House painting in the Bay Area is a serious job indeed, so you will want to have a complete arsenal of paints and tools. Make sure that all of them are of good quality to get the job done and get it done right.

What you see in the following are the essential tools, as well as optional materials, to be used for interior and exterior painting jobs:

Protective gear and other materials for both interior/exterior house painting (you may or may not use all of them, depending on the situation)
1. Goggles
2. Face mask
3. Respirator (particularly if you’re about to remove mold and mildew)
4. Apron
5. A pair of rubber gloves
6. Step ladders

Make sure that you wear appropriate and comfortable clothing and footwear.

For interior house painting:

For preparing the surface:
1. Painter’s tape – for taping surfaces that you don’t want to paint. It can also be used when you want to paint horizontal, vertical, or diagonal decorative stripes on the wall.
2. Drop cloths – plastic drop cloths are fine for temporary protection, but canvas drop cloths are still the most recommended material for drop cloths.
3. Caulking compound, spackling paste, wood filler, or putty – for filling in gaps.
4. Putty knife or a paint scraper – for scraping away old peeling and flaking paint and for applying putty.
5. Wire brush – for cleaning dirt that cannot be removed by a simple cleaning alone.
6. Sandpaper – for smoothening the surface after applying caulk or after scraping away peeling paint.
7. Screwdriver – for removing fixtures such as doorknobs, switch plates, electrical covers, hooks, etc.
8. Cloth, damp and dry – for wiping away the dirt from the surfaces.
9. Cleaning solution – it depends on the level of dirt that the surface has accumulated. For instance, a bleach solution is applied on surfaces with mold and mildew.
10. Primer – priming is not necessary, especially if you are about to paint brand-new drywall. But you may need this when you have to paint an existing surface, especially one that has taken a lot of beating (surface flaws and stains). A primer is also needed when you decide to paint a light-colored topcoat over existing darker paint, as the primer creates a “barrier” between the darker paint and the new lighter paint.

For painting

1. Paintbrushes
You may not use only one type of paintbrush because there are lots of them, with each being made for specific applications. Check them out and see which are the ones that will suit your painting needs:

Type of paintbrush bristles:

• Synthetic bristles – made of any of these materials: nylon, polyester, PVC, polypropylene, or a combination of any of them. This is ideal for latex paints and other paint products.
• Natural bristles – made of natural materials such as animal hair, feathers, and even vegetable fibers. They should be used only for oil-based paints and other paint products
• Size:
• 1- to 2-inch brush – for painting smaller and narrower spaces, narrower trim areas, touchups or details
• 2 1/2- to 3-inch brush – for painting corners, trim, and edges
• 4- to 5-inch brush – for painting wide, large, and non-textured surfaces.

2. Paint rollers
Paint rollers are ideal for covering large and wide surfaces. Unlike brushes, paint rollers make the job faster. The size of the roller covers depends on the size or type of surfaces to be painted.

• 4- to 7-inch nap – for painting smaller areas
• 9-inch nap – which is the standard size
• 14- to 18-inch nap – for painting larger and wider areas

3. Paints – make sure that you buy the best quality paint that you can afford. They may cost more, but they are durable and are sure to last for a long time.
4. Primer
5. Paint trays
6. A five-gallon bucket fitted with a paint grid – for faster and more even paint-rolling as well as less spilling accidents.
7. Drop cloths – it is always better to use canvas over plastic drop cloths.
8. Wire brush
9. Tack cloth
For cleaning up:
1. Regular soap and water for cleaning and washing tools used with latex paints.
2. Mineral spirits, thinners or solvents for cleaning up tools used with oil-based paints.
3. Trays for filling thinners, solvents, etc., to soak up tools used with oil-based paints.
4. Painter’s comb for cleaning and brushing the bristles.
5. A 5-in-1 tool for scraping away excess paint from the roller cover.
6. Usual cleaning tools (vacuum, or a broom and a dustpan, garbage bags, etc.) for cleaning up the space after painting.

For exterior house painting

For preparing the surface:

1. A bucket of water, a clean rag or a piece of cloth, sponge and regular brush for manual cleaning.
2. A power washer for quicker cleaning – if you don’t own a power washer, you can also rent one.
3. A cleaning solution such as TSP or water/bleach – for cleaning more stubborn dirt as well as molds and mildew
4. Putty knife or a paint scraper
5. Wire brush – this is used for getting rid of chalky substances (efflorescence) on stucco, brick, and masonry.
6. Caulking compound, wood filler, spackling paste or putty
7. Damp, clean, and limp-free cloth
8. Canvas drop cloths
9. Screwdriver
10. Hammers and nails
11. Clean rags or cloths

For painting:
There are three methods: brushing, rolling and spraying. You can use one or any of those methods. Of course, the more methods you choose, the more tools you have to use.

1. Paintbrushes
2. Paint rollers
3. Spray gun – Spraying covers bigger surfaces faster brushing or rolling, and its ideal for both regular walls and stucco
4. Paints – make sure that you have measured your house to determine how many gallons of paints you will use. Also, purchase only good quality paints.
5. Primers
6. Drop cloths – for covering bushes, flower beds, etc.
7. Painter’s specialty paint pads
8. Paint trays or a five-bucket gallon fitted with a paint grid for faster rolling
9. Extension ladders or scaffolding (if you have one)
10. Mineral spirits, thinners or solvents (for cleaning oil paints)
11. Paint pad applicators
12. Painter’s tape

It’s not just the quality of materials that matters when house painting in the Bay Area. You’ll also need proper preparation, painting techniques, and follow safety procedures so that your job will come out as smooth as you want it to be.