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Nap time Know your paint-tool terms with our deep dive into decorating kit
Choosing the correct size, shape and type of brush for the job makes all the difference
Decorating tools 101
Nap time
The first step on the road to a perfect painting project is picking the right equipment. Sort your mini roller and sash brush from your spray gun with our guide to paint tools
Do you know your wool from your woven, your roller nap from your end cap? While you don’t need to learn all the jargon around painting tools, knowing where to use a roller or a brush, and which type to choose, can make all the difference to the end result of your painting project.
Generally, DIYers will tackle flat walls and ceilings with a roller or sprayer, and the trim with a brush or a mini roller. Rollers lay down a thick coat of paint fairly quickly and roller covers are easy to change. Brushes are great for more detailed work, while spray guns are a fantastic way to get a large job done quickly. Brush strokes Synthetic paintbrushes are the most common style and are recommended for plasterboard, timber, concrete, masonry, tiles and metal; synthetic filaments can be used on most surfaces and with most paints, says Ashley Simpson of Uni-Pro.
“For general-purpose jobs, on broad surfaces, we recommend using a wall brush,” says Ashley. “These brushes hold a good volume of paint and are great for walls, weatherboards, fences and brickwork. For precision work – for example, around windows and trims – use a sash cutter brush. An angular cutter brush will also help to get straight lines on trims and skirting, and get into small corners.”
The smallest paintbrushes (12-25mm) are ideal for detailed work, while the largest ones (88-100mm) are designed for fences, walls and roofs. “In between are the 38mm (for furniture, small panels, window frames, mouldings and shutters); the 50mm (for trims, architraves, skirting, cabinets); the 63mm (for fascias and outdoor furniture and structures); and the 75mm (for broad areas, decking, weatherboards and floorboards),” adds Ashley.
1 Monarch 50mm moulding and skirting synthetic paint brush, $20.25, I/N: 1660273. 2 Uni-Pro ‘You Can Do It’ 38mm synthetic wall paint brush, $6.45, I/N: 1660497. 3 Monarch 50mm cutting in and framing synthetic paint brush, $12.78, I/N: 1660278. 4 Monarch 63mm all purpose synthetic sash paint brush, $14.38, I/N: 1660614. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
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Uni-Pro ‘Little Ripper’ 100mm x 10mm nap microfibre mini roller set, $7.83, I/N: 0022469
Roller cover fabric… which to choose?
Polyester Cost effective, lint-free, ideal for walls and ceilings. Mohair For tables, doors and floors. High density foam For cupboards, and smooth or metal surfaces. Woven nylon For industrial applications. Acrylic synthetic An all-rounder. Unifibre Shed-resistant, good for smooth surfaces. Microfibre Popular for its lint-free finish and value. Corrugated foam Makes quick work of corrugated surfaces.
Let it roll Rollers let you cover a surface quickly, without leaving brush strokes. They come in different fabrics and multiple sizes. “Nap is the length of the roller cover’s fabric from the roller’s core,” explains Ashley Simpson. “The thicker the nap, the more paint a roller will hold. A thick or long nap is designed for rough surfaces, and a short/medium nap will give you a smooth finish.”
Renovator Kath Friedrich of Twisted Lime Designs (twistedlimedesigns.com) suggests a 10mm nap, 270mm-wide roller as a multipurpose go-to. “It’s a good general purpose roller and great value for money,” she says. An extra short nap (4-5mm) is ideal for doors, cupboards and tables; short/medium (10-12mm) is for walls and ceilings; and medium (15mm) is ideal for smoother render – it holds more paint than the 10-12mm naps, but is also heavier when loaded. Use a long nap (20mm) for textured surfaces, stucco and besser blocks. Mini rollers are perfect for small areas such as trims.
If you’re painting tiles, it’s better to use a roller with a short nap, Bernadette Janson of The School of Renovating (theschoolofrenovating.com) advises. “You definitely need a roller when using epoxy paint, not a brush, and a short nap will help to avoid that orange-peel effect,” she says. Come out to spray There’s no quicker way to conquer big paint jobs than with the might of a spray gun. “I can spray the inside of a whole house in a day when it would normally take weeks, so it’s a no-brainer, really!” says Kath.
Spray guns are great for covering bumps, cracks and other surface imperfections, and are really quick once you get going, but if you’re only doing a small area, the prep and clean-up is not really worth it. And you must remember to clean them thoroughly immediately after painting. “There’s at least an hour of painstaking cleaning to keep your sprayer in tip-top condition,” says Kath, “but it’s well worth it.” ◆
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Wagner ‘Control Pro 150’ (HEA) airless paint sprayer, $449, I/N: 0098286
EXPERT TIP
1 Scotch 24mm x 55m general painting painter’s masking tape, $7.19, I/N: 1660167. 2 Uni-Pro ‘You Can Do It’ 230mm 4mm nap microfibre roller cover, $6.13, I/N: 1662800. 3 Uni-Pro ‘Genius’ 230mm 10mm nap sheepskin roller cover, $22.90, I/N: 1660053. 4 Frog Tape 24mm delicate surface masking tape, $10.90/55m, I/N: 0088299. 5 Uni-Pro ‘Little Ripper’ 100mm 4mm nap microfibre mini roller covers, $5.45/pack of 2, I/N: 1662563. 6 Monarch 230mm comfort grip roller frame, $10.95, I/N: 1560516.
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Kath Friedrich Twisted Lime Designs
1 Wagner ‘Flexio 590’ complete paint sprayer kit with case, $239, I/N: 1662949. 2 Wagner ‘W95’ exterior paint sprayer, $89, I/N: 1560028. 3 Wagner ‘W200’ wood and metal paint sprayer, $159, I/N: 0076328. 4 Paint Partner coloured rags, $7.50/1.5kg, I/N: 0105940. 5 Paint Partner 3.6m x 2.6m plastic backed canvas drop sheet, $16.80, I/N: 1660308. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Watch it!
Get to grips with painting ceilings and cornices with this expert advice: bunnings. com.au/how-to-paint-a-ceiling
