Paint Brushes | University Painters

Who doesn’t like a freshly painted interior or exterior in your home or place of business? Fresh paint gives off a bright, clean feeling. It’s uplifting and makes most people feel pride in their surroundings. But, in the process of painting – and prior to the completed project – there are a number of common paint problems that may cause you to become frustrated and sidetrack you from completing the work. Let’s consider some of these in this blog.

First, when applying a fresh coat of paint, you may find that a stain is apparent underneath. Often those who take on a painting project are unaware that the extra time taken to prep the surface prior to painting will save time and money in the end. If there are stains on the interior or exterior of your home or business, you should take care to remove them before starting to paint. All surfaces should be cleaned and primed before you dip that paint brush into the can.
Second, once you have cleaned the surfaces, be sure to allow enough time for it to dry thoroughly. If you fail to do so you may find that your freshly painted surface will begin to flake, bubble up, or otherwise be unsightly. If you have flaking paint, remove it thoroughly with an abrasive brush, then sand it smoothly so that when you repaint these areas you won’t be able to tell the difference between the old and new paint.
Third, avoid brush marks and paint drips. So, you’ve chosen your color, primed your surfaces, allowed adequate time for it to dry and now comes the moment of truth. You have opened your paint can, stirred it thoroughly and you are on the precipice of updating your home or business’s interior or exterior. In all of your excitement, you dip the brush into the can and put it out completely overloaded and dripping. Then, to make matters worse, the brush is so paint-laden that it causes brush marks as you paint. How to avoid this? It’s simple – don’t overload your brush with paint – or otherwise engage in poor painting techniques.

Need more tips on avoiding common mistakes in painting? Contact the expert painting company of University Painters, Inc. We are here to serve you!

paint, color,house painters Paint brushes come in a variety of sizes, bristle and handle types. Think all brushes are pretty much the same? Think again. A good brush holds more paint than a cheaper one and will make application easier and faster.

Brush Bristles

There are basically three types of brushes: natural-brushes, polyester brushes, and nylon/polyester brushes. Each brush performs differently depending on the type of paint it’s used with.

Natural-bristle

These brushes are made with animal hair and are best used with oil-based paints, varnishes, and other oil-based finishes. The natural splitting on the tips of these brushes are designed to hold more paint and create a smooth finish.

Polyester bristle

It’s best to use polyester bristle brushes with latex paints, but they hold their shape well when used with any paint and produce a smooth, even finish.

Nylon/polyester blend bristles

The mixture of bristles makes these brushes easy to clean and flexible enough to work with any type of latex paint. Nylon/polyester brushes are durable and keep their shape after continued use. If cared for properly, these brushes can last for years.

Size Does Matter

Choose the brush size depending on what you’ll be painting. A general rule for size is one to two inches for windows and other trim; three inches for gloss paints on doors and cabinets; four inches for large, flat areas. In addition to size, consider the shape of the brush. Slanted brushes create straight lines in corners and on edges, while square edge brushes are good for applying paint on large, flat areas.

Maintenance

Make your brushes last a long time by properly maintaining them after each use. Latex paint cleans up in warm water, while oil paint needs to be cleaned with a solvent. When cleaning a brush after using latex paint, hold the brush under warm running water, spread the bristles, and push them against the bottom of the sink to clean brush from tip to handle. For oil paint, swish the brush from side to side in the solvent to remove paint. Use a fresh container of solvent for the final rinse. Dry brushes flat to maintain the proper shape and never store brushes with the bristle end down.

The technicians at University Painters use the finest equipment to produce quality results all around your home. Call or go online to schedule an appointment today.

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