A LOT of painting to do, so roller* is obvious choice, but do you actually get a better finish with a decent size brush all around – basically is it worth the extra pain?

Fairly neutral colours and lots of light coming in.

(apart from celings, sod doing them with a brush!)

*fine roller, new plaster, already had mist coat etc etc.

Ta 😀

I would say a roller is a much better finish for emulsion on walls. Unless you’re a time served old school decorator, plenty of thin coats with a good quality short pile woven sleeve achieves a better finish for the DIYer.

(I work in some pretty high end projects from time to time and nobody uses a brush apart from for cutting in.)

“Better”? as in better quality or looks better?
Personal taste surely and depends on the paint (Crown is horrible rollered).

(And what the wise man above said 🙂 )

Airless sprayer wins.

I think paint pads give a better finish with emulsion on large areas. Not as easy to use as a roller though.

Roller always my choice for the walls and ceiling. Do not skimp on cheap ones though. If the surface is nice smooth plaster, use a good quality short pile one.

Just decorated a bedroom and tried a short pile TopTex mixed fiber roller sleeve. A nice low texture finish for a roller.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/9/9_INCH_TOPTEX_PAINT_ROLLER_SLEEVE_SHORT_PILE/

bn, I’ve always found Harris short pile woven sleeves to be excellent (but to be fair, I use them for applying oils and lacquers to floors rather than painting…though I have used them in my own house plenty of times).

Oh and just buy everything at 1 3/4″ rather than 1 1/2″ That way anything you get from screwfix will fit.

Ah, well that already seems pretty conclusive, thanks!

Yes, good quality tools & paint.

It’s just on previous paint jobs, I’ve always noticed the border between where I’ve cut in, and where the roller ends.

Guess I’ll just be more careful this time.

EDIT: It’s Harris short pile rollers I’m using, so that’s reassuring 😀

I find again, that synthetic brushes help give a better finish for cutting in. Having said that, I’m just looking at the corners in my living room – there are some lines. 🙄

I think doing the cutting in first helps. 🙂

Aye, think I’ve realised that too actually. Bought some Harris no-loss brushes and they already seem to give a better quality coverage, simply doing the mist-coat.

Plus when you wash them, they actually look worth re-using!

Will be cutting in and rollering bit by bit; I think that will help rather than doing all the cutting in, and then using roller, as I have done before.

Cheers again, all.

What are you painting?

I mean it’s important innit.

If you are painting the wife clearly you’d use something a little more flexible and possibly smaller in bristle than say an outside toilet.
But from here we can see the aspect you are attempting to cover, until we do I’d say just start masking it up to make sure you keep the creases clear.
😆

Huge variables apply here, temperature, humidity, surface porosity etc…………………………….sorry fell asleep there (boring subject matter as its my job hell even the colour will affect the smoothness of finish due to darker colours having more colorant thus thinning the paint.

FyI the best brushes Ive ever used are Wooster Picasso, I use hamilton perfection rollers and the best finish I have ever achieved with a roller was with Little green paint.

Brushes

I think they harvest Ginger people to make them so they must be good

” I’ve always noticed the border between where I’ve cut in, and where the roller ends.”
are you cutting in 1st?
I’ve see people cut in a 6in plus band first and the roller to /it over it. that tends to show the join up.
Roll in tight first then cut in.

Slight thread hijack, do the pros have any tips for getting a good finish on woodwork with water based eggshell or satin? Tried brushing (Purdy monarch elite), rolling, rolling and laying off with brush, floetrol. Its not bad but can’t quite get a really good finish.

I’ve see people cut in a 6in plus band first and the roller to /it over it. that tends to show the join up.
Roll in tight first then cut in.

I flip that on its head. cut in first then roll to tight the wall/ceiling/skirting/door trim while your brush applied ‘cut in’ is still wet.

I’m not a ‘pro’, but I get paid to paint houses… no one likes brush lines that could be hidden under a rolled finish.

my 2p

For the woodwork use a foam roller.

I’ve see people cut in a 6in plus band first and the roller to /it over it. that tends to show the join up.
Roll in tight first then cut in.

Nope, do what is posted above. Cut in one wall at a time to maintain a wet edge.

Use a Gloss roller and then brush off
this method is faster than solely brushing, but you would need three
to gain the same finish as using the brush twice. But still would be faster
than just brushing

On a wall?

So, how long do you spend staring at walls?

I’ll try foam/gloss roller for the woodwork. Should be starting prep on next bedroom shortly.

As for walls I always cut in first then roll tight up. Cut, roll, cut roll. But my cutting in is just too slow to maintain much of a wet edge with emulsion.

maintain a wet edge.

I’m saying nowt. Well, at least not here on the most boring thread to ever grace STW.

……like watching paint dry??