Decorating Tools

Decorating Tools for Painting & Surface Preparation

At County Building Supplies, we supply decorating tools for professional painters, decorators, builders and DIY customers. Whether you're preparing walls, removing old paint or applying a fresh coat, choosing the right tools can help make decorating work easier and achieve a professional-looking finish.

Our range includes Harris Seriously Good filling knives, stripping knives, scrapers, paint trays, tray liners and paint scuttles.

Filling Knives, Stripping Knives & Scrapers

Different decorating tools are designed for different preparation tasks:

• Filling knives: Used to apply and smooth suitable fillers into cracks, holes and surface imperfections before sanding and painting.
• Stripping knives: Useful for removing loose or flaking paint, wallpaper and other suitable surface coverings.
• Window scrapers: Designed for carefully removing compatible paint or residue from suitable glass surfaces.
• Shavehooks: Useful for scraping old coatings from mouldings, corners and other detailed areas.
• Wire brushes: Used for removing loose material, dirt or rust from compatible surfaces before refinishing.

Always select a tool suitable for the surface to avoid unnecessary scratching or damage.

Choosing the Right Paint Tray or Scuttle

Paint trays and scuttles make it easier to load rollers evenly and manage paint during decorating projects.

4-inch paint trays are useful for smaller rollers and detailed areas, while 9-inch paint trays are suitable for standard rollers used on walls and ceilings.

For larger decorating jobs, a paint scuttle provides additional capacity and can be useful when working with larger rollers or covering extensive surfaces.

County stocks Harris Seriously Good Work Smarter paint trays, tray liners and a 15L paint scuttle.

Are Paint Tray Liners Worth Using?

Paint tray liners provide a removable surface inside compatible paint trays, helping reduce cleaning time between decorating tasks.

They can be particularly useful when changing paint colours or working across multiple rooms. Choose a liner that matches the tray size to ensure a secure fit.

Tips for Preparing Surfaces Before Painting

Before painting, remove loose material and ensure the surface is clean, dry and suitable for the chosen coating. Use a filling knife to repair minor imperfections and a suitable scraper to remove flaking paint.

Take care when scraping older painted surfaces, which may contain lead-based paint. Follow appropriate safety guidance and avoid creating unnecessary dust.

Need Advice?

Not sure which decorating tools you need? Visit your local County Building Supplies branch or contact our team for product information and availability.