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Paint Sprayers

Paint sprayers lay down an even, professional finish in a fraction of the time it takes with a roller or brush. From airless paint sprayers for large walls to electric paint sprayers for fences and decking.

Whether you're a decorator covering entire rooms in emulsion, a property maintenance team blitzing rental turnarounds, or a DIYer tackling a long run of fence panels, a decent paint spray gun transforms the job. Airless models handle thick masonry paints and unthinned emulsions without fuss, while electric paint sprayers suit lighter coats and detail work. Match the sprayer to your paint type and surface area, and you'll wonder why you ever picked up a roller for big jobs. Browse the range below and get your kit sorted.

What Jobs Are Paint Sprayers Best At?

  • Interior Walls and Ceilings Covering large, open rooms with emulsion in a single pass - a paint sprayer for walls cuts hours off a full redecoration compared to rolling every surface by hand
  • Fences, Decking and Sheds Spraying fence stain or decking oil across dozens of panels and slats gets the job done before the weather turns, reaching into every groove and gap a brush would miss
  • New Build and Refurb Decorating First and second coat mist coats on fresh plaster go on fast and even, giving decorators a consistent base without lap marks or heavy roller texture
  • Exterior Masonry and Render Airless paint sprayers push thick masonry paint onto rough render and blockwork without thinning, covering large elevations in a fraction of the time
  • Commercial and Landlord Turnarounds When you need multiple rooms finished to a clean, uniform standard in a tight window, a professional paint sprayer pays for itself on the first job

Who Uses Paint Sprayers?

  • Professional decorators who need consistent, fast coverage across new builds, refurbs, and commercial fit-outs - they rely on airless paint sprayers to keep on programme
  • Property maintenance teams and landlords turning around rental properties quickly, spraying whole flats in a day instead of spending three days with rollers
  • Landscape and fencing contractors who use a paint sprayer for fences, sheds, and decking to blast through preservative and stain work before the next job starts
  • Confident DIYers tackling big home projects - a garden fence run, a garage interior, or a full room repaint - where the best paint sprayer for DIY saves serious time and effort
  • Facilities and site managers handling touch-ups on warehouses, car parks, and commercial exteriors where speed and even coverage matter more than brush-finish detail

Choosing the Right Paint Sprayer

Don't buy the biggest sprayer on the page and hope for the best. Match it to the paint you're using, the surface you're covering, and how often you'll actually use it.

1. Airless vs Electric (HVLP) Sprayers

If you're spraying unthinned emulsion, masonry paint, or anything thick onto walls and exteriors, you need an airless paint sprayer - it atomises paint under high pressure so you get full coverage without thinning. If you're doing lighter work like fence stain, varnish, or thin coats on furniture, an electric HVLP paint spray gun is cheaper, quieter, and easier to clean. Buying an HVLP for heavy emulsion work will just clog and frustrate you.

2. Surface Area and Output

Check the litres-per-minute output. For a single room or a run of fence panels, a smaller electric paint sprayer with a 0.5-0.8 l/min output is plenty. For full houses, commercial jobs, or exterior masonry, you want an airless unit pushing 1 litre-plus per minute. Underpowered sprayers on big jobs just mean constant refilling and uneven coats.

3. Tip Size

The spray tip controls your fan width and paint flow. Smaller tips (around 0.011-0.013 inches) suit stains and thin finishes. Medium tips (0.015-0.017) handle standard emulsions. Larger tips (0.019-0.023) are for thick masonry and textured coatings. Using the wrong tip is the number one reason sprayers spit, drip, or give you an orange-peel finish.

4. How Often You'll Use It

If you're a professional decorator spraying every week, invest in a proper airless with a metal pump and replaceable parts - it'll last years. If you're a DIYer doing one or two big jobs a year, a mid-range electric sprayer is the smart buy. Don't spend professional money on a sprayer that'll sit in the garage for eleven months.

