When to use spray vs brush/roll
Brush/roll is the universal default. Spray is a selectable override on almost every surface. Picking correctly per surface — not per job — is how painters who use both methods make more money than ones who use either one exclusively.
Use spray when
- The area is empty or can be masked efficiently (new builds, commercial repaints between tenants)
- The surface is large and repetitive (long fences, clear-span ceilings, multiple identical walls)
- The finish spec requires spray (automotive doors, ultra-smooth cabinetry, textured facades)
- You have the gear and the crew training to do it safely
Use brush/roll when
- Occupied interiors with furniture, soft furnishings, or clients in residence
- Small patches, touch-ups, or colour changes on single elements
- Tight spaces where masking would cost more time than it saves
- Near electronics, food prep, or anywhere overspray would cause problems
What Surfacely does automatically
When you switch a surface to spray:
- Coverage rate drops one step — spray puts more paint down, so you'll use more litres. Surfacely shows you the lower rate; there's no hidden fudge factor.
- Speed step → 6 (Open) — reflects production throughput.
- Prep → Moderate — spray demands extra masking and back-rolling setup for a clean finish.
Switching back to brush/roll resets both the step and prep to the surface default.
Why it matters: painters sometimes quote brush prices but plan to spray — and the extra litres they forget cost them margin on every tin. Surfacely removes that risk by dropping the coverage rate the moment you switch the method, so the paint quantity already reflects the overspray.
A common winning pattern on new builds is spray for ceilings and large walls, brush/roll for doors and skirting. Use Surfacely's per-surface method toggle to charge accurately for each.