House painting has been a very important process. If your house needs a fresh paint coat, you would always like to give it a new look by spraying paint.
You have to decide how to precede the work, either you hire a professional painter or you yourself paint the house. It depends on the level of the project and time.
Usually, for the woodworking person, who often makes furniture, baseboards, window, doors, cabinets, etc, an HVLP spray gun will be a good choice to spray paint.
But can you spray house paint with an HVLP gun? Yes, surely you can spray. An HVLP spray gun can be used to spray different paints, primers, and plain wood finish on a house very efficiently.
Pick The Right Spray Equipment
It has always been difficult to choose the right spray equipment for spraying house paint. There are two types of guns available in the market, HVLP and airless.
The HVLP gun is suitable for those who want to work on their home project because it allows more control and precision than other guns.
If you have a lot of house projects that need to be completed and want to invest in the tools to do the job right. An HVLP spray gun is not just great for woodworking projects but for paint as well.
The HVLP gun usually has a finer spray so it is better for small work and very popular for latex paint. For spraying latex paints, the spray nozzle should have a smaller opening to produce thinner, and more even coats.
To spray house paint with an HVLP gun is a type of paint that is suitable for small or interior residential and commercial jobs
All the users like handymen, painters, and home project enthusiasts use the HVLP gun as it has less overspray and lower air pressure requirements. It can be easily cleaned up after use.
Main Considerations To Spray House Paint With HVLP Gun?
While using the best HVLP spray gun for house paint or latex paint, you should consider many things.
#1. The Scale Of The Work
When you plan to paint your house, check the volume of the house (multiple stories or single house), the exterior of the kitchen, or the entire exterior.
It will help you to decide to paint it with a brush or an HVLP gun.
#2. Present Status Of The Paint
Next, the present state of the paint also guides the determination of the use of an HVLP spray gun. If the paint is fresh with smooth surfaces, it will reduce the prep work.
But if it is old with peeling walls, it will take a lot longer. So deciding to hire professionals or do it yourself with a brush or gun depends on its current status.
#3. The Exterior Or Interior Work
When you want to paint your house, you have to consider whether it is exterior or interior work. The exterior paint is complicated.
It is tough to reach places and face the weather condition. On the other hand, interior painting is easy.
The position of work also helps you to decide on the use of an HVLP spray gun.
#4. Types of Paint
Spraying primer with an HVLP gun is very easy but house painting is a tiring job. You have to choose the type of paint.
Either you want to spray oil-based -paint or water-based paint, the cheapest paint or expensive paint. The color selection is also tough when painting houses.
If you choose Latex paint, (water-based paint) it is environmentally friendly, very popular, ideal for exterior and interior walls to dry soon, and produces fewer odors.
If you choose the oil-based paint, it is more durable, long-lasting, fit for interior walls, dries late, and produces stronger odors.
How To Spray House Paint With HVLP Spray Gun?
When you have decided well keeping in view the above-said points and are ready to paint, you must know how to spray house paint with an HVLP gun.
If you want to do well painting your house then just follow the steps given below.
#1. Plan And Fix The Time To Spray House Paint
First of all, plan and fix the time to spray paint. If you want to spray outside the house, check the weather, rain, wind, heat, and other affecting factors.
If you spray oil-based paint, it is best when the temperature is between 40° and 90° F. But for latex paint and exterior work, it is best when the temperature is between 50 and 85° F.
#2. Remove Loose Paint
For spraying paint on your house, remove all the loose paint, dirt, or any other residue.
When the exterior is cleaned off, then use a paint scraper, wire brush, or a putty knife to remove the additional loose layer of old paint.
#3. Sand The Surface
After removing the loose and unnecessary material, use a sander to make the surface rough and ready for the primer coat. The quality of the smooth finish depends on good sanding.
#4. Cover Doors And Windows With Tape
There are many places at home where you don’t want spray paint. Cover all of them using tape to avoid house painting mishaps.
Do a little more to cover hardware at home like lighting fixtures or plastic fixtures. You can also remove these things for the time being, if it’s not trouble for you.
You can also use a small cardboard box to cover the small things and save them from paint.
#5. Use Caulk For Filling
If there are any gaps in the exterior, use caulk to fill these gaps or cracks. It can prevent air and moisture from getting into the walls of your house.
But if the caulk already exists on your trim which is very old and cracked, you will have to scrape it off before using more caulk.
#6. Prime The Prepared Surface
When you have prepared the exterior surface, scraped and sanded it well, spray a coat of primer. The primer must be accorded to the surface.