The Basics: Understanding Paint Sprayer Types

Paint sprayers all do the same basic job - turn liquid paint into a fine mist and push it onto a surface - but they do it in very different ways. Knowing the difference stops you buying the wrong kit.

1. Airless Paint Sprayers

These use a high-pressure piston pump to force paint through a tiny tip at extreme pressure (typically 1,500-3,000 PSI). The pressure alone atomises the paint - no air is mixed in. That means you can spray thick, unthinned paints like emulsion, masonry paint, and primers straight from the tin. They're the professional standard for walls, ceilings, and exteriors because they cover huge areas fast with a heavy, even coat.

2. HVLP (High Volume, Low Pressure) Electric Sprayers

These use a turbine or electric motor to blow a high volume of air at low pressure, which carries the paint to the surface. Because the pressure is lower, you get less overspray and more control - ideal for stains, varnishes, and thinner paints. They're lighter, cheaper, and perfect for fences, decking, furniture, and smaller decorating jobs. The trade-off is that thicker paints usually need thinning before they'll spray properly.

3. Overspray and Masking

Every sprayer produces overspray - a fine mist of paint that drifts beyond your target. Airless sprayers produce more because of the higher pressure. This is why proper masking with tape and dust sheets is non-negotiable before you pull the trigger. On exterior jobs, check wind direction and protect windows, paths, and neighbouring surfaces. Good prep is what separates a professional finish from a mess.

Paint Sprayer Accessories That Save You Grief

The sprayer itself is only half the story. These accessories keep you spraying cleanly and stop avoidable downtime mid-job.

1. Spray Tips and Tip Guards

Tips wear out - especially on masonry and textured coatings. A worn tip gives you a patchy, uneven fan and wastes paint. Keep a spare set in the van so you're not driving to the merchant halfway through a ceiling. Reversible tips let you clear clogs on the spot without stripping the gun down.

2. Extension Poles

Spraying ceilings and high exterior walls from a ladder is slow and risky. A tip extension pole lets you reach 3 metres or more from the ground, keeping you off the ladder and covering high areas evenly without craning your neck all day.

3. Filters and Strainers

A blocked filter kills your flow and ruins the finish. Inline filters and paint strainers catch lumps, dried skin, and debris before they hit the pump or tip. Change them regularly - they're cheap, and replacing one takes thirty seconds versus an hour cleaning a clogged pump.

4. Cleaning Kits

Paint left in the hose or pump for even a few hours can set and wreck the internals. A proper cleaning kit with brushes, flushing fluid, and pump armour protects your investment. Clean it the moment you finish - not "later." Later is how sprayers end up in the skip.

Choose the Right Paint Sprayer for the Job

Use this table to match your project to the right type of sprayer and the features that actually matter.

Your Job Sprayer Type Key Features
Interior walls and ceilings (emulsion) Airless paint sprayer High pressure, large tip size (0.015-0.017), sprays unthinned emulsion, fast coverage
Fences, decking and sheds (stain/preservative) Electric HVLP sprayer Low pressure, less overspray, handles thin stains and oils, lightweight and easy to clean
Exterior masonry and render Professional airless sprayer High output (1+ l/min), large tip (0.019-0.023), handles thick masonry paint, long hose reach
Full house redecoration or new build Airless sprayer with cart/stand Large hopper or direct-feed, multiple tip sizes, durable metal pump for daily use
DIY furniture, doors, and detail work Compact electric sprayer Small cup capacity, fine tip, adjustable pattern, easy setup and cleanup for occasional use

