10 Essential Tools for Interior and Exterior Painting

I’ve put together a list of our most essential painting tools, for interior and exterior painting, that we use on just about every job. If you’re looking to start a DIY project, or just curious what we use, this is a great starting point. There are some differences between interior and exterior painting tools and some tools work better in different circumstances, but this list is meant as more of a general purpose list. If you have any questions, or need some assistance, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Ultra/Pro Firm Wooster Angled Sash Brush This is our favorite type of brush for interior and exterior painting work. We use 3” angled on exterior work and 2 ½” angled for interior work. Classic firm formulation of purple nylon and sable polyester. Great for all acrylic paints and latex enamels.
5 in 1 Tool (Typically Hyde Brand) Every painters tool. This should be on you at all times when painting. The 5 in 1 tool can scrape loose paint, act as a screwdriver, open paint buckets, clean out rollers, cut open new 5 gallon paint buckets.
3M Hand Masker (Paper & or Plastic) A 3 M hand masker makes covering & prepping your painting project a breeze. We use Plastic and paper hand maskers. The plastic blade can be used for both paper and plastic material. The tools also come with ladder hooks so they can be hooked on a ladder when not using or even your pants pocket. Awesome tool to have!
Dripless Caulking Gun We do purchase the more expensive dripless caulking guns but the basic metal caulking gun works just fine. Make sure it has a cutter to cut the new tubes of caulking before use. Always start with a small hole and cut a bigger hole if and when more caulking is needed. The dripless gun is a must tool!
Carbide Paint Scraper A carbide paint scraper is used for larger areas where the paint is peeling. We typically use these on fascia boards, siding, decks, and other exterior surfaces. We also carry a small sanding sponge with us to smooth out the area after it has been scraped. Great tool!!
Drop Cloth A drop cloth is a must for all painting projects. There are a lot of different types out there though so which one is best? We use the lighter canvas ones for exterior because we are mainly protecting against over spray. On the interior of homes we use cover grip for stairs and hardwood flooring surfaces. These drop cloths prevent slippage. On other carpet surfaces we use Butyl canvas drop cloths with plastic backing. These prevent paint from absorbing through the drop cloth.
Roller Handle There are 3 sizes we use for roller handles and recommend wooster brand for all. There is a 4” handle for small areas, 9” used for bedrooms and smaller rooms, and a 18” roller used for ceilings or large surfaces. Wooster makes durable roller handles that will last for years if well taken care of.
Extension Pole Extension poles hook directly to your roller handle to allow more surfaces to be reached. They will save your back and knees. No painter or DIY painter should paint without an extension pole. They are reasonably priced and come in all different sizes. We use the 2’ and 4’ extension poles the most. They are each able to extend double their length.
Radio No better motivation while painting then your favorite tunes! We leave classic rock on most of the time but some of our guys listen to audible’s or podcasts while working. It’s a great way to motivate and learn about new things while painting.
Gloves Gloves are a great addition to your painting tools and sometimes forgotten by painters or DIY. Not only do they protect your hands but they give you an added grip while prepping and painting. While spraying we do use heavier duty gloves to protect our hands. The pressure from a sprayer can easily open up the skin. Be comfortable and safe while painting!