10 Things to Consider When Buying types of paint brushes for walls

Are you planning to do some DIY wall painting but can't decide which brushes you'll need?

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When it comes to painting, you're only as good as your brush. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, the brush you're using to paint your wall usually determines the end result. This is why it's a good idea to look for the best brushes for the job at hand. 

Best Brushes for Painting Walls: What to Look for 

Selecting the right brush for the right job can be hard, especially for first-time DIY painters. There are four categories to consider when choosing the best wall painting brushes for you. 

These categories are material, shape, size, and quality. 

1. Material 

The first thing you have to consider when choosing the best brush for painting walls is the material the bristles are made of. 

Brushes can be made of various materials but the three main ones are natural, synthetic, or foam. 

Natural brushes often called "China brushes", are made of natural animal hair like boar, horse, or badger. This material absorbs oil-based paint quickly and leaves a smooth finish, depending on its quality. Natural brushes can be cleaned and reused many times.

Synthetic brushes are made of nylon or polyester or a combination of both. This material loads up and releases water-based (latex) paint very well and leaves a smooth even finish. Similar to natural brushes, synthetic brushes can also be cleaned and reused many times.

Foam brush heads are made of foam or other sponge-like material. They generally absorb, hold, and release paint very well regardless of what type of paint it is. Although foam brushes can be cleaned and re-used (with a little bit more effort), they're usually one-use only.

So, which brush material is best for painting walls?

While natural and foam brushes can still be used, synthetic brushes are generally better for painting walls. They load just enough paint, leave a smooth finish without leaving behind stray fibers (unlike natural brushes), and can be washed and reused many times (unlike foam brushes). 

2. Shape 

A brush's shape should help you paint surfaces better and quicker. 

For painting walls, you have two main options. These are flat brushes and angled brushes. 

Flat brushes have an even squared edge tip which lets you use them flat against the wall. They can load up a lot of paint and are best used if you want to cover as much of your wall in as little time. 

Angled brushes have an angled tip. This type of brush makes it easier to apply paint close to another surface (such as window trim) or when painting anything with grooved walls. 

So which brush shape is better? 

Unfortunately, this question ends in a draw. The best brush shape will depend on what part of your wall you're trying to paint. 

3. Size 

Brushes can come in a variety of sizes and will depend on which part of your wall you're painting. 

Smaller 2-2.5 inch brushes are great for cutting into corners. 

Bigger 5-6 inch brushes can help you cover surfaces quicker. 

Choosing the right sized brush(es) will depend on the size of your wall's surface and the level of accuracy you need to paint it, such as when you're painting next to a ceiling or other section of wall with a different color. 

Want more information on types of paint brushes for walls? Feel free to contact us.

4. Quality 

When shopping for brushes, it's often tempting to simply get the cheapest ones and save a few bucks in the process. Leave the pricier brushes for the professionals, right?

The thing is:

When painting anything, the quality of your brushes can determine how good your results are going to be. 

While it's true that better brushes usually come with bigger price tags, they also make your work easier, leave better results, and can last several years with proper care after use – just ask anyone who's had quality brushes for years.

Best Brushes for Painting Walls: Our Suggestions

So, now that you know what to look for when choosing wall painting brushes, what brushes do we recommend? 

Check out what our customers are buying right now!

1. Exterior Walls: Riverdale Chinex Angle Sash  

The Riverdale Chinex Angle Sash by Premier has a chiseled (angled) edge that makes it ideal for cutting into window sills and corners while still being usable for general flat wall painting. 

Developed by the Dupont company, Chinex is a modified nylon bristle that mimics the qualities of natural bristle brushes. 

Since paint dries faster outside, this brush lets you clean off dry paint better without getting damaged, unlike natural bristle brushes.

2. Staining Decks and Sidings: Deck Boss or 4-6 Inch Natural Bristle Flat Brush 

When it comes to staining decks and sidings, you can't go wrong with the Deck Boss by Perdura. Its size makes it ideal for saving time on large surfaces while its quality synthetic bristles work great with water and oil-based paints, stains, sealers, epoxy, and varnish for wood and concrete – plus you can attach it to a pole for better reach. 

If you're painting on wood like rough sawn cedar which tend to damage staining brushes, you can replace your Deck Boss with a 4-6 inch natural bristle flat brush instead. 

3. Interior Walls: Premier Montauk 

For interior walls, you want your finish to be as smooth as possible. 

The Premier Montauk Paint Brush is made of Dupont Tynex and Orel filaments which carry more paint to the tip of the brush while leaving a smoother finish. This brush is also stiffer and keeps its shape better than ordinary nylon brushes which means it's easier to clean after use. 

The Montauk's angled tip lets you cut into corners while still doing a great job at general flat painting. 

An artist’s paintbrushes are one of the most important tools. Choosing between all the different types of paint brushes for your project can be daunting. With so many different shapes and sizes, it can be hard to know which one to use. Each brush shape and size has a purpose and results in different effects. Practicing with each brush shape to see which kind you prefer is a great place to start! Read below to learn about each type of shape and what they can be used for.

Flat Shapes

Flat shapes are great for filling in large areas of color, painting straight lines, and blending. A few of the most common brushes in the flat family are flat shaders, filbert, angular shader, and wash brushes. This is what we like to use each type for:

• Flat shaders: These brushes are a little longer than chisel blenders and allow you to create a longer stroke. They are great for filling in large areas of color or using the chiseled edge for thin lines. • Filbert: Filbert brushes are like a flat shader; however, they have a rounded tip instead of a straight one. These brushes are great for creating soft edges. For example, a rose petal or cloud. They work well for blending and creating dry brushed textures as well. • Angular shader: Angular shaders are perfect for crisp edges and allow for precise control. The angled tip is perfect for blending in tight areas and making thin lines. • Wash/Glaze: A wash brush is a must-have for creating base coats, applying color to large areas, and broad strokes. Every artist should have at least one in their arsenal.

Round Shapes

Round brushes are an extremely versatile brush to paint with! They’re perfect for detail work and thicker strokes. They come in various shapes such as round, liner, spotter, quill, and long round. Learn more about the different round shapes below:

• Round: Your basic round brush can be a normal round or a long round shape. These brushes are great for small details or filling in large areas depending on how much pressure you apply and the brush size. Larger round brushes (higher numbers) can hold quite a bit of water in the belly of the brush but still end in a fine tapered point. This allows for a variety of strokes and the ability to move from large coverage to tight detail without having to dip back into the paint often. • Liner: The long hairs on a liner brush allow for consistent thick to thin lines when painting things like vines, tree branches, and foliage. • Spotter: Spotter brushes are ideal for detail work. You can create very fine and precise lines in miniature paintings. • Quill: These brushes specifically have a large belly to hold more paint and allow you to create large washes of color.

Types of Paint Brushes in Specialty Shapes

When creating things like grass, fur, or clouds it can help to use a specialty-shaped brush. There are many specialty-shaped brushes, but we’re going to discuss just a few. The following are the most typically used shapes:

• Fan: These brushes are great for blending and softening the edges of paint strokes. You can also use it to dry brush and create hair, trees, grass, and shrubbery. • Round Blender: Use a round blender when you want to soften an area and blend the colors together. • Filbert Grainer/Grainer: In this brush, the hairs are thinned and spread apart near the tip to allow for painting fur, grass, cross-hatching, and other textures. • Mops: Mop brushes are the best for moving low viscosity paints and blending. You can also use them as a soft wash brush to spread the color.

Want to learn more about the different types of paint brushes we have? Check out our detailed guide here.

For more information, please visit decorative paint rollers for walls.