Common Buying and Usage Mistakes

  • Buying an HVLP sprayer for thick emulsion. HVLP sprayers are designed for thinner paints. Try pushing undiluted emulsion through one and you'll get spitting, clogging, and an awful finish. If you're spraying walls with standard emulsion or masonry paint, you need an airless model.
  • Skipping the masking. Paint sprayers produce overspray - it's unavoidable. Spending ten minutes taping up skirting, door frames, and windows saves hours of scraping dried mist off surfaces you didn't mean to coat. On exterior jobs, check the wind or you'll be repainting the neighbour's car.
  • Using the wrong tip size. Too small a tip with thick paint clogs instantly. Too large a tip with thin stain gives you runs and drips. Check the manufacturer's tip chart for your paint type before you start - it takes thirty seconds and saves a ruined coat.
  • Not cleaning the sprayer immediately after use. This is the single biggest killer of paint sprayers. Paint dries inside the pump, hose, and gun within hours. Flush the entire system with water (for water-based) or solvent (for oil-based) the moment you finish. Every time. No exceptions.
  • Holding the gun too close or at an angle. Spraying from 20-30cm away in smooth, parallel passes gives an even coat. Too close and you get runs and heavy spots. Tilting the gun creates an uneven fan pattern. It sounds basic, but it's the difference between a professional finish and a mess that needs sanding back.

Airless Paint Sprayers vs Electric HVLP Sprayers vs Compressed Air Spray Guns

Airless Paint Sprayers

The professional decorator's workhorse. Airless sprayers handle thick, unthinned paints at high pressure, covering large areas like walls, ceilings, and exteriors faster than anything else. They produce more overspray and cost more upfront, but for volume work - full rooms, new builds, commercial repaints - nothing else comes close. The pump and tip do wear over time, so factor in replacement parts if you're using one daily.

Electric HVLP Sprayers

Best for lighter, thinner coatings - fence stain, decking oil, varnish, and thinned paint. HVLP sprayers use high-volume, low-pressure air to carry paint, which means less overspray and more control on detail work. They're cheaper, lighter, and easier to clean. The downside is they struggle with thick paints unless you thin them first, and they're slower on big surfaces. Ideal as a paint sprayer for fences, sheds, and smaller DIY projects.

Compressed Air Spray Guns

These need a separate air compressor to operate, which makes them bulkier and less portable. They're traditionally used in workshops, bodyshops, and industrial settings where a compressor is already plumbed in. They give an excellent atomised finish on lacquers and automotive paints, but for general decorating and site work, they're overkill and impractical. Unless you already own a compressor and need a fine workshop finish, stick with airless or HVLP.

Maintenance and Care

Flush Immediately After Every Use

This is the golden rule. The second you finish spraying, flush the entire system - gun, hose, filters, and pump - with clean water for water-based paints or the correct solvent for oil-based. Run it through until the output runs completely clear. Paint left sitting in the system for even a couple of hours starts to set, and once it hardens inside the pump or hose, you're looking at a stripped-down repair or a replacement.

Inspect and Replace Tips Regularly

Spray tips wear with use - the orifice gradually widens, which means your fan pattern gets wider and thinner, wasting paint and leaving an uneven coat. If you notice the spray pattern has changed shape or the finish isn't as crisp, swap the tip. On heavy-use jobs like masonry, tips can wear noticeably within a few days. Keep spares in the kit.

Clean and Check Filters Every Session

Inline filters, gun filters, and suction tube filters all catch debris before it reaches the tip. Pull them out after every job, rinse them clean, and check for damage. A partially blocked filter reduces pressure and flow, giving you a patchy finish and making the pump work harder than it needs to. Replace them when they start to look clogged or discoloured even after cleaning.

Use Pump Armour for Storage

If you're not using the sprayer for more than a day or two, run pump armour or storage fluid through the system after flushing. This lubricates the internal seals and prevents corrosion. Leaving a flushed pump sitting dry for weeks can cause seals to dry out and crack, which leads to pressure loss and leaks on your next job.

Store Properly Between Jobs

Keep your sprayer in a dry, frost-free environment. Water left in the system that freezes will crack the pump housing and split hoses. Coil the hose loosely - don't kink it - and store the gun with the tip removed and capped. A few minutes of proper storage after cleaning adds years to the life of the unit.

Why Shop for Paint Sprayers at ITS?