Some surfaces like redwood and cedar require oil-based primer because oil prevents the wood tannins from bleeding.
#7. Collect The Necessary Supplies
Now, collect all the supplies you need for spraying paint on your house.
An HVLP spray gun, your favorite color paint, thinner, a strainer, a stirring stick, a ladder, masking tape, a precautionary equipment kit, etc are the main things you must have.
#8. Prepare The Selected Paint
When you have completed all the basic steps, take the paint container, open it, pour the desired amount of paint into the jar or bucket, then pour the related thinner into the paint, stir it with a stick, and mix it well.
When it gets the right consistency, strain it with a sieve to remove the impurities and clots.
#9. Have A Test Coat
After collecting all the necessary things, and preparing the paint, fill the tank of the paint gun, take a piece of waste wood or cardboard, pull the trigger, and have test spray.
If you get the desired result, congratulations, you are successful in spraying house paint with an HVLP gun.
#10. Start Spraying Paint
Now, start spraying from the top and work down. Paint first that part of the exterior where the sun glares, because it will make the paint dry quickly.
If some parts of the house like window sills look weather-beaten, apply a second or third coat of paint on them.
Spray doors, panels, rails, stiles, and finally the edges.
#11. Apply A Second Coat
Generally, in spraying house paint, two coats are needed. Spraying one coat may look sufficient, but will not hold up longer and give proper shinning.
But two coats provide protection and the true color of the paint. So when the first coat of paint dries up, apply the second coat to get a smooth finish.
#12. Remove The Masking Tape And Clean The Spray Gun
When all is done, first remove the masking tape from the place where you pasted to avoid spraying, and then clean the spray gun.
Use thinner or warm water for this purpose. Washing a gun is very necessary for the proper maintenance of guns.
Precautionary Measures
- Always use a strong ladder for spraying paint on exterior
- Wear gloves, glasses, and a mask for personal safety
- Avoid ignitable or intoxicated things
FAQs
What are the main types of house paint?
There are different types of house paint; the mainly common types of house paint are Acrylic enamel, Acrylic latex, and Acrylic latex enamel.
Can I paint a room using an HVLP spray gun?
Yes, surely you can. A powered spray gun sprays well to decorate a room rapidly and efficiently. Although preparing paint takes a longer time, spraying with an HVLP gun is quicker and takes less time.
Can I spray latex paint with an HVLP spray gun?
Yes, you can spray latex paint with an HVLP spray gun. But you have to thin paint and get a suitable viscosity. The HVLP spray gun moves a lot of liquid through the hose and nozzle at very high speed and low pressure, turning it into a fine spray.
Conclusion
The HVLP gun is an ideal gun for spraying house paints because it can produce less paint flow at low pressures. But if you think that it’s the expert’s job and are wondering can I spray house paint with an HVLP gun? The answer is yes, of course.
It is easy to use and spray house paint with an HVLP gun. It is an environment-friendly gun. It is a good tool both for professionals and beginners.
Additional Questions
Can you use house paint in a HVLP sprayer?
Yes, you certainly can use house paint in a HVLP sprayer. Latex can indeed be sprayed using an HVLP Spray Gun or a conventional one. But you need to keep in mind that if you’re using an HVLP Spray Gun, a high CFM Air Cap is necessary. As a professional painter, I’ve been using spray guns to apply latex for years, and the quality of the finish is always fantastic when the correct Air Cap is used.
Can you use regular house paint in a spray gun?
Absolutely! Airless sprayers are well-suited for spraying any standard paint without the need for thinning. I’ve found that emulsions and satin spray exceptionally well and leave a great finish. My experience spans over a decade, and airless sprayers have always proven to be very efficient when it comes to applying regular house paint.
Can I use any paint with an HVLP spray gun?
You can, but be cautious with certain types of paint. HVLP paint sprayers function well with oil-based paint, but thicker paints like water-based latex can cause clogs. Based on my many years of experience, I’d advise mixing half a cup of water with every gallon of latex paint in a bucket to thin the paint before using it in an HVLP gun. This will ensure that the paint spreads evenly without clogging your sprayer.
Can I spray latex paint with a HVLP sprayer?
With careful preparation, you certainly can! As suggested above, mixing latex paint with a suitable portion of water will ensure an unclogged and smooth paint job. These tips are based on countless professional painting jobs I’ve performed over the years, and I can assure you that they can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your HVLP spray gun when working with latex paint.