How to Choose Paint Brushes & Rollers - Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams paint brushes and roller covers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. A high-quality application tool can mean a better-looking job with less effort. Why? Because good-quality brushes and rollers hold more paint and apply it more evenly, saving you time and helping you get the results you want.

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To help you choose the best tools for your project, here's a look at the different styles and sizes of brushes and roller covers available at Sherwin-Williams.

Natural-bristle brushes made with animal hairs are used for applying oil base paints, varnishes, shellac, polyurethane and other oil base finishes. The natural "flagging" (splitting or fuzzy tips) of these brushes creates split ends in the bristles that hold more paint and help assure a smooth paint release and finish.

Blended nylon/polyester brushes are easy to clean and work well with all types of latex paints. The combination of nylon's durability and polyester's shape retention is the mark of a high-quality brush — one that also produces a high-quality paint finish. 

These durable paint brushes are built to handle numerous projects. So, with proper care, nylon/polyester brushes should last for years.

Polyester brushes are best for latex paints. These brushes hold their shape and stiffness in any paint and apply paint smoothly and evenly.

Chisel trim brushes have slanted bristles that produce a good, straight line for trimming in corners and edges.

Square trim brushes have bristles that are cut square and used primarily for applying paint over flat areas.

Angled brushes have bristles that are cut to make it easier to apply paint to window trim.

Thin angle sashes have slanted bristles and a thin profile produce a good, straight line for trimming in corners and edges.

Angle sashes feature slanted bristles and holds more paint than its thin counterpart. Excellent for cutting in at the ceiling or painting trim.

Flat sashes have bristles that are straight across and used primarily for applying paint over flat areas.

Trim is a flat brush that is excellent for painting large flat surfaces, especially exterior siding.

Wall is a thick flat brush that holds a larger amount of paint. Excellent for painting larger surface areas.

Synthetic covers (nylon, dacron or polyester) is ideal for most latex paints.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website types of paint brushes for walls.

Natural covers (mohair or sheepskin) should be used with oil-based paints. If used with latex paints, the water in the paint may swell the fibers, causing them to become matted.

Blended covers (polyester / wool blend) combines the extra pickup of wool with polyester for longer life. They can be used with all paints.

Pile depth refers to the thickness of the roller cover's fiber nap. It's essential to choose the right pile depth for the surface you're painting. Sherwin-Williams offers six pile depths to meet almost any painting project:

• Very smooth for metal doors and plaster
• Smooth for drywall
• Semi-smooth for drywall
• Semi-rough for rough wood and acoustic tile
• Rough for textured ceilings and stucco finishes
• Very rough for concrete block, brick and fences

Use a thinner nap of ¼" or ⅜" when painting a smooth or slightly textured surface.

Use a thicker nap of ½" or more when:

• The surface you’re covering is porous like masonry, textured like stucco or a stippled ceiling, or has nooks and crannies like brick and mortar.
• You're applying a thicker paint or a heavier coating to any surface.

Thicker naps hold more paint so that it will spread more evenly and reach deeper into these types of surfaces. 

If you're new to art, you might be wondering: Why are there so many kinds of paintbrushes? How do I know when to switch to a different brush? In this blog post designed for beginners and art-lovers alike, you'll learn what each paintbrush shape is best used for, the difference in textures between each brush, and how to best take care of your little art-making friends.

Grab a new brush! Types of brushes

The most popular types of paintbrushes are Round, Liner, Wash, Angular Wash, and Fan. Each type of brush has different sizes to help you cover larger areas or get those fine details depending on the size and subject of your painting. The higher the number, the bigger the brush or the more bristles there are. Let's dive in to what each type of brush is best used for!

• Round Brushes are the most adaptable kind of brush because you can do so many things with them! This type of brush is great for washes, covering large areas quickly, and lines of all sizes.
• Liner Brushes are your best friend when it comes to fine details and small areas! These have smaller and longer bristles for small, crisp lines.
• Fan Brushes are great for unique textures and special effects, making it easy to create multiple lines or dots at once.
• Angled Brushes are best used for making clean lines. If you have an edge that’s close to another object or if you want a crisp, straight line, you'll want this kind of brush!
• Use a Flat or Wash Brush for color that’s smooth like butter, bold, and crisp! These are also great for creating long lines and spreading color quickly.

Read on to learn about the uses of each type of brush!

Want to see some of these brushes in action? Check out watercolor artist Sarah Cray's Panda and Tropical Sunset tutorials!

Maintenance

To get the best results in your artwork, you should replace your paintbrushes about every 6 months. However, if you're not quite sure if the time is right, there is an easier way to tell when your paintbrush needs a new hairdo!

If the bristles on your paintbrush look frayed, jagged, or if the bristles are starting to fall out, it's safe to say your little friend is ready for an upgrade. The bristles of your brush should come to a nice point, making it easy for you to create precise lines in your artwork. 

To preserve the life of your paintbrushes, it's important to take care of them the right way. 

• Never leave your brush sitting in a cup of water. This will damage the bristles! Instead, if you need to lay your brush down, it's best to let it rest flat on a dry area (like a paper towel).
• If you're painting with watercolor, you can wash your brush using just water. If you're painting with other mediums such as acrylic, it's best to wash your brush immediately after you're done with gentle soap and water. Once clean, reshape the bristles and lay flat to dry.
• Try not to mix the type of paintbrush you are using with a different medium. For example, paintbrushes with stiff bristles are best for mediums like acrylic. Paintbrushes with soft bristles are best for watercolor. If you do mix the type of paintbrush with the medium you are using, just be sure to thoroughly clean it when finished!

Ready to start painting? Check out our original Let's Make Art paintbrush collection here! If you don't know where to start, we also have a Beginner Series for Watercolor, Art Journaling, and Lettering.

Are you interested in learning more about wall stencil for painting? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Get Started with a NEW brush