Painting itself is not a difficult task but painting with neatness and without leaving brush strokes is indeed a challenging thing to do. Suppose you paint something and leave strokes or marks upon it. It would turn out worse than before you painted. But do not worry we have discovered the magic spell. If you follow it blindly your paint outlook will turn professional.You just need to remember three crucial P’s- Prep, Practice, and Patience. One cannot be a pro in painting in a single day. This process is time taking and is learned through practice with proper learning. Painting is a messy and tricky process. So before you start your project you must go through the guide I wrote after struggling with my guest room’s paint. I have read different blogs and repainted my guest room till I got a neat look. So stay tuned to learn tricks and hacks to paint like a pro.
Before starting the project of painting it is necessary to prepare the surface beforehand. Preparation here means cleaning the surface properly so that no dust particles can be seen on the surface. Any dust particle can hinder your project, making it worse. It will leave bubbles, brush strokes, and streaks on the surface making it cracked and crumbled. So it’s better to clean and dry the surface by using a towel.
Brushing techniques are the same whether you are using latex paints, chalk paints, mineral paints, or oil paints. The thing that makes a difference is the type of brush.
For oil-based products, natural bristles with your brush are recommended but these brushes are not suitable for latex paints. Synthetic brushes should be used with latex paints as they will give more natural results.
1.Choosing The Paint :
Brushing techniques are always the same with all kinds of paints. There are four types of paints which include latex paints, oil-based paints, mineral paints, and chalk paints. Some paints are easier to do as compared to others. Chalk paints with a matte finish are usually less prone to streaking because of their thick texture. It can conceal flaws more easily. PAINT A DOOR with a longer drying period and without any brush marks are the better options to prevent brush strokes.
Oil-based paints and latex paints are the most common paints that are being used. Oil-based paints give a glossy touch and have an extended drying period. The major drawback is that it has a higher concentration of volatile organic compounds. This results in strong odor of fumes which can be toxic if used in large amounts. So oil-based paints are safe to use on smaller surfaces like cabinets and furniture which don’t require a larger amount of paint.
2.Choosing The Paint Brushes:
Brushes should be chosen wisely. A good quality brush won’t disappoint you in any way. No one will like to pick shredded fibers of brush from freshly painted surfaces. It will also not look good. A reliable brush will not only hold paint better but also prevent dripping. Always pick a brush that has soft and quick fanout bristles. Generally, brushes are made of animal hair, synthetic, polyester, or a mix between nylon and polyester.
Natural bristles brush composed of animal hair, usually ox hair paint brushes are best suitable for oil-based paints. However, these are not the better option for latex or water-based paints because they can absorb latex paints easily. So for latex paints, synthetic brushes are the better choice to go.
3. Preparing The Surface :
The first step in preparation is to clean the surface. Remove all the dust particles by using any towel and dry the surface thoroughly. After cleaning the surface the next step is to prime the surface by using a good primer. Once your surface is primed, the next step is to sand it down with sandpaper. After sanding the surface use a dust brush to remove all the dust that is being produced by sanding. This is how you will prepare your surface before PRIMER DRY BEFORE PAINTING it to get good results.
PAINTING WITHOUT LEAVING BRUSHSTROKES
After preparing the surface, choosing the paints and brushes, the next task is to paint the surface. Here you need to apply the techniques to avoid brush strokes.
Things that you will need to paint the surface are
Paint
Paintbrushes
Masking material
Paint thinner
Sandpaper
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO PAINT LIKE PRO
Use a quality brush and paint
Prepare the paint
Dipping the paintbrush
Avoid applying too much pressure on the brush
Follow a direction
Use an alternative to avoid brush strokes
STEP 1: USE A QUALITY BRUSH AND PAINT
To get a clean and neat finish, always prefer to use a quality brush. Spend a little more to get the brush with fine bristles. Fan through the brush with your finger to free the bristles from each other.
Paint Brushes are made of animal hair, nylon, polyester, and a mixture of nylon and polyester. The highest quality brush is made of animal hair. They are easy to use so for beginners like us animal hair brushes are the perfect choice.
Brushes with synthetic bristles are also not bad but they are best for latex paints. It’s harder to get a smooth ideal finish with cheap brushes. So always prefer quality brushes for ideal results. The same formula is for cheap paint. The cheap quality paint also does not give you a smooth finish as compared to good quality paint.
The crux is that the high-quality paint brushes hold the paint better and give you a smoother finish without leaving any brush strokes.
STEP 2: PREPARE THE PAINT
Prepare the paint by adding the correct quantity of thinning agents or a conditioner. Floetrol for latex paints and petrol for oil paints are the well-known and best paint conditioners to give a smoother finish.
