If you’re like most homeowners, there’s a good chance you have a trusty, old paint brush sitting with your painting supplies in your garage or basement. Maybe the bristles are a little stiff from old paint that didn’t get washed out completely the last few times it was used? Or perhaps the bristles stick out in odd directions?
If any of these things describe the brush you use for your painting projects, it is probably well past time to replace that tired, old tool with a new one.
Why You Should Own Multiple Paint Brushes
In the same way you wouldn’t buy a single screwdriver and expect it to tackle every home repair, different types of paint brushes are best suited to certain tasks. And just like with tools, there are a huge variety of paint brushes, but for the majority of the paint jobs you’ll do in and around your home these basic five will be your go-to brushes.
- Angle Sash - The bristles of this brush are angled to help you create a smooth, clean edge. This type of brush is best suited to cutting in along ceilings or painting trim
- Thin Angle Sash - Exactly the same as the regular angle sash but smaller to help you fit in narrow areas that are too tight for a larger angled brush.
- Flat Sash - The perfect brush for painting flat surfaces.
- Trim Brush - A flat brush that is perfect for painting larger areas, especially exteriors.
- Wall Brush - Similar to the trim brush only larger and capable of holding a larger amount of paint for efficient, even coverage of large, flat surfaces.
While picking the appropriate size and shape brush is important to achieving superior results, you’ll also want to be certain that you pair your bristle material appropriately to the type of paint you’re working with. As a general rule of thumb, natural-bristle brushes are needed anytime you work with oil-based paint, varnish, shellac, or polyurethane. Polyester or nylon/polyester blend brushes are both good choices when painting with latex paints.
Armed with the right tool for your next painting project you’re sure to get better results with less headache. And, if you’re looking for even more ways to get the best finish possible, check out these additional tips from professional painters.
