Do not run the brush against the rim of the bucket as this will remove too much paint and may also cause the bristles to stick together.Īfter cutting-in the corners, work in sections about 3 feet square. Then, to make sure your brush does not drip, slap it against the side of the bucket. Dip the brush straight up and down two or three times until the bristles are saturated about a third of their length. When you are first using a new brush, start by slowly stirring it in the paint this will slightly spread the bristles, allowing them to hold the paint better. Check the bristles of your brush for proper “flagging” and consistent bristles. To do this, roll the brush back and forth in your hands and then shake it well. If you fall into this category and are planning to paint a large surface, there are a few techniques that can help you achieve the best results.īefore you even dip a brush into a paint tray or bucket, you must properly prepare it, which means removing any bristles that have come loose. To paint “purists,” neither a paint sprayer nor a paint roller can quite achieve the quality finish that a good paintbrush can. Whether painting a ceiling or a wall, be sure to cut-in around light fixtures, outlets, windows, doors, and any other fixed items before filling in the rest of the surface with a brush or roller. If the ceiling is being painted a different color, paint it first and then the walls. If the same paint is being used for the wall and ceiling, you can cut-in the ceiling-to-wall connection just as you would the corners of a room. After applying paint with a roller, establish a straight edge between colors and cut-in around trim using a brush. For this reason, if you are using any of these paints, you should cut-in one corner and fill in the wall before cutting-in the next corner. Semigloss or gloss latex and alkyd paints take much longer to dry but will leave a demarcation line if the walls are not filled in while the paint is still wet. You can cut-in around the trim either before or after rolling.īecause the drying time of flat and eggshell latex paint is so short, you can cut-in an entire room before filling in the walls. This means painting both sides of each corner starting about two brush lengths away and painting in to the corner. Cut in the corners before you roll paint on the main surfaces.