Whether you need a compact electric paint sprayer for a weekend fence job or a professional airless unit for full-time decorating, we stock the lot. From entry-level HVLP sprayers to heavy-duty airless systems, plus the tips, filters, and accessories to keep them running - it's all held in our own warehouse, in stock, and ready for next-day delivery. Order by 5pm and have your kit on site tomorrow.

Paint Sprayer FAQs

What is the difference between airless and electric paint sprayers?

Airless paint sprayers use a high-pressure piston pump to atomise paint without any air, so they can handle thick, unthinned emulsions, masonry paints, and primers straight from the tin. They are faster and better suited to large surfaces like walls and exteriors. Electric HVLP sprayers use a turbine to blow air at low pressure, carrying thinner paints like stains, varnishes, and thinned emulsions to the surface. They produce less overspray and are lighter, making them ideal for fences, decking, and detail work. In short, airless is for big, heavy-coverage jobs; HVLP is for lighter, more controlled work.

Which paint sprayer is best for painting fences and decking?

For fences and decking, an electric HVLP sprayer is usually the best choice. Fence stains, preservatives, and decking oils are thin enough to spray easily at low pressure, and the lower overspray means you waste less product outdoors. HVLP sprayers also get into the grooves and gaps between slats and boards that a brush struggles with. If you have a very long run of fencing or are using a thicker exterior paint, a small airless sprayer will be faster, but for most fence and decking jobs, HVLP is the practical pick.

Can I use a paint sprayer for interior walls and ceilings?

Absolutely - that is one of the main jobs they are built for. An airless paint sprayer is the go-to for interior walls and ceilings because it handles standard emulsion without thinning and covers large areas fast. You will need to mask up properly though - tape off skirting, door frames, light switches, and cover floors with dust sheets. The overspray is real, but with decent prep, a sprayer gives you a smoother, more even finish than rolling, especially on ceilings where roller marks tend to show.

What types of paint can be used with an airless paint sprayer?

Airless sprayers handle a wide range - standard emulsion, masonry paint, primers, undercoats, exterior coatings, and even some thicker textured finishes. Most can be sprayed unthinned, which is the whole point of airless. The key is matching the spray tip size to the paint viscosity. Thinner paints like stains need a smaller tip; thick masonry coatings need a larger one. Always check the paint manufacturer's recommendations and the sprayer's tip chart before you start.

Are electric paint sprayers suitable for DIY projects?

Yes, and they are arguably the best entry point for DIY. Electric HVLP sprayers are affordable, lightweight, and straightforward to set up and clean. They are perfect for garden fences, shed painting, furniture refinishing, and smaller room repaints. If you are tackling a bigger DIY project like a full room or exterior wall, a mid-range airless sprayer is worth the step up. Either way, you do not need professional-grade kit for occasional home projects - just pick the right type for your paint and surface.

How do I choose the right paint sprayer for my project?

Start with three questions: what paint are you using, how big is the area, and how often will you use it? Thick paints on large surfaces need an airless sprayer. Thin stains on fences and small jobs suit an HVLP electric sprayer. If you are a professional decorator working daily, invest in a durable airless with a metal pump and replaceable parts. If you are a DIYer doing a couple of projects a year, a mid-range electric model is the sensible buy. Check the tip size range too - make sure the sprayer accepts tips suited to your paint type.

Do paint sprayers save time compared to rollers and brushes?

On anything bigger than a single feature wall, yes - significantly. A decent airless sprayer can cover a room in minutes that would take an hour or more with a roller. The time saving is even more dramatic on textured surfaces, exteriors, and ceilings. The catch is that masking and prep take longer with a sprayer, so the real time saving kicks in on larger areas where the spraying speed outweighs the setup time. For a single door or small patch, a brush is still quicker by the time you factor in cleaning the sprayer.

What brands of paint sprayers do you stock?

We stock paint sprayers from leading professional and trade brands. The range covers everything from compact electric sprayers for DIY and light trade use through to heavy-duty airless systems built for full-time decorators. Browse the full range on this page to see what is currently in

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Paint Sprayers

Paint sprayers lay down an even, professional finish in a fraction of the time it takes with a roller or brush. From airless paint sprayers for large walls to electric paint sprayers for fences and decking.

