. But not all paint brushes are equal, so here is a brief guide to some of the different types you may need to be able to finish a project effectively:
- Round Brush – A round brush is great for giving any job a consistent finish, with a long handle for easier control.
- Masonry Brush – If you’re looking to paint a large area, you’ll want a masonry brush in your collection. They have long and wide bristles that make it easy to paint large areas quickly.
- Angle Sash Brush – This style of brush is ideal for getting into hard-to-reach areas such as corners, giving you the perfect finish in areas that are tough to manage.
- Radiator Brush – This angled brush is great for getting into small spaces such as behind the radiator, making use of a long handle and unique angle.
You can usually get a lot of these brushes in different widths, with the bigger the width the more area you’re going to be able to paint in one sweep. Ideally, you should use smaller brushes for more precise work and larger brushes when you have bigger areas to cover. You’ll also encounter brushes made of different materials. A synthetic bristle is better for water-based paints, while a natural bristle is best for solvent-based paint. You can also get combined synthetic and natural bristles, which will give you a great finish with all types of paint.
Along with paint brushes, you’ll also want a selection of paint rollers at your disposal. Rollers are great for when you need to cover large surface areas quickly and efficiently. Rollers are usually divided into pile lengths. Short pile rollers are good for fine and flat surfaces, medium pile rollers are great for smooth surfaces and long pile rollers are best for very textured surfaces such as outside the home.
Ladders & Scaffolds
Another key tool you’ll need as a painter or decorator is ladders and scaffolds. While you’ll find a lot of jobs can be done from the ground, ladders and scaffolding are key building supplies you will need for larger scale jobs. A small step ladder can work great in any scenario, allowing you to get closer to the ceiling. This will allow you to paint difficult sections like the gap between wall and ceiling with ease, without having to stretch awkwardly and potentially mess up the paint.
A ladder can also help inside if you have to paint awkward sections, such as on a staircase. You can safely secure your ladder then climb up and paint without any danger to yourself. You can even invest in a hook or peg that can attach to your ladder to hold your painting supplies, giving you even more safety as one hand does not have to be constantly holding a pot of paint.
If you’re working outside or at a great height, a scaffold is the ideal option to help you out. A scaffold can be easily set up for whatever width and height you will be working at, providing a level surface for you to work from. This level surface is also perfect to allow you to bring all of your equipment up the scaffold with you, instead of with a ladder where you’ll have to continually go up and down to change supplies.
A scaffold also allows you to be more mobile. From your scaffold, you can move around to paint a large area, while with a ladder you have to constantly move it to another section to work on. You’ll therefore save a lot of time by not having to move your scaffold.
Tape Measure
A tape measure is a key building supply you’ll need in your arsenal as a painter or decorator. A lot of planning must go into decorating, in which distance can play a key part. You may need to measure how far away from each other pieces of furniture are, or the distances between pictures on walls to ensure everything is symmetrical and equal. Guessing measurements and being out by mere centimetres can make a noticeable difference that can ruin the look of a room.
As a painter, you may need a tape measure if you’re planning on painting specific sections of a room in different colours, to help you differentiate between them. It can also help you figure out how much paint you’ll need for a space if you have the exact measurements of the room and can buy accordingly. You wouldn’t want to waste money buying two cans of paint when the room you’re painting is only quite small. Knowing the measurements can easily tell you the amount of paint needed.
Dust Sheets
Dust Sheets are an essential tool in a painter or decorator’s arsenal. They are used to protect things in a room while you are painting, spread over the floor or furniture to prevent paint from dripping or splattering onto them. This is great if you want to repaint a room but don’t want to go through the hassle of removing all of the furniture first.
Simply cover with dust sheets and you won’t have to worry about any mess. The great thing is dust sheets can be reused time and time again, so they are a great investment to have in your supply selection. Trying to cover a floor with newspaper to catch flecks of paint is a long and tedious job, compared to just spreading out your dust sheet and being good to go.
Dust sheets also have a number of other functions outside of decorating that can make them worth their money. They can prevent dust or pet hair from getting on furniture or prevent furniture from fading in the sun. They’re a very versatile item that can be used to protect a variety of things.
Kneeling Mat
A painter can end up spending a lot of time on their knees, as they crouch down to paint spaces nearer the ground. You might find yourself working on some lovely, soft carpet but a lot of the time you could find yourself kneeling on harder materials like stone, wood or gravel. This can be uncomfortable in the moment, but can also lead to long term harm to your knees if you spend a lot of time on these types of surfaces.
The best solution is to use a kneeling mat. A kneeling mat is commonly made of soft foam or another material that will be easy on your knees. Just lay the mat down and you can work anywhere without having to worry about any harm to your knees. Kneeling mats are commonly waterproof and oil resistant, making them an ideal choice for any painter or decorator who might spill paint or other liquids while working.
Bulk Buy Trade Supplies From MTS Trade
For all your building supplies, get in touch today with MTS Trade Supplies. We have an amazing selection of products that will assist you as a painter or decorator, including dust sheets, kneeling mats, scaffolds, ladders, tape measures and much more. All our products are of the highest quality and available at great prices, with low-cost shipping and secure packaging to ensure each of our customers are happy with our services.
So get in touch with us today by calling 01793 297195 to talk through your supply needs with one of our friendly and expert team, or visit our website now to explore the full range of amazing quality tools, equipment and accessories.
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