The quality of your paint job depends as much on
the paint applicators as it does on the paint. Don't skimp on quality ... professional
painters don't use quality applicators for the prestige, they use them for the
finish they achieve.
For most jobs, the following should suffice:
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A 50mm angular brush for woodwork and windows
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A 50mm trim brush for areas, like edges, that need extra control
-
A roller frame and cover with extension pole.
You may want to consider:
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Narrow rollers for trim and tight areas. -
A metal edge trim guide for protecting walls while you're doing the woodwork
-
A paint edger with guide wheels (a great alternative to masking).
A few tips:
Quality brushes hold more paint and hold their
bristles too, that's important to help your job go quickly with good results.
Brushes use either natural or synthetic bristles, or a blend. Natural bristles
work only with oil based paints; synthetic bristles work with both oil based and
water base.
Before you use a new brush, hold the brush by the
handle and sharply rap the flat bristle end of the brush against the edge of a
table or bench. Look at the bristles and you will probably notice a few bristles
have risen above the normal bristle line. These are the bristles that would
normally end up on your paint job ... pull them out now.
For most walls and ceilings you'll use a
paint roller. Choose one with a steel frame, a metal cage, and a
threaded handle that can hold an extension pole. When selecting a cover, choose
a shorter nap (5mm or 10mm) for painting smooth indoor surfaces, and
longer nap (20mm or 32mm) for rougher surfaces including textured
walls, masonry and stucco.
For edging, cutting in and painting flat trim, foam
pads provide a convenient alternative to brushes. Because they're flat, they
leave less surface texture in the paint and they tend not to drip or
spatter. Their flexibility also makes them ideal for reaching inside tight areas.
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