Whether you're a decorator covering entire rooms in emulsion, a property maintenance team blitzing rental turnarounds, or a DIYer tackling a long run of fence panels, a decent paint spray gun transforms the job. Airless models handle thick masonry paints and unthinned emulsions without fuss, while electric paint sprayers suit lighter coats and detail work. Match the sprayer to your paint type and surface area, and you'll wonder why you ever picked up a roller for big jobs. Browse the range below and get your kit sorted.

What Jobs Are Paint Sprayers Best At?

  • Interior Walls and Ceilings Covering large, open rooms with emulsion in a single pass - a paint sprayer for walls cuts hours off a full redecoration compared to rolling every surface by hand
  • Fences, Decking and Sheds Spraying fence stain or decking oil across dozens of panels and slats gets the job done before the weather turns, reaching into every groove and gap a brush would miss
  • New Build and Refurb Decorating First and second coat mist coats on fresh plaster go on fast and even, giving decorators a consistent base without lap marks or heavy roller texture
  • Exterior Masonry and Render Airless paint sprayers push thick masonry paint onto rough render and blockwork without thinning, covering large elevations in a fraction of the time
  • Commercial and Landlord Turnarounds When you need multiple rooms finished to a clean, uniform standard in a tight window, a professional paint sprayer pays for itself on the first job

Who Uses Paint Sprayers?

  • Professional decorators who need consistent, fast coverage across new builds, refurbs, and commercial fit-outs - they rely on airless paint sprayers to keep on programme
  • Property maintenance teams and landlords turning around rental properties quickly, spraying whole flats in a day instead of spending three days with rollers
  • Landscape and fencing contractors who use a paint sprayer for fences, sheds, and decking to blast through preservative and stain work before the next job starts
  • Confident DIYers tackling big home projects - a garden fence run, a garage interior, or a full room repaint - where the best paint sprayer for DIY saves serious time and effort
  • Facilities and site managers handling touch-ups on warehouses, car parks, and commercial exteriors where speed and even coverage matter more than brush-finish detail

Choosing the Right Paint Sprayer

Don't buy the biggest sprayer on the page and hope for the best. Match it to the paint you're using, the surface you're covering, and how often you'll actually use it.

1. Airless vs Electric (HVLP) Sprayers

If you're spraying unthinned emulsion, masonry paint, or anything thick onto walls and exteriors, you need an airless paint sprayer - it atomises paint under high pressure so you get full coverage without thinning. If you're doing lighter work like fence stain, varnish, or thin coats on furniture, an electric HVLP paint spray gun is cheaper, quieter, and easier to clean. Buying an HVLP for heavy emulsion work will just clog and frustrate you.

2. Surface Area and Output

Check the litres-per-minute output. For a single room or a run of fence panels, a smaller electric paint sprayer with a 0.5-0.8 l/min output is plenty. For full houses, commercial jobs, or exterior masonry, you want an airless unit pushing 1 litre-plus per minute. Underpowered sprayers on big jobs just mean constant refilling and uneven coats.

3. Tip Size

The spray tip controls your fan width and paint flow. Smaller tips (around 0.011-0.013 inches) suit stains and thin finishes. Medium tips (0.015-0.017) handle standard emulsions. Larger tips (0.019-0.023) are for thick masonry and textured coatings. Using the wrong tip is the number one reason sprayers spit, drip, or give you an orange-peel finish.

4. How Often You'll Use It

If you're a professional decorator spraying every week, invest in a proper airless with a metal pump and replaceable parts - it'll last years. If you're a DIYer doing one or two big jobs a year, a mid-range electric sprayer is the smart buy. Don't spend professional money on a sprayer that'll sit in the garage for eleven months.

