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Home Improvement & Renovating
Must-Have Paint Supplies Every DIY Enthusiast Needs

Must-Have Paint Supplies Every DIY Enthusiast Needs
Painting is hands-down the most popular (and fastest!) way to refresh a room and get a completely new look. Why is painting such a popular home improvement choice?
It’s the most economical way to make a big impact in very little time. We’ve gathered some of the top tools and supplies you need to prep your walls and trim and protect your floors and furniture.
Our team at Tri State Building Center is ready to help you find the right paint supplies for your next painting project. Stop by Tri State Building Center today!
Tools and Supplies to Protect Floors and Prepare Surfaces
Before you get started, protect your floors, baseboards, trim and furniture from paint splatter and spills.
- Masking or painter’s tape for covering baseboards and trim
- Sheeting or drop cloth to protect your floors and furniture
- Primer to prevent stains and wood knots from showing through paint

Experienced painters know that the direct path to a great-looking paint job is proper preparation. This means making the wall and trim surfaces smooth, clean, and dent-free, and priming them before you open a can of paint.
- Hammer to remove nails from walls
- Screwdriver to remove outlet covers, light switch plates, and fixtures
- Crack filler and putty knife to fill all holes and dents in walls
- Caulking frame and caulk to seal gaps along window frames and door casings
- 220-grit sandpaper to sand the crack filler to a smooth finish, and scuff semi-gloss surfaces such as trim
- Eco-friendly cleaner or trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution to clean walls and trim
- Bucket and sponge for the cleaner
- Bleach and water solution to clean walls and trim if you discover mildew or mold

Safety Comes First
Protect yourself with a pair of rubber gloves when using cleaners and bleach. Wear eye protection and a mask if working with paints that have strong fumes.
Painting Tools
Paintbrush – Buy the best quality paintbrush you can afford for professional results. Lower-quality paint brushes tend to lose bristles and may leave brush stroke marks on your walls and trim. Synthetic bristles are best for latex paints. Natural bristles are best for oil or alkyd paints.
Paint Roller Cover and Frame With Handle – Choose a sturdy paint roller frame and roller covers suitable for the type of paint and surface you are painting.
Paint Tray – Be sure to buy a paint tray that will fit the standard roller size, usually 9” to 9-1/2”. Cleaning tip: insert a fitted liner into your paint tray for a quick cleanup.
Paint Buckets – A small paint bucket is convenient for holding a small amount of paint, rather than taking paint directly from a heavy can.
Paint Mixer – A paint mixer is a great tool for mixing paint that has separated and hardened after sitting for a while. Simply attach the mixer to your power drill for instant results.

Safely Paint Ceilings and High Walls
Step Ladder – Choose a lightweight aluminum step ladder for easy moving around your home. Make sure it will safely support your weight and paint supplies. Some step ladders have a shelf for the paint tray. Look for non-slip rubber feet.
Extension Poles – A simple way to extend your reach for high walls and ceilings. Simply screw the extension pole into the roller handle.
Cleanup After Painting
Latex Paint Cleanup
Paintbrush – You’ll need a bucket, warm water and dish soap. First, remove as much paint from the brush as possible, then run the bristles under warm water with dish soap. Rinse with water.
Roller – Fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap, then place the roller in the bucket, rub the roller with your fingers until the paint is gone, and rinse for a final cleaning.
Oil-Based Paint Cleanup
Wear gloves and eye protection.
Paintbrush – Dip the brush into a container with a small amount of the recommended solvent to clean the type of oil-based paint you are using. Typical cleaners for oil-based paints are paint thinner, turpentine or mineral spirits.
Roller – Cover the roller with the solvent recommended by the oil-based paint manufacturer. Rub the solvent over the roller, in a tray or bucket. Wash with warm water and dish soap, then rinse with water.
Other Important Things to Remember
Good Air Quality and Ventilation – Make sure you have good ventilation in the room you will be painting. Open windows in warmer weather and use a fan to help speed up drying time in the winter.
Preserving Used Paint – Keep half-empty cans of paint fresh and prevent them from drying out by sealing the can with duct tape or pouring the paint into glass jars with a tight-fitting lid. Make a note of the paint colors you are using if you need to buy more for future touch-ups.
Bring your questions about paint and paint supplies to Tri State Building Center. We’re ready to share our painting knowledge and tips with you.
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