{how to choose a paintbrush}

Friday Finds: What Paint Brush is Right for You?

Don’t suffer through beginner’s errors when it comes to painting; make an educated choice with your paint brush. You may not think about your paint brush as much as your paint color, but Roseville Sales Associate at Hirshfield’s, James Stoffel, believes you really should. So, what brush should you be using? It all depends on the project you’re going to tackle.

Exterior Painting Projects

Generally exterior paints are latex or acrylic based. An extra firm brush with man-made bristles will work the best. Stoffel explains that without a synthetic brush,“when it’s warm and humid the bristles will start to get soft and not follow your direction.” The cleaner line of a firm man-made brush will give you more control.

Detail Painting

Corona Brush

Stoffel recommends an angled sash brush, sometimes called a “cutting in brush.” Because the point of the brush is used it’s great at cutting close against the trim and making clean, fine lines.

Standard Room Painting

Again Stoffel suggests using an angled sash brush for all the ceilings and corners. He uses a professional 3 1/2 inch brush, but a do-it-yourself painter should use the standard 2 1/2 inch brush for fewer errors.

After you’ve painted at least two inches all around the trimming, it’s time to get out the roller. Stoffel explains you shouldn’t be using the cheapest roller cover available for your expensive painting project. That goes for your detail paintbrush as well.

Wooster Brush

The Price of a Quality Paint Brush

Stoffel likes to bring up the old phrase, “You get what you pay for.” You should spend as much as you’re comfortable with on a brush. To give you an idea of how long a quality one should last with proper paint brush maintenance, Stoffel’s $30 brush lasted him 15 years. It doesn’t make much sense to spend $3 on a brush for a $60 paint project. Stoffel believes $10 – $15 should be a starting point for a brush that will produce quality work.

Ask the builder

Synthetic Vs. Natural

Oil-based paints are perfect for natural brushes. They absorb water just like our hair does, so avoid natural brushes in water-based paints. They will become saturated in your color and simply mop the walls. Synthetic bristles are made to be completely nonabsorbent so they’re a perfect fit for water-based painting. Stoffel adds that synthetic bristles work best for latex-based paints as well and you should always avoid rough surfaces that will quickly wear out your natural bristles.

Choosing your paint brush is essential for a do-it-yourself paint project. If you have the right tools it makes the job easier, faster and better looking, too.

Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.