Painting Equipment and Supplies:

• Paint Brushes
• Roller Sleeves (also called Covers)
• Cages (also called roller handles or Frames)
• Paint Tray(s) (also called Pans)
• Paint
• Extension pole
• Ladder(s)
• Drop cloth
• Masking tape
• Painters tape

• Rags
• Stir Stick (or paint paddle)
• Screwdriver
• Tape measure
• 5 in One tool or a putty knife
• Wall Putty (for nail holes)
• Spinner (used in cleaning brushes and sleeves)
• Pail (for spinning brushes in)
• Brush comb (for cleaning brushes)
• Thinner (for solvent based paint)

Choosing a Paint Brush:

Brush Sizes:

• Brushes that are 1" to 2" are great for doing touch ups, trims and small surfaces. For painting around trim and windows try a angled sash brush.
• 2 ½" to 3" brushes work well for baseboard, doors, shelves, stairs and other projects with surfaces of a medium size. Gary from G.K. Painting prefers the 2 ½" over the 3" paint brush. This allows him to paint much longer before his hand gets sore.
• Brushes with a width of 3 ½" to 4" are designed for large surfaces like exterior house painting, as well as for painting ceilings and walls.

How to fully load a paint brush:

• Dip the tip of your paint brush about two inches into the paint.
• Do not immerse the full length of the bristles, or the paint will end up dripping all over your hand and off the brush handle.
• Next, tap both sides of your brush lightly against the inside rim of the paint pail.
• Do not wipe the brush across the top of the paint container.
• Your brush should now be full of paint and ready to go.

How to Load a Roller:

• Fill the tray from about one-third to half full.
• Next, place the roller on the tray grid and roll it down into the paint, so that about a quarter of the sleeve is coated in paint.
• Then, draw the roller back and work it into the grid with several rolls and dip another part of the roller into the paint.
• Repeat this until the entire surface of the roller sleeve is covered in paint.

Roller Tip:

How to cut in or paint around trim:

• First load your brush with paint.
• Next, place your paint brush so that it is parallel to the edge that you are about to paint, whether that is the wall along window trim, baseboard or the ceiling.
• Then, apply pressure to the paint brush so that you are pushing the bristles into the wall. The brush should form an oval shape that comes to a tip at the top corner of the brush.
• Steadily draw this point of the brush along the wall where it meets the trim or ceiling.
• Follow this cutting line until your line of paint starts to break up.
  
• Move your brush away from the inside line and feather or blend in the paint with long smooth strokes before reloading.
• Repeat this until you have cut in the whole room with paint.

Cutting Tip:

• When cutting in along a surface that is not smooth, such as along textured ceilings or walls, you will need to lightly pump the brush with your hand to allow the tips of the brush to feed paint into the uneven bumps along the edge.

Problem - Fingering:

• Fingering describes a problem that results from allowing your brush to run dry as you are painting.
• This causes the paint to harden or set up on the brush itself. The bristles of the brush will then clump together.

Solution:

• Start with a good quality brush.
• Clean your brush thoroughly with a brush comb and spinner if it starts to stick together.
• Keep your brush fully loaded with paint and refill it more often.
• Don't allow it to run dry.

How to Roll a Wall:

• Take the loaded roller to the mid-point of your first section of wall to be painted.
• Roll up and then down forming a “W” on the wall. This distributes the fresh paint.
• Go back over the area, moving away from the unpainted area, to fill in the blank portions.
• Evenly coat the wall by blending in your “W.
• Refill your roller.
• Paint the next section of wall by repeating these steps until the entire room is painted.

Tips:

• Use and extension pole so that you can roll all the way the ceiling, where you have cut in, down to where the baseboard is cut in.
  
• Work your way around the room from your fresh paint edge.
  
• Clean off any paint that needs to be wiped right away with a rag.
  
• Do not allow your roller to run totally dry.
• This allows paint to start drying on the roller.
• Do not stop painting or start painting in the middle of the ceiling or wall.