Top 15 Painter Skills (2024)

15 painter skills for your resume and career

1. Ladders

A ladder is a structure used to elevate a person or object to a higher position. Painters use ladders to access high places, such as ceilings and walls, to apply paint and finishes. They also use ladders to set up scaffolding and staging, ensuring safe operation while working above ground level. Painters assemble and work from scaffolds, rigging, and ladders to reach work areas. They use brushes, rollers, and ladders to paint house interiors and exteriors. Painters also use ladders, grinders, needle guns, and pressure washing machines to complete their tasks.

Here's how painters use ladders:

Involved escalating ladders and scaffolding.
General knowledge of job safety, painting, drywall work, vinyl work, ladders, tools, and equipment.

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Tradesmen International Jobs (417)
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The Painting Company Jobs (166)
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PeopleReady Jobs (111)

2. Coats

Coats are layers of paint or protective covering applied to a surface. Painters use coats to apply a variety of surfaces, from prime to finish coats. They apply primers and sealers to new surfaces, such as wood or metal, before applying paint. They also clean and revamp damaged walls and apply new coats of paint to give them a fresh look.

Here's how painters use coats:

Painted a variety of surfaces, applying prime, intermediate and finish coats, Chemical Agent Resistant Coating and alkyd paints.
Applied various forms of paint and protective coatings, from single stage to high gloss clear coats, primarily pneumatically.

3. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are standardized guidelines for minimizing risk in a work environment. Painters use safety procedures by providing and performing basic standardized procedures, following safety regulations, using personal protective equipment, and maintaining clean and safe work environments. They also follow established safety procedures when climbing ladders, using power equipment, and working with chemicals.

Here's how painters use safety procedures:

Provided and performed basic standardized procedures and direct personal resident and industrial painting skills and safety procedures.
Used personal protective equipment and followed safety procedures.

4. Scaffolding

Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support workers and materials at heights. Painters use scaffolding to reach high sections of structures, like ceilings and walls, while painting. They build and dismantle scaffolding, ladders, and other temporary containment, and use them to perform tasks. They also use scaffolding to erect, move, and dismantle it, and use it to support painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and masons.

Here's how painters use scaffolding:

Painted steam and water treatment piping using scaffolding, safety harnesses, and followed refinery safety protocols
Assisted in erecting scaffolding and staging needed in sandblasting operations.

5. Caulking

Caulking is a type of material used to seal gaps and joints. Painters use caulking to fill cracks, holes, and crevices in surfaces before painting. They also use it to seal windows and doors to prevent water damage. They apply caulking with a gun or knife, and then smooth it out with a putty knife or sandpaper.

Here's how painters use caulking:

Perform masonry waterproofing exterior masonry staining; maintain acoustical tile and factory applied finishes and caulking; and perform preventive maintenance.
Performed necessary residential maintenance including drywall, electrical, caulking, plumbing and miscellaneous repairs.

6. Exterior Surfaces

Exterior surfaces refer to the outer parts of buildings, furniture, and equipment. Painters use exterior surfaces by power washing and repairing structural defects. They also prepare and paint interior and exterior surfaces at commercial and residential sites. Painters apply paint, varnish, Lacquer, and other cosmetics to interior and exterior surfaces, buildings, furniture, and equipment. They also perform various painting, finishing, and maintenance projects on interior and exterior surfaces and structures of local schools.

Here's how painters use exterior surfaces:

Prepared exterior surfaces by power washing and repairing structural defects.-Managed a team of painters
Prepared and painted interior and exterior surfaces at commercial and residential sites

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7. Drywall Repair

Drywall repair is the process of fixing holes, cracks, and other damage to drywall panels. Painters use drywall repair in their job by assisting with drywall repairs and light carpentry, performing drywall repairs and installation, and doing basic interior/exterior painting tasks that involve minor woodworking and drywall repair. They also do drywall repairs, tape and bed, vinyl wall covering repairs, and painting. They even perform demo, drywall repair, lead-based paint removal, texturing, and touch-ups. They also perform a wide array of painting and drywall repair duties indoors and outdoors.

Here's how painters use drywall repair:

Assisted with drywall repairs and light carpentry Painted various residential and commercial locations learned about ladder and height safety
Performed drywall repairs of residential and commercial properties and disposal of residential and commercial wastes.

