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In addition to top-quality application equipment, you may need some of the painting tools and painting materials listed below in order to successfully complete your painting project. If you are like many homeowners, you already own some of these items. Depending on the nature of your painting project, you may consider investing in some of the items below.
- Step ladders and extension ladders – to help you reach elevated areas
- Paint scraper – to remove loose or peeling paint from wood, plaster, and other surfaces
- Triangular-load scraper – to remove paint in small or tight areas
- Steel wool – to remove corrosion from metal surfaces
- Bristle brush – to clear loose material from masonry
- Wire brush – to remove efflorescence and loose material from masonry, or to remove loose, flaking paint
- Putty knife – to scrape away loose paint, or to apply filler
- Broad putty knife – to fill in and smooth patching compounds in plaster and wallboard
- Glazing compound – to replace cracked, broken, or missing panes of glass
- Spackling paste – to fill nail holes and small imperfections in walls
- Long-handled brush – to clean large exterior surfaces
- Scrub brush – to remove mildew and dirt
- Sandpaper (various grits) – to smooth and feather previously painted surfaces, or to roughen glossy surfaces so paint will adhere better
- Sanding block – to hold sandpaper and help you sand surfaces to an even finish
- Caulking gun – to apply caulk to cracks in walls, gaps, and seams in woodwork, and the junction of different surfaces (e.g., wood siding and stone)
- Tubes of caulk – same as above (note that all-acrylic and siliconized acrylic caulks are paintable; silicone caulk is not)
- Masking tape – to protect window panes and trim from paint
- Paint guide – to protect carpets and walls when painting baseboards and other trim
- Paint roller tray and grid – to load rollers with paint
- Brush comb – to clean paint brushes
- Paint pail – to mix paint and carry it to the worksite
- Drop cloths – to protect furniture, floors, and shrubbery from paint
