When To Use a Paint Brush vs Roller

Painting can be a challenging process, especially since one of the most important aspects of a good paint job is using the right tools. When it comes to tools, the paint applicator is a big choice. Many do-it-yourself painters will use either a paint brush or a roller. While both have a time and place, the best paint jobs may use a combination of tools. Knowing the right platform and how and when to use each tool is the key to a great paint job.

Paintbrushes

The paintbrush is perfect for small paint jobs, corners, and edges. A good quality paintbrush can last for many years, it will be easy to clean, and it will create very little mess while you paint. While a paintbrush gives you control over where the paint goes, it does take more time to paint with a paintbrush than it does to paint with a roller. Paintbrushes can also leave brush strokes.

Types of Paintbrushes

Paintbrushes are generally stiff or soft, and they can be made with natural hair or synthetic fiber. Professional painters tend to debate whether natural hair or synthetic fiber is better to use for painting. The more you experience both types of brushes, the easier it will be for you to join one side of this debate. Until then, realize that higher quality paintbrushes cost more than cheap paintbrushes.

When choosing stiff or soft brushes, consider your project. Soft brushes work great with thin paints, and they leave fewer strokes, which works well for paint jobs with fine details. Stiff brushes are perfect for getting into course materials, and they can hold thicker paint.

How to Use a Paintbrush

Hold your paintbrush at a 45-degree angle. Dip the paintbrush about 1/3 of the way into the paint and then scrape off any excess. Use smooth long motions as you paint, and avoid going back over your work until it is dry. If you need to dab into an area to apply paint, perform this process first and then go over the area with a smooth motion. You’ll need to keep an eye out for globs or drips, especially when you paint an edge.

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Paint Rollers

Paint rollers speed up the entire painting process. You are able to cover large areas quickly with an even spread and coverage. Paint accessories, such as edge guards, can help you get a straight edge so you don’t have to switch between a paintbrush and the roller. Even though rollers can apply paint faster, they often use more paint.

Types of Rollers

Rollers can be made of lamb's wool, mohair, or various synthetic products. You can tell the types of paint that a roller will work best for by looking at the label. The nap, or length of the fiber, can range from as long as 1 ½ inches to as little as 1/16 of an inch. In general, the courser the material, the longer you want your nap to be.

How to Paint with a Roller

Applying paint with a roller is very different than using a brush. Start by making an M or W with the paint. Plan to paint a 3-square-foot section without lifting the roller off the wall. Then, zigzag your way in between the letter. To get even coverage, apply the same amount of pressure to the roller as you work your way across the surface area. If you see patchy areas, you may be overworking a section. This happens when you try to get too much area out of one paint fill. Other problems can occur when you apply new paint to a partially dry area.

Cleaning Up

Paintbrushes and rollers are relatively easy to clean, especially when compared to a spray painter. You can wash a paintbrush quickly; however, you need to ensure you’ve removed all the paint. It’s possible to wash and reuse rollers, but many find this tedious. Washing can also impact the nap, making the roller uneven or ruining the nap’s original length. For an easy fix, toss the roller and buy a new one for each paint job.

Using the right painting tools at the right time can give you a professional-looking paint job. For more information on painting, find out the best paint brands to use for your project at our DIY blog.