8. Spray Guns

Spray guns are tools that paint, stain, or apply other finishes to surfaces. Painters use spray guns to apply primer, paint, enamel, and other metallic and non-metallic coatings. They also paint buildings, furniture, and other structures using spray guns. Painters must be experienced in using different types of paint tools, including brushes, rollers, and spray guns. They apply finishes to surfaces using these tools. They also maintain painting supplies and equipment, including spray guns, air hoses, and pumps.

Here's how painters use spray guns:

Operate spray-painting equipment including air-assisted electrostatic spray guns and ability to adjust sprayer to reach required coverage and finish.
Utilize electrostatic spray guns to apply heated coating materials such as polyurethane and synthetic enamels.

9. Paint Brushes

Paint brushes are hand tools used to apply paint to surfaces. Painters use paint brushes to paint pipes, walls, and other areas that require a more delicate touch. They clean and maintain their paint brushes regularly to ensure they continue to work well. Painters also use rollers and other tools in combination with paint brushes to complete their work efficiently.

Here's how painters use paint brushes:

Applied paint using various hand tools such as: rollers, paint brushes, co*cking gun wrenches and sanders.
Painted pipes using paint brushes and rollers sandblast chipped paint using the correct PPE and a safe fashion.

10. Exterior Painting

Exterior painting is the process of applying paint or similar materials to the exterior of buildings or structures. Painters use exterior painting to provide services to residential and commercial customers. They use their expertise to ensure the work is of the highest quality and to maintain customer satisfaction and relations. They also provide interior and exterior painting for both commercial and residential projects, and they schedule and complete various interior and exterior painting tasks.

Here's how painters use exterior painting:

Provided Interior and exterior painting services to residential customers; assured quality of work to maintain customer satisfaction and relations
Provided professional painting and wall covering services, interior and exterior painting in both commercial and residential environments.

11. Sheetrock

Sheetrock is a type of drywall. Painters use sheetrock by installing and repairing it, as well as taping and texturing its surfaces. They also use it to patch holes and cracks in other materials like woodwork and stucco. They prepare sheetrock for painting by scraping, sanding, and masking it, and they apply primer, paint, and other finishes to its surfaces.

Here's how painters use sheetrock:

Painted interior surfaces, installed Sheetrock walls which included framing, tapping and painting.
Worked with oil, latex I can also patch and repair Sheetrock.

12. Paint Guns

Paint guns are tools that shoot paint at high pressure. Painters use paint guns to paint utility poles and parts for airplanes and other machines. They also clean and maintain the paint guns and other equipment.

Here's how painters use paint guns:

Operated paint guns to paint utility poles Material handler observe gauges and adjusted controls when and if needed Examine products for quality
Maintain and conduct preventative maintenance of paint guns, scrapers, laser thermometers, and all air lines and fittings equipment.

13. Painting Equipment

Painting equipment includes spray painting equipment, high-level government-regulated equipment, and power tools. Painters use painting equipment to apply protective coatings to manufactured items or structures. They also paint signs made of various materials, perform commercial painting tasks, and maintain good housekeeping and general cleaning of painting equipment. They operate, clean, and maintain all painting equipment, including brushes, roller, sprayers, pumps, and electrostatic sprayers. They also use a variety of paints and painting equipment and painting techniques, such as sprayers, and up keep on them.

Here's how painters use painting equipment:

Operated spray painting equipment to apply protective coatings to manufactured items or structures.
Operated high level government regulated painting equipment to perform commercial painting task.

14. Airless Spray

Airless spray is a tool that painters use to apply paint quickly and efficiently. Painters use airless spray to apply paint to large surfaces like walls, ceilings, and buildings. They operate the equipment and prepare the paint for use, using brushes and rollers for smaller areas. Airless spray is used on both interior and exterior surfaces, and is especially helpful for commercial jobs.

Here's how painters use airless spray:

Power washed general prep painting interior exterior residential commercial airless spraying stain packages
Identify airless spray equipment components.

15. Motorized Lifts

Motorized lifts are equipment used to lift and move heavy loads. Painters use motorized lifts to operate air-assisted spray equipment. They use these lifts to elevate themselves and their equipment to reach high places, making it easier and safer to paint hard-to-reach areas.

Here's how painters use motorized lifts:

Operated air assisted spray equipment and motorized lifts.

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