How to Choose Your Paint Brush

If you’re getting ready to do some painting around the house, one of the first things, besides paint, that you will need is a good paint brush. Unless you have some paint brushes that you’ve saved from previous paint jobs, you’ll be off to the local hardware store to make a purchase.

Buying supplies and tools can get expensive, but if you do it right the first time, and take proper care of them every time, your brushes can last a long time.

Sure, you can buy cheap brushes, but you’ll be replacing them often, and in the long run, you’ll spend more money and you won’t have the quality job you’re looking for.

Choosing a good paint brush:

Here are some ideas of what to look for and what to avoid when choosing your brushes…

• Start with the bristles
  • Avoid brushes with synthetic bristles that are cut blunt and don’t have tapered edges, which means they won’t hold the paint as well, and your finished work may look streaky.
  • Foam brushes are definitely inexpensive, but don’t do a quality job, they are however, good for doing touch ups. Although you may like the disposablility of foam brushes…keep in mind, if you care about the environment, they are not biodegradable.
  • Look for bristles that can be either synthetic or natural or a blend. Make sure the edges are tapered and the bristles are comprised of several lengths. You may notice that the tips of the bristles look fuzzy…this is a good thing, the brush will be able to hold more paint, thus giving you a better and smoother job.
    • Don’t use a brush with natural bristles when painting with water based paint.
• Consider the ferrule – Most people have probably not heard that term before, it is simply the metal band that goes around the bristles, keeping them attached to the handle.
  • The problem with the ferrule on inexpensive brushes is that they do not hold the bristles in tightly…as you paint, bristles fall out and end up “painted” onto your walls.
  • The ferrule on a quality brush will hold the bristles in nice and tight.
• Choosing a handle – There are typically 2 types of paint brush handles: straight and beaver-tail. The type of handle you choose should be based on what feels comfortable in your hand.
• Test the brush – Pull on the bristles and slap them against your hand to make sure they are seated firmly in a tight ferrule.

Just as you shouldn’t skimp on the amount of paint you put on your walls, you shouldn’t skimp when it comes to choosing the right brush for the job.

In our next article we’ll discuss how to clean and take care of your paint brushes so your investment isn’t for a one time project.

One of the best ways to choose a good paint brush is to give us a call, we have the right brush for the right job.

Give us a call for a free estimate – (425) 888-3634

Claffey’s Painting is a full service painting contractor serving Western Washington, Chelan, Douglas and Kittitas Counties. We have painted over 7000 homes and would enjoy the opportunity to help paint yours. We can guide you through all the decision making processes so you get the right paint for the right job, and the professional job you’re looking for.