How to choose The Best Paintbrush for Interior Painting Projects

Pairing the right paintbrush with premium paint is an important step for a successful DIY home project. Here’s what you need to know.

Paint Brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There is also a range of paint brush bristle types to consider. While a roller cover is the best choice for large flat surfaces like ceilings and walls, anything with raised, recessed or finer details requires a paintbrush.

Angled Paint brush & Flat Paintbrush: Two Main Paintbrush Options

• Angled sash paint brushes offer bristles cut at an angle. They are best for corners, woodwork, and molding—or other surfaces that demand detail work.
• Flat sash paint brushes provide bristles cut straight across the end. They are best for larger, flat surfaces where there is less detail to paint.

Paintbrush Quality

A quality paint brush lasts longer, holds more paint and applies paint more evenly. 

Another benefit? 

A better-quality paintbrush won't leave brush marks or shed bristles. When shopping for a high-quality paintbrush, look for the following:

• A good brush flexes at the tips and springs back into shape
• Machine distressed, or ‘flagged’ bristle tips are a different colour than the bristle. Flagged bristles provide a more even finish
• ‘Flagged’ bristle tips have been machine distressed and appear frizzy. They also are a different colour than the bristle. Flagging enables a brush to hold more paint and give a more even finish
• The bristles of a good brush flex at the tips and then will spring back into shape when pressure is released
• When the bristles are pulled apart, a quality brush won’t have a gap in the centre, exposing the handle
• Professional painters an unfinished wooden handle because it doesn’t slip in the hand like painted or plastic handles
• A firmly attached, nailed-in ferrule (the shaft that binds the bristles together) won’t loosen with use
• Look for copper or stainless-steel ferrules – they don’t rust like tin or nickel-plated ones

Paint brush Sizes

Paintbrushes generally come in sizes ranging from a 2,5 to a 15cm wide.

Larger brushes hold more paint than small brushes do, cover more surface area, and cut a wider line. Choose:

• A 10 – 15cm wide, flat sash paint brush for wide-open flat surfaces like long, uninterrupted walls and garage doors. They hold more paint, cover more surface area, and cut a wider line
• A 7 – 10cm wide, flat sash paint brush for large flat surfaces like walls, doors, and bookshelves
• A 6cm flat sash brush will work for narrower flat surfaces like wide molding, cabinet doors, or baseboards

Smaller brushes give you greater control of use.

• A 2,5cm wide angle sash brush for cutting in corners
• A 2,5 – 6cm angle sash brush to paint woodwork and molding as well as projects where precision matters, like the details of carvings or trim work

Helpful Tip – Prevent fatigue and reduce hand cramps with a brush that feels truly comfortable to hold.  The size of your hand, the size of the handle, and the overall weight are important considerations.

Paintbrush Bristles: Go for Synthetic

While paintbrush bristles can have either synthetic or natural bristles, synthetic bristles are the most practical. Commonly used by DIY-ers and professional painters alike, they work well with water-based paints. Bristle options include:

• Nylon & Polyester—Recommended for latex paints, acrylic paints, and oil-based enamels, these bristles offer exceptional paint capacity and provides the fastest results
• Soft Nylon & Polyester—Use this type of bristle for all paints, especially semi-gloss and satin finishes. They provide extra flex for smooth application, leave few brush marks, and have an excellent paint capacity
• Extra-Firm Nylon & Polyester—Good for all paints, especially thick or heavy coatings, these bristles provide a sharp edge for controlled painting, even in hot or humid conditions. Exceptional paint capacity gives you fast results
• 100% Polyester—Good for all paints, especially lighter or thinner coatings, 100% polyester bristles virtually eliminate brush marks. They also provide superior smoothness and robust paint capacity.

Natural bristles are the best choice for oil-based alkyd paints

White China—These natural bristle brushes are best used with oil-based paints, especially enamels and varnishes. Ideal for woodwork, enamels, or marine applications, White China bristles virtually eliminate brush marks

Shop online with Men@Worx – www.men-at-worx.co.za

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