Spray paint with an HVLP sprayer after thorough masking

Use an HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) paint sprayer or airless sprayer to apply paint to walls and ceilings. Before spraying, mask every surface you do not want painted: cover floors with drop cloths, tape plastic sheeting over windows, doors, trim, outlets, switches, light fixtures, and any exposed surfaces. Use painter's tape and masking paper or plastic to create clean boundary lines. Spray in even, overlapping passes maintaining a consistent 10-12 inch distance from the wall.

Why It Works

Spraying produces the smoothest possible finish with no brush strokes or roller texture. It is significantly faster than rolling for large open areas, covering a room in a fraction of the time. HVLP sprayers atomize paint into a fine mist at lower pressure than traditional airless sprayers, resulting in less overspray and better transfer efficiency. Professional painters use sprayers for new construction, ceilings, and large rooms for speed and finish quality.

Tips

• Masking is 80% of the job -- spraying itself is fast, but thorough masking takes 2-3 times longer than the actual spraying; any gap in masking will show as overspray
• Use pre-taped masking film (paper or plastic with tape pre-attached) to speed up masking -- available at paint stores for $5-10 per roll
• Practice your spray technique on cardboard before hitting the walls: maintain consistent distance, speed, and overlap
• Overlap each spray pass by 50% to avoid visible stripes
• Spray ceilings first, then walls, using the same gravity-favoring order as brush/roller painting
• Thin the paint slightly (5-10%) per the sprayer manufacturer's recommendation for proper atomization
• Wear a respirator (not just a dust mask) and safety glasses when spraying
• Ventilate the room -- overspray particles remain airborne for minutes after spraying
• HVLP sprayers cost $75-200 to purchase or $40-75 per day to rent
• Common mistake: inadequate masking -- overspray is invisible until it dries and becomes a permanent speckle on unmasked surfaces