Interior Painting – Buy the Best Brush for the Job
Painting is the cheapest way to update your home. You may hire a painter or do the job yourself to save money. You will probably use a roller or pad for walls, but will need a brush for cutting in corners and painting trim. The right brush will make these jobs easier. Which brush should you buy? Here are some things to consider.
Price. Cheap brushes are a waste of money, according to the Aubuchon Hardware Web site. You get what you pay for and cheap brushes have few bristles. If the brush doesn’t have enough bristles your do-it-yourself project will take longer. Worse, the Aubuchon site says “a poor brush . . . will result in a poor finish.”
Shape. Match the shape of the brush to the job. Sherwin-Williams recommends a chisel trim brush with slanted bristles for corners and edges. Buy a square-shaped brush for flat areas. You need an angled brush for windows, trim, and tight spaces.
Bristles. Synthetic bristles — nylon, polyester, nylon, and polyester blend — are recommended for water-based paint. Natural bristles, which are made from hog and ox hair, are recommended for oil-based paint. The Do It Yourself Web site describes Chinex bristles, a Du Pont product. According to the site, “Chinex bristles simulate the characteristics of natural bristles.”
Shape. Home Depot recommends a one-inch brush (straight-edge or angled) for corners, edging, trim, and window sill. A two-inch brush (straight-edge or angled) is recommended for woodwork, trim, molding, and cutting into corners. You need a three-inch, straight-edge brush for cabinets, doors, beams, and stairs. Use a four-inch, straight-edge brush for ceilings and walls.
Quality. Buying a cheap brush is a waste of your hard-earned money. “A top-of-the-line brush will generally hold more paint, streak less, give a better finish and last longer,” according to the Home Depot Web site. Look for a brush with a metal, non-corrosive band. The band should be held in place with screws or rivets, not just bent around the bristles, and the brush should have a wooden handle.
Using the brush. According to Lowe’s you should moisten a synthetic brush with water before you dip it in water-based paint. Resist the urge to over-load the brush with paint because this will cause drips and streaks. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to get more coverage. Never soak a brush in water or solvent for hours at a time.
Cleaning. A brush used with water-based paint should be cleaned in warm, soapy water. Clean the brush in solvent if you used oil-based paint. After the brush is clean spin it around in the air to get rid of moisture. Straighten the bristles with a metal comb and lay the brush flat to dry. Store the brush in its original package or wrap it in aluminum foil.
Don’t let your paint job turn into a drippy, streaky mess. Buy the best brush you can afford. After you have finished painting invite your friends for dinner and show them your handiwork. They will give you the unofficial DIY award for your painting efforts.
Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
By: Harriet Hodgson
About the Author:
http://www.harriethodgson.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance nonfiction writer for 29 years. She has painted walls, trim, and furniture. Hodgson is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, “Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief,” written with Lois Krahn, MD,
Categories: House Painting Tags: Chisel, Molding, Window Sill
Interior Painting Tips That Save You Time While Improving the Look of Your Home
| Purdy 400330 Professional Swan Paint Brush 3-Inch |
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Overall Rating: |
| Retail Price: $24.99 |
| Amazon Price: $14.99 |
Make Sure You Are Properly Equipped
1. Make sure you have enough plastic or drop cloths to cover all your flooring and furnishings. Keep all areas covered always. Cover up may take you only 10 or 15 minutes, but clean up can cost you hours.
2. Make sure you have sheet rock mud and sand paper to repair any imperfections in the wall. When you apply the sheet rock mud, apply only a very thin layer. A thin layer of mud will help avoid a lumpy look in your walls and it will sand flat very quickly. Most people make the mistake of applying way too thick of a layer, costing themselves a lot of time in sanding. 3. Use a quality brush. Cheap brushes do not perform as well as quality designed brushes. They do not spread paint as evenly or cut in corners as accurately, costing you time and quality of work.
4. Keep 2 or 3 roller naps available with a nap thickness of ½ inch to ¾ inches. If you rinse a roller nap after painting the ceiling, you will need a dry nap to roll your walls. Avoid the dirt cheap roller naps. You want be happy with the nap fibers they leave in your freshly painting walls.
5. Be sure and purchase the blue masking tape designed especially for painting. When you are ready to paint your trim you will want to mask off your walls. Apply pressure along the tape line so that it lays completely flat. This will help prevent paint from seeping under the edges of the tape and compromising the straight line. Give your walls a day of dry time before masking. Masking your walls will allow you to create professional straight trim lines.
More Time Saving Tips
1. The proper order for painting is to always paint your ceilings first, then your walls, and then lastly, your trim. When you roll your ceilings, it creates a mist that can settle on your walls. In addition, you may drip paint on your walls. It makes sense to paint the ceilings first because you will be covering the drips and mist from the ceiling with wall paint when you paint the walls. The same holds true for the trim. You will drip wall paint on the trim and create a roller mist that will settle on the trim. Painting in the order I have described will save you a lot of time, because you are not having to go back and redo areas that you have messed up.
2. I recommend cleaning your brush after you are through painting for the day. Most nonprofessional painters get a lot of paint on the handle and bristle retainer. For the protection of the brush against dried paint and for a fresh start with a clean brush on a new day, then clean it. If you find you simply don’t have time to clean your brush, then put it in a plastic bag and freeze it. When you are ready to resume your painting project, take it out of your freezer and let it thaw. A clean dry brush always gives me a mental advantage when tackling an interior painting project. Complement Your Hard Work with Quality Paint Interior painting is hard work, so why cheapen the quality of your hard work by using inferior paint.
Here are 7 good reasons to use a top grade paint.
1. It last longer.
2. Top grade paints are much easier to clean without compromising the surface.
3. It covers the old wall color better saving you application time.
4. The color tones are often richer.
5. Top grades of paint usually have mildew inhibitors in them, allowing you to use them in bathrooms and other areas that have high moisture.
6. The top grade interior paints hold their color better over time.
7. The satisfying feeling that you put the very best into your interior painting project.
Some people just plane hate to paint. Others look forward to the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment. Others enjoy the change in atmosphere the new colors can make to their home. Whatever the reason, following these interior painting tips can save you time, produce a better looking room, and make the project more enjoyable.
By: Nicky Taylor
About the Author:
Nicky Taylor CEO Of http://www.home-painting-services.com/interiorpainting.html. Nicky is owner of a 26 year old interior painting and exterior painting contractor service and home improvement company serving all North Atlanta Georgia. Nicky shares his knowledge on exterior painting and other home improvement topics through articles and resource materials on various topics. Contains helpful information for anyone planning to undertake their own projects.
Categories: House Painting Tags: Brushes, Drop Cloths, Nap