Paintbrushes story from Resene

Getting Started with Paintbrushes

It takes time to become good, accurate and fast with a paintbrush. Have patience with yourself if you're just starting out. Work on your quality first, then on speed. This way you will speed up your quality work rather than start and speed up sloppy work.

Nylon and nylon/polyester blend brushes are excellent for waterbased products because they hold their shape and resiliency. They are easy to clean and their filament will not soften and become limp. Solventbased paints should be applied with a natural bristle brush.

Two points are critical when selecting a paintbrush:

• the surface you are planning to paint, and
• the type of paint being used.

Refer to the information on the Resene brush stand or Resene ColorShop or Reseller staff to determine the right paintbrush for your project.

It is generally best to use a variety of brush sizes - you will get better results and save time and effort. For example:

• Use a 88-100mm wide flat brush with a thickness of 18-25mm for large exterior surfaces.
• Use a 75mm wide flat brush for interior walls and ceilings.
• Use a brush with a tapered edge for cutting in corners.
• Use a 25-63mm brush for trim and joinery.

Applying paint by brush

While the paintbrush is still clean, work it back and forth across your open fingers to remove any dust, dirt, loose bristles or unwanted particles. Lightly moisten the brush with water before applying waterbased paints to help you apply the paint more evenly. Hold your paintbrush like you would a pencil, near the base of the bristles, for a comfortable, controlled grip. Dip one-third to one-half the length of the bristles into the paint can, then tap (not wipe!) the paintbrush against the side of the paint can.

If you are working with a full paint can, pour half of the can of paint into a second clean paint can and work from that. Seal the original container for use later. You will find applying the paint and tapping the paintbrush much easier with a partially emptied can.

Paint with the tips of your paintbrush, not the sides. Hold the paintbrush at about a 45˚ angle to the surface and work mostly with your wrist rather than your arms and shoulders. Apply the paint in long light vertical strokes on walls and ceilings, lifting the brush up gradually at the end of each stroke. When painting timber, always paint in the direction of the wood grain. Paint exterior surfaces from the top toward the ground. To avoid lap marks, brush towards the unpainted area and then back into the just-painted surface. This technique (brushing from 'wet to dry') will produce a smooth uniform appearance.

Avoid excessive re-brushing when using waterbased paints, especially semi-gloss or gloss finishes. A few strokes per waterbased paint brushload will achieve a thick paint film with good hiding.

If your brushing strokes become stiff, sticky, or non-flowing, you may need to thin the paint a little. Use the thinner recommended on your paint container.

Wrap the bristles and ferrule in a piece of Glad Wrap® while you take breaks and cover the paint container. This will keep the paintbrush moist and ready to use after you have rested.

Cutting in

‘Cutting in’ refers to the application of paint to areas where one area of paint meets another, such as where the walls meet ceilings or floors. As rollers cannot reach into these areas, brushes (generally 38-50mm) must be used. To cut in, paint the edge of the area you are painting with a brush, then roll the large surface area taking the roller as close to the edge as possible to minimise the difference in appearance between the brushed and rolled area.

If you are new to DIY, it is a good idea to mask off the edge of the adjacent area with low tack masking tape to avoid painting the adjacent area or you can hold a straight edge where the two areas meet and cut in to the edge of the straight edge. Make sure you remove the masking tape before the paint dries.

Mastering skirting boards

Apply low tack masking tape to the edge of the skirting that meets the flooring to protect carpet/flooring from undesirable paint drips. If needed, apply masking tape above the skirting board to avoid overpainting onto the wall area. Alternatively a stiff piece of card may be used to protect the flooring.

Using a 25mm-50mm brush, cut in approximately 30cm along the top edge of the skirting board, then cut in the bottom edge by the same distance. Paint the middle then lay-off left to right. Remove the masking tape before the paint dries. The middle portion of the skirting board may be painted with a small roller if preferred. If right handed it is generally best to work from right to left, if left handed, work the opposite direction.

Skirting boards are usually prone to damage from foot traffic and machinery such as vacuum cleaners. The addition of a clear protective glaze such as Resene Multishield+ will help protect your skirting boards.

Creating feature walls

Mask off the adjacent walls with low tack masking tape. Cut in with a brush then apply the product by roller, taking it as close to the edge as possible to minimise the difference between the brushed edge and the body of the coating that has been rolled. Remove the masking tape before the feature wall paint is dry.

Paintbrush care

A top quality brush will give you a long life of excellent results, provided you take time to clean and store your brush properly. Never store a brush that has any wet paint left on it. Don't soak brushes in water, commercial cleaners or paint as they will lose their shape and it may destroy the bristle setting. Use Resene Brush Cleaner or Resene Polythane Brush Cleaner to assist in the cleaning process following the instructions on the product label.

Bristle brushes

Clean as soon as possible after use. Follow the instructions on the paint can to select the correct cleaning solvent, then:

• Work the cleaning solvent through the bristles, dipping up and down to the ferrule.
• Shake excess cleaner out of the brush after the final rinsing.
• Dry the brush with paper towels to remove as much thinner and residual paint as possible. Use a brush comb to remove stubborn paint residue and straighten the bristles.
• Dry the brush thoroughly and store in the brush keeper to help the bristles retain their shape.

Nylon/polyester brushes

These are usually used with waterbased paints (when used with solventbased paints, follow the cleaning directions outlined under Bristle Brushes).

• Clean in warm or hot soapy water. Multiple washes may be needed.
• Rinse in a clean container full of clean water.
• Use a brush comb to remove stubborn paint residue and straighten the bristles.
• Dry the brush thoroughly and store in the brush keeper to help the bristles retain their shape.

Occasionally, a bath of thinner or mineral spirits, followed by washing in warm soapy water and rinsing in clean water may be necessary. Mis-shapen nylon/polyester brushes can be reshaped by hand after soaking in very hot water. Wear protective gloves. Store brushes by hanging them. Never store a brush on its tips as this damages the bristles.