The Basics: Understanding Paint Sprayer Types

Paint sprayers all do the same basic job - turn liquid paint into a fine mist and push it onto a surface - but they do it in very different ways. Knowing the difference stops you buying the wrong kit.

1. Airless Paint Sprayers

These use a high-pressure piston pump to force paint through a tiny tip at extreme pressure (typically 1,500-3,000 PSI). The pressure alone atomises the paint - no air is mixed in. That means you can spray thick, unthinned paints like emulsion, masonry paint, and primers straight from the tin. They're the professional standard for walls, ceilings, and exteriors because they cover huge areas fast with a heavy, even coat.

2. HVLP (High Volume, Low Pressure) Electric Sprayers

These use a turbine or electric motor to blow a high volume of air at low pressure, which carries the paint to the surface. Because the pressure is lower, you get less overspray and more control - ideal for stains, varnishes, and thinner paints. They're lighter, cheaper, and perfect for fences, decking, furniture, and smaller decorating jobs. The trade-off is that thicker paints usually need thinning before they'll spray properly.

3. Overspray and Masking

Every sprayer produces overspray - a fine mist of paint that drifts beyond your target. Airless sprayers produce more because of the higher pressure. This is why proper masking with tape and dust sheets is non-negotiable before you pull the trigger. On exterior jobs, check wind direction and protect windows, paths, and neighbouring surfaces. Good prep is what separates a professional finish from a mess.

Paint Sprayer Accessories That Save You Grief

The sprayer itself is only half the story. These accessories keep you spraying cleanly and stop avoidable downtime mid-job.

1. Spray Tips and Tip Guards

Tips wear out - especially on masonry and textured coatings. A worn tip gives you a patchy, uneven fan and wastes paint. Keep a spare set in the van so you're not driving to the merchant halfway through a ceiling. Reversible tips let you clear clogs on the spot without stripping the gun down.

2. Extension Poles

Spraying ceilings and high exterior walls from a ladder is slow and risky. A tip extension pole lets you reach 3 metres or more from the ground, keeping you off the ladder and covering high areas evenly without craning your neck all day.

3. Filters and Strainers

A blocked filter kills your flow and ruins the finish. Inline filters and paint strainers catch lumps, dried skin, and debris before they hit the pump or tip. Change them regularly - they're cheap, and replacing one takes thirty seconds versus an hour cleaning a clogged pump.

4. Cleaning Kits

Paint left in the hose or pump for even a few hours can set and wreck the internals. A proper cleaning kit with brushes, flushing fluid, and pump armour protects your investment. Clean it the moment you finish - not "later." Later is how sprayers end up in the skip.

Choose the Right Paint Sprayer for the Job

Use this table to match your project to the right type of sprayer and the features that actually matter.

Your Job Sprayer Type Key Features
Interior walls and ceilings (emulsion) Airless paint sprayer High pressure, large tip size (0.015-0.017), sprays unthinned emulsion, fast coverage
Fences, decking and sheds (stain/preservative) Electric HVLP sprayer Low pressure, less overspray, handles thin stains and oils, lightweight and easy to clean
Exterior masonry and render Professional airless sprayer High output (1+ l/min), large tip (0.019-0.023), handles thick masonry paint, long hose reach
Full house redecoration or new build Airless sprayer with cart/stand Large hopper or direct-feed, multiple tip sizes, durable metal pump for daily use
DIY furniture, doors, and detail work Compact electric sprayer Small cup capacity, fine tip, adjustable pattern, easy setup and cleanup for occasional use