STEP 3: DIPPING THE BRUSH
The next step is to dip the brush in paint. Take out an appropriate amount of paint on the brush. The paint should neither be too less nor be dripping from the handle of the brush. The bristles of the paintbrush should be half-covered with paint. To remove the excess paint don’t rub or wipe the brush along with the bucket. Instead of rubbing, slap the brush on a bucket wall for an even layer. Too little paint can produce brush strokes. So to avoid them use an appropriate amount of paint.
STEP 4: AVOID APPLYING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE BRUSH
Now once you have taken an appropriate amount of paint on the brush, the next step is to apply it to the surface. While applying the paint you must keep in mind that too much pressure can leave brush strokes on the surface which may look untidy when it will be dried. It’s a very common mistake. Don’t press the brush down so hard on the surface while painting. Neither apply too much force nor apply too little pressure. Keep a balance between both.
Apply the paint into the brush evenly and let it float on the surface. The paint won’t float if you apply too much pressure resulting in an ugly look. If you apply too much pressure then let it dry completely. Once it gets dried, use sandpaper to scratch the excessive paint and try another coat to get a smooth finish. This time avoid making the same mistake again.
STEP 5: FOLLOW A DIRECTION
Always follow the same direction whether you are painting a smaller surface or a larger surface. First, work on the corners and edges and leave the strokes in the same direction. However, if you are using a paint roller, always paint consistently in the downward direction to avoid a reflective and contrasting finish. Leaving paint strokes in one direction will ensure uniform results and a good clean finish without leaving any marks or brush strokes.
Let the wall dry first then go for the next coat with the same process. Painting over a wet wall will leave an uneven patchy and unattractive dry finish. The second coat on drywall will give you a smoother finish.
STEP 6: USE AN ALTERNATIVE TO AVOID BRUSH STROKES
If brush strokes still cannot be avoided by using all the techniques then use an alternative option instead of a paintbrush. Foam roller and paint sprayer can be used as an alternative to avoid maximum brush strokes. Paint rollers also leave streaks but are more convenient and less tricky to perform function. With a paint roller, you can paint easily without the fear of brush strokes. This will also not take too much time as brush takes. But you will still need a paintbrush to cut out the edges and corners.
For an easier solution, you can choose paint spray. It works more conveniently without leaving brush strokes. This will provide professional results in half the time than brush and roller.
SOME MORE TIPS TO AVOID BRUSH STROKES
There are some tips and tricks which can help you in avoiding maximum brush strokes.
Using conditioner
Slapping off the brush
Following the grain
Cutting and filling
Avoid over-brushing
Using conditioner:
Paint conditioner like floral and petrol is when added, prolongs the drying time of the paint. When it takes more time to dry, the painter will get enough time to work which will reduce the chance of brush strokes. Paint conditioners give a glossy look to the surface making it smooth, even, and professional.
However, read the instructions before using the paint conditioner. Only apply the recommended quantity of the product to paint. Too much conditioner in the paint will make it a drippy mixture which will decrease the coverage area.
Slapping Off The Brush:
Don’t wipe or rub the brush to remove the excess paint. Rather slap off the brush against the bucket wall to remove the excess paint. By rubbing the brush, the bristles will be dried resulting in streaking which will not look smooth.
Following The Grain:
To avoid dark patches and brush strokes it is very important to follow the same direction you have used at the start. While using wooden surfaces follow the direction of the grain and paint towards it. This will ensure a smooth finish.
Cutting And Filling:
Always take start from edges, borders, and corners. Cut them down first before filling them in. then apply the brush strokes in the middle.
Avoid Over-Brushing:
Over brushing and applying too much pressure on the brush will spread out the paint and a thin layer will be produced which results in prominent brush strokes. Don’t even apply the strokes in the same place multiple times. It will also leave brush strokes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Rollers are easy to use as compared to brushes because for using brushes you must know the type of brush, paint, and brushing techniques. Ignoring any of these while using a brush will leave brush strokes. So in this regard rollers are way better but there are also a few techniques of using rollers. Don’t even avoid those techniques otherwise, they will also leave brush strokes.
Paint with longer drying time and matte finish has fewer chances of brush strokes rather than those having lesser drying time. Oil paints usually take a longer time to dry. So they can be the better option but latex paints can also increase their drying time by adding conditioner in it. So while using both paints you still have to follow the tips and tricks to avoid brush strokes
CONCLUSION :
To avoid brush strokes you must invest in good quality brushes, paint and you must know all the techniques and tricks to apply the paint. Moreover, practice always makes a man perfect. No one can be professional the first time. Practice and patience will help you in overcoming this problem. In addition, you must know the paint type and paintbrushes you are using before starting your project. Select the brush wisely according to the type of your paint. Painting is just a learning process. It becomes easy with practice, preparation, and little knowledge.
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