There is a need for the proper tools when doing house painting in San Ramon. This includes quality paints to achieve the professional-looking finish in both exterior and interior surfaces.

Here are the following essential, as well as optional, tools for interior and exterior painting that you need to know about:

Interior house painting

For preparing the surface

1. Screwdriver – for removing fixtures, electrical covers and switch covers, etc.
2. Painter’s tape – for covering surfaces that you don’t want to get stained with paint (like trim, baseboards, frames, etc.)
3. Caulking compound or putty – to fill cracks and holes, etc
4. Putty knife or a paint scraper – for removing peeling, chipping or cracked paint as well as for apply caulk or spackling paste on surface flaws
5. Wire brush – for scrubbing more stubborn stains
6. Sandpaper – for smoothing imperfections after scraping off paint or caulk that has been applied and dried.
7. Damp cloth – for wiping clean surfaces after sanding

For painting

1. Paintbrushes
   The type of brushes you need will depend on the type of paints as well as the size of the surfaces to be painted.Type of bristles:
   • Synthetic bristles such as nylon or polyester – are ideal for latex (water-based) paints primers, and other coatings,
   • Natural bristles – are for oil-based paints.

   Size of the brush:

   • 1- to 2-inch brush – for smaller spaces, narrower trim areas, detailed painting work or touchups
   • 2 1/2- to 3-inch brush – for painting corners, trim and edges
   • 4- to 5-inch brush – for painting large, wide and even surfaces like non-textured walls
2. Paint rollers
   They’re only limited to painting large and wide surfaces like walls and ceilings, but they otherwise make painting faster. The size of the roller covers depend on the size of the surfaces to be painted.
    
   4- to 7-inch nap – for smaller areas
   9-inch nap – the standard size of the roller cover
   14- to 18-inch nap – for painting larger areas
3. Paints
4. Primers
5. Trays or roller screen fitted into a 5-gallon bucket
6. Mineral spirits or solvents for cleaning up oil-based paints
7. Drop cloths, preferably canvas
8. Wire brush
9. Tack cloth
10. Sandpaper
11. Extension ladder (if needed)
12. Painter’s tape

Exterior house painting

For preparing the surface

1. Depending on the level of dirt the surface has, clean them using just a bucket of water and a regular brush, or a hose, or a power washer (for cleaning more stubborn dirt)
2. TSP or bleach – for cleaning and getting rid of molds and mildew.
3. Putty knife or a paint scraper – for removing peeling, chipping or cracked paint as well as for apply caulk or spackling paste on surface flaws
4. Wire brush – especially used for removing chalky substances on stucco and masonry
5. Caulking compound or putty – to fill cracks and holes
6. Damp, clean, limp-free cloth
7. Drop cloths for covering bushes, flower beds, etc.
8. Dust mask
9. Goggles
10. Screwdriver
11. Hammers and nails
12. Clean cloths for wiping away dirt

For painting

Painters can use any of these three painting methods together: paintbrushes, paint rollers and spray paint.

1. Paintbrushes (see the details about them in the interior house painting) –
   Paintbrushes may take considerably longer to do, but this is excellent for painting trim and more intricate details.
2. Paint rollers (see the details about them in the interior house painting) – ideal for painting large, wide, and flat walls as well as stucco.
3. Spray gun – another option for painting surfaces. This covers larger surfaces faster than paintbrushes and paint rollers, so this is ideal for painting most large exterior walls.
4. Paints
5. Primers
6. Drop cloths
7. Painter’s specialty paint pads
8. Roller trays
9. Extension ladders or scaffolding
10. Mineral spirits or solvents (for cleaning oil paints)
11. Paint pad applicators
12. Screwdrivers
13. Painters tape

There is no secret to professional-looking house painting in San Ramon. Apart from quality paints and tools, a good cleaning and preparation on the surface as well as proper painting techniques should also be done as they are also key to a great-looking finish.