Common Buying and Usage Mistakes

  • Buying an HVLP sprayer for thick emulsion. HVLP sprayers are designed for thinner paints. Try pushing undiluted emulsion through one and you'll get spitting, clogging, and an awful finish. If you're spraying walls with standard emulsion or masonry paint, you need an airless model.
  • Skipping the masking. Paint sprayers produce overspray - it's unavoidable. Spending ten minutes taping up skirting, door frames, and windows saves hours of scraping dried mist off surfaces you didn't mean to coat. On exterior jobs, check the wind or you'll be repainting the neighbour's car.
  • Using the wrong tip size. Too small a tip with thick paint clogs instantly. Too large a tip with thin stain gives you runs and drips. Check the manufacturer's tip chart for your paint type before you start - it takes thirty seconds and saves a ruined coat.
  • Not cleaning the sprayer immediately after use. This is the single biggest killer of paint sprayers. Paint dries inside the pump, hose, and gun within hours. Flush the entire system with water (for water-based) or solvent (for oil-based) the moment you finish. Every time. No exceptions.
  • Holding the gun too close or at an angle. Spraying from 20-30cm away in smooth, parallel passes gives an even coat. Too close and you get runs and heavy spots. Tilting the gun creates an uneven fan pattern. It sounds basic, but it's the difference between a professional finish and a mess that needs sanding back.

Airless Paint Sprayers vs Electric HVLP Sprayers vs Compressed Air Spray Guns

Airless Paint Sprayers

The professional decorator's workhorse. Airless sprayers handle thick, unthinned paints at high pressure, covering large areas like walls, ceilings, and exteriors faster than anything else. They produce more overspray and cost more upfront, but for volume work - full rooms, new builds, commercial repaints - nothing else comes close. The pump and tip do wear over time, so factor in replacement parts if you're using one daily.

Electric HVLP Sprayers

Best for lighter, thinner coatings - fence stain, decking oil, varnish, and thinned paint. HVLP sprayers use high-volume, low-pressure air to carry paint, which means less overspray and more control on detail work. They're cheaper, lighter, and easier to clean. The downside is they struggle with thick paints unless you thin them first, and they're slower on big surfaces. Ideal as a paint sprayer for fences, sheds, and smaller DIY projects.

Compressed Air Spray Guns

These need a separate air compressor to operate, which makes them bulkier and less portable. They're traditionally used in workshops, bodyshops, and industrial settings where a compressor is already plumbed in. They give an excellent atomised finish on lacquers and automotive paints, but for general decorating and site work, they're overkill and impractical. Unless you already own a compressor and need a fine workshop finish, stick with airless or HVLP.

Maintenance and Care

Flush Immediately After Every Use

This is the golden rule. The second you finish spraying, flush the entire system - gun, hose, filters, and pump - with clean water for water-based paints or the correct solvent for oil-based. Run it through until the output runs completely clear. Paint left sitting in the system for even a couple of hours starts to set, and once it hardens inside the pump or hose, you're looking at a stripped-down repair or a replacement.

Inspect and Replace Tips Regularly

Spray tips wear with use - the orifice gradually widens, which means your fan pattern gets wider and thinner, wasting paint and leaving an uneven coat. If you notice the spray pattern has changed shape or the finish isn't as crisp, swap the tip. On heavy-use jobs like masonry, tips can wear noticeably within a few days. Keep spares in the kit.

Clean and Check Filters Every Session

Inline filters, gun filters, and suction tube filters all catch debris before it reaches the tip. Pull them out after every job, rinse them clean, and check for damage. A partially blocked filter reduces pressure and flow, giving you a patchy finish and making the pump work harder than it needs to. Replace them when they start to look clogged or discoloured even after cleaning.

Use Pump Armour for Storage

If you're not using the sprayer for more than a day or two, run pump armour or storage fluid through the system after flushing. This lubricates the internal seals and prevents corrosion. Leaving a flushed pump sitting dry for weeks can cause seals to dry out and crack, which leads to pressure loss and leaks on your next job.

Store Properly Between Jobs

Keep your sprayer in a dry, frost-free environment. Water left in the system that freezes will crack the pump housing and split hoses. Coil the hose loosely - don't kink it - and store the gun with the tip removed and capped. A few minutes of proper storage after cleaning adds years to the life of the unit.

Why Shop for Paint Sprayers at ITS?

