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Professional Painting Tips and Tricks

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Advanced Painting Tips

Homeowners are you looking for more painting tips? You have come to the right place. This section will provide further details about brush selection, painting, finishing and more.

Which brush do I use for various types of paints?

If our Tool Selector didn’t provide enough information, here are detailed technical tips for selecting brushes and rollers.

Natural bristle - made from animal hair and is very soft and porous. For oil-base paints, most professionals choose a natural China bristle (hog hair) brush.

If you are painting a smooth surface with oil-base paint, natural white bristle is your best choice because it is soft and supple. When painting a textured surface, natural black bristle works better because it is stiffer and has superior abrasion wear. When you require an "ultra-fine" finish, a brush blended with ox hair is the best choice.

Synthetic filament - When your choice in coatings is water-base (frequently referred to as Latex), it is absolutely essential that you select a synthetic filament brush. The Purdy synthetic filament range includes:

  • 100% Black Nylon
  • 100% Dyed Nylon
  • Nylon/Polyester blend
  • 100% Chinex® filament
  • Chinex® /Nylon blend
  • Chinex® /Polyester blend
  • Chinex® /Nylon/Polyester blend

Brushes that include a blend of polyester, such as our XL Series, Elite Series, and Pro-Extra Series maintain their bend and recovery (or "flex") better than brushes made of 100% Nylon. This characteristic enables an XL, Elite or PRO-EXTRA brush to perform consistently well in warm, humid weather conditions.

When painting exclusively indoors under controlled climatic conditions, a 100% Nylon brush is a great choice because stiffness retention is not as critical a factor. Furthermore, 100% Nylon filament allows the paint to release from brush easier and flow more smoothly onto the working surface.

It is worth mentioning that Purdy synthetic filament brushes also perform exceedingly well in oil-base paints. This is due to the various processing and finishing steps in our manufacturing operation that softens the synthetic material and eliminates "drag" when used with oil-base paints.

To select a specific brush or roller for your application, visit our Tool Selector.

Which roller is the best choice for various types of paints?

Most people believe that all rollers look and feel similar, but it’s important they keep the following in mind to achieve the professional painting results they are looking for:

Woven roller cover - Rollers that are made out of woven material such as the "Purdy White Dove™" are virtually shed free because they are made out of continuous yarn. Every thread that makes up the face fabric is locked to the back of the fabric. These rollers are recommended for smooth surfaces such as doors, paneling and smooth walls.

Knitted roller cover - Rollers that are made out of knitted material are usually used for rough or semi rough surfaces such as rough-cut siding, stucco or textured walls and ceilings. We recommend the "Purdy Golden Eagle™." This roller contains a high-density material which will hold a lot of paint without dripping.

Selecting the Pile (or Nap) – The more texture desired, the higher the pile should be. A 1/2” and higher pile height is ideal for a stippled effect common to most homes. Pile heights on some Purdy roller covers are as high as 1-1/4” for an extremely textured effect. Conversely, if you desire a smooth finish in your kitchen, bath or utility room, use low-pile 1/4” to 3/8” roller covers like the White Dove™ and Parrot™.

How do I “Cut In” with Purdy brushes?

“Cutting in” is the art of drawing a straight line separating two colors using only the brush – no masking tape or other aid. You often see it at the edge where a wall color is cut into a different ceiling color. When cutting in, follow these simple rules:

  • Use a fully loaded brush.
  • Using the brush parallel to the area to be cut, let the brush open up into a semi oval and bring it into the line you are cutting. Follow the line until the line of paint begins to break up. Repeat. It is best to cut in while breathing out or holding your breath.
  • Work into the previous area.

To view how the Pros Cut in, watch the following videos:

When can I apply the next coat of paint?

Generally, a second coat of paint should be applied at least two hours following application of the previous coat. However, if it is humid or you are using a heavily tinted paint, it can take longer.

How do I create special effects with my painting (faux finishing)?

Since 1949, Symphony by Purdy has established itself as a leading manufacturer of special effect tools. Techniques used to create these unique finishes include stippling, stenciling, sponging, dragging, color washing, veining, softening and spattering.

If you have questions about desired finishes, painting techniques or faux finishing tools, please contact us.

When can I clean my painted walls?

Normally, wait at least two weeks before cleaning to give the paint time to cure. Some manufacturers require 30 days, so be sure to read the directions on the paint you are using.

What’s the best way to touch up paint?

To achieve acceptable touch-up results, it’s important to apply touch-up by the same method as the original application, if possible, to avoid having any difference in sheen or texture. Be sure to use paint from the original batch and under similar temperature and humidity conditions, if possible.

Repair the defects first. Then scuff sand the area around the patched area and apply a drywall primer.

For painting, apply a thin coat reducing some of the original paint about 25 percent.

Then apply the paint to the center of the patched area, using the original application method, and work it away from the patch.

By "feathering" the touchup out from the patch, the difference in film build and appearance should be minimized since you will be blending it into the surrounding areas. If the repaired areas are still noticeable, you may have to paint the entire wall.

DuPont™, and Chinex® are a registered trademark of E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company.