4 Things To Consider When Choosing a Paintbrush

Smaller projects or tighter spaces require a good paintbrush for the best results. And while it’s easy to walk into any department store and pick out a brush, not every paintbrush is the same! They have a variety of different features that will affect your painting job. Here’s everything you should know.

Bristle Type

There are several different bristle materials you can choose from ““ and yes, this really does make a difference for your painting job!

  • Natural: These bristles are made from animal hair. Not only is this very traditional, but these brushes excel at evenly applying oil-based paints, varnishes, and similar types of coatings. The natural hairs are quite rough and easily split ““ which is good news in this case, because it allows them to hold a lot more paint with each dip.
  • Polyester: Polyester bristles are very uniform and resist going soft over time. Since they stay stiff throughout their life, they are a great choice for applying latex paints on smooth surfaces, providing excellent results.
  • Nylon/Polyester: This combination of bristles adds even more durability to the brush, and is excellent for pretty much any type of latex paint and combination of surfaces.

Brush Size

Brush size is the most obvious factor in buying a brush, but it still deserves a little thought. A brush that’s only 1 to 2 inches wide is specifically designed for trim or hobby projects. A 3-inch brush is great for doors, furniture and tight corners where a certain amount of finesse is needed for the project. A 4-inch brush or longer is better for large, flat spaces where getting the job done quickly is important.

Brush Tip Shape

You will also find a variety of brush tip options to choose from!

  • Square trim: The edges are, well, square. These brushes are best for applying paint quickly to large, flat areas.
  • Chisel trim: These tips have a noticeable slant. This makes it a lot easier to paint on more delicate tasks, like creating careful straight lines, painting corners and edges, and so on.
  • Angled: These sharply angled brushes are best for painting trim and similar small sections.

Polyester: Polyester bristles are very uniform and resist going soft over time. Since they stay stiff throughout their life, they are a great choice for applying latex paints on smooth surfaces, providing excellent results.

Overall Brush Style

You may find that other brushes are labeled for their specific style or purpose. This is obviously more useful when doing some quick shopping, because it’s easier to find the brush you need without looking at every specification. However, there are some terms to be aware of here, too:

  • Trim: A trim style isn’t exactly meant for small trim pieces, but rather for larger exterior wall work. We know that doesn’t exactly make sense.
  • Wall: A wall style is designed to paint large inside walls quickly.
  • Angle sash:  An angle sash brush style is great for painting precise lines and dealing with different-colored trim. They can come in thin versions as well for even more delicate work.

Need more help? Call Tar Heel Painters today! We can offer advice on what brushes to use, what you need for a specific painting project, and everything else you should keep in mind.

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