3 Tips For Using Paint Guards

Paint guards are tools used to prevent one paint color from bleeding onto an adjacent one. These tools are indispensable when using a paint sprayer, but they also come in very handy when painting with a brush or roller. Paint guards (sometimes called paint shields) are usually made from thin aluminum or plastic, are very light, and usually have at least one very straight edge. Today we will discuss what paint guards are used for and why you might want one.

Paint Guards Come In All Shapes and Sizes

Some paint guards are quite large and include a moveable handle. These paint guards are designed primarily for use with paint sprayers, which produce a large volume of paint. Most amateur users of paint guards will use smaller versions, as these users generally apply the paint with rollers and brushes. Some paint guards have no straight lines at all and are designed to protect curved areas from overspray and drips. These paint guards are often used in conjunction with drop cloths and painter’s tape to reduce the amount of clean-up required when the project is finished.

Use Light Coats Instead of Heavy Ones

When using a paint guard for the first time, often the first issue comes from using too much paint. Paint guards are very thin, so care must be taken not to apply too much paint directly to the edge of the paint guard. This is because paint applied heavily is likely to puddle against the thin edge of the guard. When the guard is lifted, this puddle flows onto the area being protected and ruins the straight line.

To prevent this, the pros will usually use a very lightly loaded brush and apply several light coats. This allows each coat to dry quickly without the risk of puddling. In many cases, the pros will prime and/or seal the area first, especially if going from a dark color to a lighter one. This method will usually make covering the old color easier and thus require fewer coats.

Get a Helper

One of the most efficient uses of a paint guard is the addition of a helper. Especially when painting a large area, a helper can operate the paint guard while the painter operates the sprayer. This method is the fastest and allows for a large volume of paint to be applied very quickly. Several extension handles are also available to extend the reach of the paint guard, reducing or eliminating the need to climb ladders.