Whether you need a compact electric paint sprayer for a weekend fence job or a professional airless unit for full-time decorating, we stock the lot. From entry-level HVLP sprayers to heavy-duty airless systems, plus the tips, filters, and accessories to keep them running - it's all held in our own warehouse, in stock, and ready for next-day delivery. Order by 5pm and have your kit on site tomorrow.

Paint Sprayer FAQs

What is the difference between airless and electric paint sprayers?

Airless paint sprayers use a high-pressure piston pump to atomise paint without any air, so they can handle thick, unthinned emulsions, masonry paints, and primers straight from the tin. They are faster and better suited to large surfaces like walls and exteriors. Electric HVLP sprayers use a turbine to blow air at low pressure, carrying thinner paints like stains, varnishes, and thinned emulsions to the surface. They produce less overspray and are lighter, making them ideal for fences, decking, and detail work. In short, airless is for big, heavy-coverage jobs; HVLP is for lighter, more controlled work.

Which paint sprayer is best for painting fences and decking?

For fences and decking, an electric HVLP sprayer is usually the best choice. Fence stains, preservatives, and decking oils are thin enough to spray easily at low pressure, and the lower overspray means you waste less product outdoors. HVLP sprayers also get into the grooves and gaps between slats and boards that a brush struggles with. If you have a very long run of fencing or are using a thicker exterior paint, a small airless sprayer will be faster, but for most fence and decking jobs, HVLP is the practical pick.

Can I use a paint sprayer for interior walls and ceilings?

Absolutely - that is one of the main jobs they are built for. An airless paint sprayer is the go-to for interior walls and ceilings because it handles standard emulsion without thinning and covers large areas fast. You will need to mask up properly though - tape off skirting, door frames, light switches, and cover floors with dust sheets. The overspray is real, but with decent prep, a sprayer gives you a smoother, more even finish than rolling, especially on ceilings where roller marks tend to show.

What types of paint can be used with an airless paint sprayer?

Airless sprayers handle a wide range - standard emulsion, masonry paint, primers, undercoats, exterior coatings, and even some thicker textured finishes. Most can be sprayed unthinned, which is the whole point of airless. The key is matching the spray tip size to the paint viscosity. Thinner paints like stains need a smaller tip; thick masonry coatings need a larger one. Always check the paint manufacturer's recommendations and the sprayer's tip chart before you start.

Are electric paint sprayers suitable for DIY projects?

Yes, and they are arguably the best entry point for DIY. Electric HVLP sprayers are affordable, lightweight, and straightforward to set up and clean. They are perfect for garden fences, shed painting, furniture refinishing, and smaller room repaints. If you are tackling a bigger DIY project like a full room or exterior wall, a mid-range airless sprayer is worth the step up. Either way, you do not need professional-grade kit for occasional home projects - just pick the right type for your paint and surface.

How do I choose the right paint sprayer for my project?

Start with three questions: what paint are you using, how big is the area, and how often will you use it? Thick paints on large surfaces need an airless sprayer. Thin stains on fences and small jobs suit an HVLP electric sprayer. If you are a professional decorator working daily, invest in a durable airless with a metal pump and replaceable parts. If you are a DIYer doing a couple of projects a year, a mid-range electric model is the sensible buy. Check the tip size range too - make sure the sprayer accepts tips suited to your paint type.

Do paint sprayers save time compared to rollers and brushes?

On anything bigger than a single feature wall, yes - significantly. A decent airless sprayer can cover a room in minutes that would take an hour or more with a roller. The time saving is even more dramatic on textured surfaces, exteriors, and ceilings. The catch is that masking and prep take longer with a sprayer, so the real time saving kicks in on larger areas where the spraying speed outweighs the setup time. For a single door or small patch, a brush is still quicker by the time you factor in cleaning the sprayer.

What brands of paint sprayers do you stock?

We stock paint sprayers from leading professional and trade brands. The range covers everything from compact electric sprayers for DIY and light trade use through to heavy-duty airless systems built for full-time decorators. Browse the full range on this page to see what is currently in

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