Electric paint sprayer for large rough concrete, or roller?

[Norfolkandchance]

Hi,

I want to paint a large (9m x 4m) shed which is made of precast concrete designed to look like bricks so it has indented "mortar". Its pretty rough to the touch.

This is not the sort of job i would like so I want it done quickly and I don't want to have to do it again for a long while. I'm not too concerned about finish - runs and stuff, its only a shed!

I was looking at the cheaper (£30-50) paint sprayers, including on here, but they get mixed reviews, some suggesting that you end up thinning the paint so much that all the extra coats take just as long.

Any advice for alternatives gratefully received. Also what type of paint, normal exterior masonry? I would like black.

Thanks

[Lesgrandepotato]

Big hairy roller

[Andehh]

Lesgrandepotato said:

Big hairy roller

This, or a massive soft bristled brush.

If you are after speed & not fussed on paint cost/splashing it everywhere (ie a lawn or something you can just hose down afterwards) mix with water and go nuts on it.

For painting our double garage, breezeblock mostly & rough brick otherwise, I bought a builders bucket, poured in 20 litres of white paint, added a good amount of water and then literally ''scooped & chucked' the paint onto the wall with a 18" broom, before spreading it round furiously. Took me about 2 hours to do the entire garage (nearly 40sqm) in a super thick white coat. Paint went *everywhere* inc walls, floor & me but floor wasn't an issue and a shower got it out of every nook & cranny on me!

Compared to other garages where people have laboured with a hand roller/brush, I got a much better coverage, quicker, and easier at the cost of maybe 25% wasted paint - which itself was cheap as chips white from Homebase.

2 year on, it still looks amazing!

[Norfolkandchance]

Thanks. So we think a roller will get into the grooves between the "bricks".

[ndtman]

Graffiti aerosols seem to be the thing for painting large areas of concrete.

[Norfolkandchance]

Op here. Thanks for the replies. I went with the big hairy roller and it worked really well. Thanks