Make Sure Your Painting Project Is Well in Hand

Historic information about paintbrushes dates to the Phoenicians. In their day, horns were filled with animal hair that was held in place with twine.

The modern version is rectangular and uses a metal ferrule (or ring) with tapered bristles that can be used to easily paint a straight line, even in very tight corners.

There are a few things to look for in a good-quality paintbrush:

* If the handle is made of wood, it should have a protective coating to prevent the handle from being stained.

* The ferrule should not wiggle. It should be solidly attached to the handle, making a sound base for the connection to the bristles.

* Bristles should have split ends.

* A good paintbrush holds more paint, leaves fewer bristles behind and provides a smoother paint job than the typical “throwaway” brush. Some folks don’t want to invest in good paintbrushes because they don’t want to clean them. However, throwaway brushes simply don’t do the job that a fine-quality brush does.

Although using a good brush is important, about 95% of do-it-yourself interior wall painting is done with a roller. Even a rank amateur can use paint rollers because they’re simple to use, effective and fast.

But even with the best and simplest of tools, there are ways to get the most done while exerting the least energy. Ed Majkrzak, technical director at True Value Paint Co., says, “Good paint alone won’t do the trick.” A good applicator is equally important, he says.

Because the roller cover itself is the most important part of the paint-rolling system, it is important to know how to choose the best one and how to use it.

The roller cover is a two-part contraption consisting of the core and the fabric covering. Majkrzak calls the core the “foundation” and says that the best type is made of phenolic-impregnated (resin-impregnated) craft paper. This core is made in an interesting process.

First, craft paper is rolled into a continuous tube that looks like a cardboard mailer. Next, the paper tube is pressure-injected with a resin and heat-cured.

The resultant core is resistant to all known paint solvents and creates a tube that is nearly impossible for the average person to crush. Plastic, on the other hand, will soften in certain solvents, and a plastic core that is not perfectly round will “bump” on the surface, resulting in an uneven distribution of paint.

Water and solvents will soften a plain cardboard core, the cheapest of the three types. This type of roller core will generally not hold up any longer than it takes to paint one room.

Top-quality rollers pick up and release more paint per fill and provide more uniform coverage with less effort. Inexpensive rollers tend to mat down, reducing the amount of paint the roller will hold and requiring more frequent fillings.

The fabric covering also has much to do with the quality of a good roller cover. The commonly used fabrics are available in many grades, however, so the best way to get good-quality material is to purchase top-of-the-line roller covers.

Desired qualities in roller-cover fabric:

* Ability to pick up paint.

* Ability to release the paint evenly on the surface.

* Ability to recover from compression. A fabric that mats down is no good.

* The surface finishes it can create (smooth, rough, orange-peel, etc.).

* Tendency to not shed.

Keep the following in mind when selecting a roller cover:

* For an ultra-smooth wall finish using enamel or semi-gloss paint, use a quarter-inch mohair or a quarter-inch all-purpose cover.

* For brick or block, use a 11/2-inch pile cover.

* For flat finishes on walls and ceilings, use a three-eighths-inch to a half-inch pile cover.

Most manufacturers offer guides that suggest the best use for their roller cover. Following these guidelines will help ensure a good job.

Finally, it’s essential to know how to fill a roller and distribute the paint on the wall.

Properly filling a roller requires use of a roller pan. The pan provides a place to soak the roller with paint and a place to roll off the excess to ensure that the paint is evenly distributed along the roller.

Dip the roller in the paint well and roll it back and forth until it is completely covered with paint. Then roll it back and forth over the angled section of the pan until the paint is evenly distributed.

Don’t move a roller cover to the wall while it is dripping with paint; if the roller drips, it is overfilled. To apply the paint, use an M-shaped or W-shaped stroke on the wall. Then move the roller up and down to evenly spread the paint.