DIY Painting with a Brush

Painting Trim Molding
• Painting Raised–Panel Doors
• Washing Brushes and Rollers
• Painting with a Roller

A paint brush is required on trim molding and to paint the border or "cut–in", around corners between walls and ceilings. If you want to paint a straight line between two paint colors use the instructions for painting a straight line on trim molding and painting a white ceiling.

Using a Paint Brush

For improved control over a standard, straight cut paint brush, use a sash brush for brushing paint.

Hold the brush as you would a pencil or pen, grasping it around the ferrule—the metal band holding the bristles to the handle— with the angle of the bristles pointing up.

Load the brush with paint by dipping it into a half bucket of paint. Pull the brush out and tap it on the sides of the bucket to work paint into the bristles.

Apply the paint to the surface using back and forth strokes. Don't try to spread the paint too far, before the brush starts to drag, stop and reload it to continue painting.

Paint trim molding starting at the top and working down, painting each section before moving to the next. For instance, paint the top of a window casing first, then paint down the two sides before moving to the sill.