Quote:I noticed a real difference in speed when I tried using a 'fatter' roller.
The greater surface area means it can hold and apply more paint per visit to the paint tray.
Paint pads can be really quick too but in my experience they are only really good for applying a new coat to a similarly colour painted wall.
Can't help with speeding up the cutting in though. That's what always slows me down!
It takes pratice to speed up
I am very fast at cutting in and rolling, and I use a 3-4" for cutting in, but thats only cause I have been doing it for years.
I love painting doors, especially panel doors, and I always paint them by brush, and I can do a door easily in 7-10 mins, but I am a fast worker, I cannot slowdown lol, the only disadvantage I have over the men painters is that I havent the arm strength when it comes to rolling.
I only use a 9" roller, but cause I am fast I can cover a lot, but I do ache at times on my shoulders and arms, cause I am only little and slim build.
I remember many years ago I was scratching around for work, and I walked past a building site, building new houses, and could see that they were due to be painted so I went in to ask for a job, after the foreman picked himself up of the floor when he new it was for me, he said ok, I'll give you a go, still laughing his head off, I'll give you a morning, and if your no good I will send you down the road.
He wanted to try me out my woodwork work first, so he gave me a 6 panel door to gloss, it had already been undercoated, he said I will be back in 10 mins or so before your finished,
He came back in 10 and the door was finished, and he was suprised that I had finished it and was standing around waiting for him.
So he gave me permanant work, till the houses were done anyway, He had his own men in, from wherever and they had digs or something, I was the only one that was local.
He gave us all a house each to do, ceiling walls woodwork, filling or the prep etc, and it was from scratch, and I could not work out how all the men done much more than me at the end of the day.
I could understand that they used bigger rollers, and thier hands were like shovels, and some of them were big blokes, but I was going like the clappers and they still were faster than me, not only faster but seemed to be a lot further ahead in the job than me, and it was a puzzle.
After a week or so of couldnt work out how the hell they were doing it, I then realised that they were sleeping on the job, and what they were doing was working till 8-9 at night, and sleeping in one of the houses on sleeping bags.
.
I did feel a lot better when I found that out, but by then every part of my body was aching, I could hardly walk, my fingers were all bleeding, my arms and shoulders were so sore, cause I never had the upper body strength that they had.
But I would never do new work again, not only is it a killer, but I dont like the substandard practices they wanted us painters to do, his men didnt mind, but I did, as I dont work like that, but it was a great experiences for me, but never again lol, I will stick to my domestic work.