Painting Supplies and Equipment:
The Right Brushes and Rollers

Any kind of home painting requires the right painting supplies and equipment.

Sounds easy. Just pick up a few brushes and rollers right? The truth is there are many different types of brushes and rollers and selecting the right ones can make your job much easier.

Painting Supplies: Paint Brushes

Even if most of your room will be painted with a roller you will need brushes for cutting in around the trim and probably for the trim itself too. Even if you use a power sprayer to paint the exterior of your home, there will almost always be a number of spots in corners and around edges and windows that require hand painting.

Brushes come in two basic types, natural bristle or synthetic.

Brushes with natural bristles tend to be a little more expensive, but they are a far better quality than synthetic bristles, so you may want to consider spending the extra, especially if you are using an oil-based paint.

Natural bristle brushes are the right choice for alkyd (oil-based) types of paint. Natural bristle paint brushes may not last as long as a good quality synthetic brush, but will certainly last longer than a cheap synthetic.

A quality synthetic brush definitely has its uses. Latex can be applied with natural or synthetic brushes. Natural brushes do tend to absorb water, though, so in some instances may not work as well with latex paints, which are water based. They may make the paint spread less evenly.

Whether you choose natural or synthetic bristles, make sure your brush is the right size. For most applications, a brush that is about 50% longer than it is wide is the best size. So, a 2 inch wide brush will need to be at least 3 inches long. That saves on hand fatigue, provides enough flexibility and helps to create a smooth texture.

A brush with split ends may not look good, but it can be the perfect tool for evenly spreading your paint. A split end can create a finely painted surface, as paint tends to lodge between the split, where it passes over the surface much more smoothly and evenly.

Brushes are the right tools for cutting in, trim and small applications, but if you really need to cover a lot of area quickly, you need rollers as well.

Painting Supplies: Rollers

Paint rollers also come in natural or synthetic materials. The tips above apply to rollers too but there are other things to consider as well, like nap.

The nap of the roller is the depth of the plush. To a large degree, it determines the texture of the finished paint job. A long nap (3/8" to 1/2") results in a rougher look and works well for textured surfaces.

A low nap roller, with a nap of 1/4" or less, is best for smooth plaster and dry wall and produces a smoother finish.

When selecting your rollers and other painting supplies, squeeze the roller and makes sure the nap bounces back to its original shape. That will ensure the roller continues to perform well as you go.

Quality counts with rollers as with other painting equipment. They can often be used over again and will help give your room a professional look.

Going with better painting supplies and equipment can save time and help you create the best possible result.

You can find more information about painting supplies and painting equipment, including prepping a room and selecting paint, right here.

It’s A Great Time To Paint!

How to Paint Any Room in Your House

Painting Ceilings

If you prefer, you can find a home painter and have it done by a pro.