Choosing The Right Paint Brush For Your Painting Project

When painting your home, whether it is the interior or exterior, one of the first steps will be purchasing everything you need to complete the project. From pots of paint and primer to masking tape and paint brushes, some things will be easier to purchase than others. Paint brushes, in particular, may seem like they will be easy to quickly buy at your local home store, when faced with a huge range of brushes to choose from, it can be quite overwhelming.

Many people are surprised to find out that it is important to use the correct brushes when painting and that doing so can actually make such a huge difference to the finished look of the job. Of course, paint brushes come in various different shapes and sizes, but in order to choose the right brush, you really need to know what your paint project requires as each brush will have a different purpose in mind. So, to help anyone who is trying to choose the right paint brush for their painting project, below is some information you may find useful.

Different types of bristles

One of the first things to note about paint brushes is that you can get two different types of bristles, natural and synthetic. As the name suggests, natural bristles are made from animal hair whereas synthetic bristles are made from materials like nylon and polyester. Depending on the type of paint you’re using, you should use different bristles;

• Natural bristles - oil-based paint or a varnish

• Synthetic bristles - water-based latex paint

So, for example, if you’re using water-based latex paint something like the Sprig Elite purdy paint brush is a brilliant choice. Whereas, if you’re using an oil-based paint then something like the hog hair Axus brush will be better. If you’re ever unsure which paint brush to use, it should say on the packaging which type of paint the brush is compatible with.

Different widths of brushes

Of course, as mentioned above, paint brushes come in different sizes too and you can make things much easier for yourself by choosing the right sized brush. In general, paint brushes commonly range from 1 inch to 5 inches, so it is easy to find something that will work for you when painting.

Whilst you may simply assume that a bigger paint brush is better because you can apply more paint much quicker, this isn’t always the case. You will likely use smaller brushes more frequently than bigger brushes, unless you’re painting a wide surface like a fence.

The best way to choose the right size/width of brush is to match it to what you’re painting. For example, if you’re painting a gap that is approximately 3 inches wide then something like a 2 ½ inch Purdy paint brush is perfect. It may be beneficial to pick up a set with different sizes, something like the Kana brushes, so you have everything you may need.  

Different shaped bristles

As well as paint brushes coming in different widths/sizes, you may also notice that the bristles can differ in shape too. You will find that some brushes, like the Pro-Cutter Axus brush are cut at an angle, whereas other brushes like the Monarch Elite Purdy paint brush have square ends. The shape of the bristles will help you to decide which brush is best to use.

• Angled bristles - easier to control the line of the paint, so they are perfect for cutting in around the edge of a room.

• Straight bristles - perfect for painting wide flat surfaces where control isn’t necessarily as important.

When decorating, as expected, it may be beneficial to have both a square end and an angled brush, so you can swap between the two depending on what it is that you’re painting and how much control you need to have over where the paint is going.

Buying the right paint brush for the job

Hopefully, everything mentioned above will help you when choosing the right paint brushes for your painting project. Of course, if you take good care of your paint brushes then you can continue to use them for various other projects around the house too, so it is always beneficial to invest in good quality brushes that you know will last. When looking to purchase the paint brushes you need visit the Decor Express website today.

Here at Decor Express, we have a huge selection of brushes for you to choose from, so you can easily ensure you’re purchasing something that will provide you with the best possible results. With lots of big named brands to choose from, such as Hamilton, Axus, Purdy, ProDec and Kana, you can trust that we really do have everything you could possibly need. If you have any questions at all about the brushes on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.