A 50mm paint brush at Bunnings can range in price from a budget $2.95 all the way up to around $30. While it may be tempting to go for the cheaper option or make do with the one at the back of the shed, expert painter and Monarch brand ambassador Mark O’Connor says you get what you pay for.
“Cheaper brushes are coarser; they don’t hold their shape and they flare everywhere. You can’t cut straight lines. The hairs fall out onto the paint job. So, you have to take the hairs off the wall.”
Many DIYers pay top price for the paint, reasoning they can save money on the brush, he says. But the right brush is crucial to a quality finish. So how do you choose?
Soft or stiff bristles?
Paintbrushes have come a long way since the old days of hog bristles. Synthetic filaments give a smoother finish with both oil and water-based paints, depending on the quality.
“If you’re using a cheap brush, you’re not going to get the finish on the walls or surface that you’re looking for,” says marketing manager Michelle Wee from Monarch.
“Say you’re doing a feature wall, a really dark colour. If you use a terrible brush that doesn’t have that premium quality filament in it, you can actually see brush strokes. So, on a black wall from far away, you’ll see the uneven finish,” she says.
For a smooth finish, the filaments need to be soft.
“You can usually tell if a brush is premium quality by the touch and feel, so always take it out of the packaging ‘brush keeper’ to test it on your hand. We often say to people we would use this brush on our faces if we could,” says Wee.
For rough surfaces, such as bricks, opt for stiffer bristles.
Size matters
A large surface such as a wall should be painted with a roller, but around the edges needs to be cut in with a 50mm brush. A large, thick, good quality brush will hold more paint, so less time is wasted dipping.
“For a [large] painting project like a fence use a larger size brush 75mm or 100mm so you can get the job done quicker,” says Wee.
Smaller areas such as window frames and skirting boards require more control, so a 25mm or 38mm brush works best. Some brushes are on an angle for greater control, but this comes down to personal preference. However, for straight lines, you need to pay for quality.
“A good quality brush will hold its shape for longer, so you’ll have better control,” says O’Connor.
Thick Vs thin roller
The fabric on a roller can come in different thicknesses called a ‘nap’ for a different finish. “A roller to do walls and ceilings has a 12 mm nap, about the thickness of standard carpet,” says O’Connor.
A thicker nap can hold more paint but can give a rougher finish.
“A rough surface roller has a 20mm nap which looks like the thickness of a shagpile carpet. When you tackle a rough surface, you don’t need a beautiful smooth finish. You need enough paint on your roller to get into the nook and crannies, like painting bricks,” he says.
Many DIYers make the mistake of buying a cheap, thick roller for doors, which require the thinnest nap of 4mm, like the felt of a billiard table.
A nap this thin can’t carry as much paint but will distribute a thin layer, giving you a smoother finish.
Once again, you get what you pay for. A cheap roller or brush won’t give the professional finish and can leave fluff or fibres behind on the paintwork. This defeats the purpose of buying quality paint, says O’Connor.
“The quality paint is only as good as the applicators you use to apply it.”
For more tips on selecting the right brush or roller for your paint project, visit monarchpainting.com.au.