Roller or Paint Sprayer Which Is Best?

There are questions of comparison which are as timeless as they are monumental, rivalries which stand the test of time. In Hollywood, we had Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford. In philosophy, Locke vs. Hobbes forever stands as shorthand to the differing views we take in political philosophy on the balance between liberty and security. In the NFL, Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning helped raise a whole generation of football fans.

But they all pale when compared to the real quandary of a comparison:

Rollers vs. Paint Sprayers.

Which should you use for your next paint job? Well, that’s bound to depend quite a bit on the nature of that paint job, your level of expertise, and several other factors.

So, let’s put this age-old question to bed and figure out the right scenarios in which to use rollers as opposed to those instances where paint sprayers are the superior choice.

When to Go with a Roller

There are many reasons you might want to go with a roller, the most obvious of which being the relative ease with which they can cover large surfaces. All you have to do is dip your roller into a tub of paint and roll it up and down on a surface with smooth, clean strokes. That’s about as simple as painting is going to get.

What’s more, sometimes using a roller means not having to use masking tape. The risk of splatter is a lot bigger with paint sprayers given their high-powered spray.

If you are painting interior walls, therefore, paint rollers are probably enough to get the job done unless the space in question is especially massive or has special painting requirements.

If you are trying to save money, paint rollers can be a great way to go. They paint large areas quickly, efficiently and, just as importantly, without much waste of paint. By contrast, paint sprayers can waste a considerable amount of paint due to splatter.

Finally, if you are painting a surface that’s relatively flat and full of square and rectangular surfaces, rollers are naturally suited to getting the job done.

When to Go with a Paint Sprayer

The big advantage of using a paint sprayer is being able to apply massive amounts of paint as quickly as possible. If you are painting a huge exterior surface, this can be quite advantageous. What’s more, if you are painting a surface which has lots of nooks and crannies, a paint sprayer can ensure that they all get painted in one burst, rather than having to stop and reorient your roller every few strokes to paint at a new angle. Paint sprayers also ensure a nice uniform burst of paint, and can sometimes be more portable than rollers depending on the size of the sprayer.

Whether a roller or paint sprayer is better, thus, depends greatly on the type of job you’re looking to perform and what your biggest priorities are. Consider the different points raised on this list in favor of each option, and make an informed choice for your next painting project.