Pick the Right Paintbrush for the Job!

Applicators make all the difference for applying paint properly - so

Pick the right paintbrush for the job!

You can buy the most expensive paints available, have the colors mixed accurately, prepare the surfaces perfectly, and still end up with a disappointing paint job because you used the wrong brushes or rollers to apply the paint.  “While proper paints and preparation are important, the real secret to a good paint job is the paintbrush”, according to Chris Valle, Manager at Marin Ace. 
“There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all brush.  Good paint brushes have bristles that are firmly attached to a metal holder, called the ferrule,” Chris explains. “The more expensive the brush, the more bristles it has and the more tenaciously they will stay in place.”

Paintbrushes come in two major varieties and each has a place in your toolbox:

• Natural-fiber bristle brushes are made from animal hair. The most common is hog hair, which is labeled “China bristle.”  They are used for oil paint and solvent-thinned finishes only, since water-based paints will absorb into the bristles and leave them limp and mop like.
• Synthetic-fiber bristles are the choice for latex paint and water-based finishes.  These contain fibers made of nylon or polyester. Generally, they are less expensive than natural fibers.  The fibers are hollow, which is why after cleaning they continue to leak paint-tinged liquid.

“Some brushes contain blends of both natural and synthetic fibers, and those can be used with any type of paint,” Chris adds.  “You should own at least one of each of the three basic shapes of brushes.” 

These include:

• Flat brushes have bristles that are perpendicular to the ferrule.  For painting exterior siding or decks, a 4-inch plat brush with either natural or  synthetic bristles is the best applicator to use.  It covers large areas quickly, yet still is light enough to maneuver easily.
• Trim brushes cut at an angle, which makes it possible to paint crisp lines on trim, molding and windows and glass doors.  They range in width between one and two inches.  Chisel trim brushes are angles on both sides for extra precision.
• Stain brushes have flat bristles that are shorter and wider than a normal flat brush.  This gives them less of a tendency to drip, which is ideal for using with stains.

“When it comes to paint brushes, buy the best you can, keep them clean when you’re finished using them and they’ll stay with you for years”, Chris says.

Roll That Wall

“If you are painting a wall, a roller works much better than a paintbrush,” says Chris. “Painting walls or ceilings with a roller is faster and leaves a smooth matte
finish in its wake rather than a bunch of brush strokes.”

Rollers come in two styles based on their cores:

• Cardboard core rollers are less expensive.  They begin to compress and give way when dampened from the paint. The more you roll, the more the fibers glued to the core tend to pull out and stick to the wall.
• Hard core rollers come with more cost, but also more durable and can be cleaned and reused, so the added cost balances out in the long run.

Chris also recommends buying a sturdy metal rolling pan.  “The low-cost plastic pans are appealing, but when you try to pick one up filled with paint it will bend and spill,” he added. 

For more painting tips or detailed advice on home improvement, visit Marin Ace or log on to www.acehardware.com and click “Projects and Solutions”.  This section provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on common home improvement projects for do-it-yourselfers.

Marin Ace sells Ace Royal Brand Paint, and the new Clark+Kensington Paint+Primer in one, which was recently rated #1 among all interior paints by a leading consumer magazine. Visit Marin Ace on Saturday, March 16 for a free quart of Clark + Kensington paint.

Marin Ace is located at 180 Merrydale Road in San Rafael, the former Sizzler location, and is open daily, M-F 7-7, S-S 8-6. For more information, visit the store at www.MarinAce.com or call 415/479-9393.