Tips & Techniques

Tips

You took the time to select the right tools and use them correctly. It is just as important to maintain your tools so you can extend the life of the products and keep realizing an exceptional painting experience each and every time you paint!

Brush Maintenance

  1. Clean brushes immediately after use. Do not soak brushes in solvent or water for an extended period of time, as this can damage the bristles and handle.

    Cleaning oil-base paints, varnishes, lacquers and shellacs from your brush.
    Closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions to select the proper cleaning solvent (mineral spirits or paint thinner for paint and varnish, denatured alcohol for shellac, etc.) Pour the solvent into a container and dip the brush into the solvent. Work thinner through the brush bristles, dipping up and down in container several times.To get the excess thinner out of the brush, you need to spin the brush into an empty container that will capture the thinner as it flies off the brush. Do not rinse with water. Repeat process with clean container and clean thinner.

    Cleaning water-base paints from your brush.
    Warm water and mild soap suds are the best cleaning solution for water base paints. Prepare soapy water and pour into a clean container. Dip the brush into the mixture, working the soap through the brush bristles. Follow with a clear water rinse. Repeat the process if necessary.

    Always use a clean container with clean soapy water and follow with a clear water rinse. For stubborn water-base paints, try mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, followed by warm soapy water and a clean water rinse.

  2. After cleaning, remove excess solvent or water by spinning the brush into a clean container or using a mechanical spinner. Professionals often have paint brush spinners to ensure that the maximum amount of moisture is out of the brush. If you have a lot of painting projects to accomplish, you may consider investing in one.
  3. We recommend the use of a brush comb. This tool is very useful in cleaning through the center of the brush and removing any residue near the ferrule’s edge. (This is the point where the metal cap and the bristles meet.) Paint residue left in the brush will harden and “set” the bristles, which will lose their ability to bend and flex.

    Once clean, use the comb to straighten the bristles or filaments to prevent “fingering”. Reshape the brush to its original shape, replace in its keeper and lay flat to dry. (After hard use, it may be necessary to steam synthetic brushes or dip bristle brushes in boiling water to aid in reshaping.)

  4. Whenever possible, store brushes by hanging them. Never store a brush on its tip, which can result in “curling.”
  5. Be sure to properly dispose of spent solvent.

Roller Cover Maintenance

  1. Remove sleeve from frame immediately after using.
  2. Clean roller covers immediately after use. Never leave roller cover soaking in water or solvent.

    Cleaning oil-base paints, varnishes, lacquers and shellacs from your roller cover.

    Closely follow manufacturer’s instructions in selecting the proper cleaning solvent (mineral spirits or paint thinner for paint and varnish, denatured alcohol for shellac, etc.) Pour the solvent into a container and dip the roller cover into the solvent. Repeat this process using a clean container and fresh solvent until the roller cover is clean.

    Cleaning water-base paints from your roller covers.
    Wash with soap and warm water and rinse until clean. Repeat the process if necessary. Always use a clean container with clean soapy water and follow with a clear water rinse. For stubborn water-base paints, try mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, followed by warm soapy water and a clean water rinse.

  3. Dry and store your roller covers with care. String roller covers on rope or dowels to aid in drying the sleeves. Don’t stand roller on its end or lay it on its nap. Dry thoroughly before storing in dust-free cabinets or boxes.
  4. Push excess paint out with a 5 in 1 tool or putty knife, then wash.

Techniques

If you are new to painting or it’s been a while since you picked up a brush or roller, Bestt Liebco® offers these simple painting guidelines. Just follow these four easy tips and you can obtain the high-quality results you want.

  1. Get prepared to paint. Be sure to have all your equipment together including brushes, roller covers and frames, extension poles, paint tray, drop cloth, and masking tape. Cover furniture and exposed surfaces to protect them from paint splatters. You may want to apply tape to the trim to protect it or wipe the baseboards and trim with water to make splatter cleanup easy.
  2. Selecting the proper tools. Step one is selecting the right paint brush or roller cover. Selecting the right brush and roller is crucial because good quality paint needs to be applied with the correct tools. Cheap brushes can lose bristles and spread paint unevenly. The challenge is that most paint brushes look the same on the outside; it’s the materials and the way the brush is constructed that count.

    Use a brush that has:

    • Solid steel ferrule
    • Synthetic filaments for latex paints and Natural Bristle for oil-based paints that allow the paint to flow evenly to the wall
    • Plug which creates a paint reservoir to allow for even flow

    Typically, you’ll need two brushes, a narrow 1 to 1-1/2″ angle brush for trim and small spaces and a larger 2-1/2 to 3-inch flat brush for walls. The Like a Pro™ brush is our most popular brush as it works with all types of paints.

    A roller cover should be crafted of high quality material and be lint-free. In addition, the nap of the cover should match the texture of the surface you are painting. You can find this information on the product label. Our Perfect Touch™ 9″ x 3/4″ roller cover is a good option for textured surfaces like ceilings.

  3. Use your brush correctly and efficiently. The best way to load a paint brush is to dip the brush about an inch or two into the paint and then gently tap the brush against both sides of the paint can. Don’t wipe the brush against the side of the paint can; it will cause paint to dry up on the brush and the lip of the can, creating dry paint balls that end up in the paint and on the substrate.Cutting in is easy if you use a high-quality paint brush and follow these simple rules:
    • Fully load the brush with paint.
    • Place the brush parallel to the area to be cut, push the bristles against the surface and let the brush open up into a semi oval. Then move it into the line you are cutting. Follow the line until the line of paint begins to break up. Repeat.

    If you are not comfortable cutting in with a brush, you can always use special painters tape to ensure you get a straight line.

    Once you have finished painting around all the edges in the room, you can begin rolling. Or, if you prefer, use a large paint brush to complete the project.

  4. Use your roller correctly and efficiently. To load the roller, pour paint into the pan. Dip the roller about one-quarter of the way into the paint and roll it along the grooves of the pan to load. Next, dip the roller half way into the paint and again roll along the grooves of the pan to load. Repeat this process two more times until the roller is saturated or loaded with paint.

    Begin rolling the wall by creating a “v” shape. Fill the shape and roll smoothly from top to bottom. If the roller cover was loaded properly, you should get about 6-12 square feet of coverage from each dip. Professional painters also use rollers on extension poles to quickly and easily paint walls and ceilings. Never let your roller cover run dry.

    Be sure to allow adequate time for the paint to dry, before removing any masking tape or moving furniture and pictures back into place.