Tricks of the Trade: Choosing Brushes and Rollers like an Expert

It’s often said that a bad workman always blames their tools, but if you’re an average workman using poor quality tools then often it is a pretty valid excuse. You wouldn’t see a professional painter decorator using a cheap roller from Poundland, so why would you?

Having the right tools are half the battle when it comes to producing an excellent finish on your paint job. Here’s everything you need to know about picking the perfect brushes:

When to use a roller?

Rollers are excellent for when you’re painting a large surface, either indoors or outdoors, and they provide a lovely smooth finish to the wall. There are lots of different sized rollers which are ideal for a range of different jobs, from painting behind radiators to giving your garage floor a fresh lick of colour. You want to buy a sturdy roller with a comfortable grip, as this can last for years.

The actual roller brushes are also very important and you want to ensure that they are good quality. Cheap rollers have a tendency to shed their fluff onto the wall, creating unwanted blemishes and an uneven finish to the paint. There is also a problem with the rollers tearing at the seams, forcing you to stop painting mid-job. You will also want to make sure that you have the right nap length for the job at hand – the rule of thumb is short length nap is for smooth surfaces while long nap is for rough textures.

When to use a brush?

There’s no right or wrong time to use a brush, if you don’t get on with rollers then you can easily paint the whole wall with a large brush – be aware that it will take longer than a roller. In general painting, brushes are more commonly used to edge in, paint in small areas or get at those hard to access areas.

There are many different sized brush and lots of different bristle type, picking the right brush will depend on the job at hand. Generally speaking you need larger brushes for larger areas and smaller ones for painting things like doors, skirting boards or features. Choosing between a synthetic or natural bristle brush will depend on the what type of paint your using – synthetics are better with water-based while natural works well will solvent paint.

Specialist Brushes

Some jobs require a special type of brush in order to give the best possible finish, some of these include:

Foam brushes – perfect for delivering a smooth finish with latex paints on surfaces such as furniture or small hard-to-reach areas. These brushes are perfect for touching up scuffs and marks on the wall as well.

Edging brush – for the most pristine lines and edges you can buy a specialist edging brush, these have a unique head to allow for very controlled and accurate edging.

Flogger and dragger – used to create graining and a distressed when painting or varnishing wood.

Stippler brush – used to create decorative effects on thin, wet glaze. This produces fine freckles that reveals the base colour making it slightly more interesting.

If you’re just doing standard painting around the home you may not require any of these brushes, but knowing what they do can help settle any confusion when buying. By buying the right brushes and rollers for your needs you can eliminate a lot of hassle and extra purchases, as they will last longer and do a better job at providing a quality finish.