Walls & Painting: Expert Guides and Resources

A brush is a brush, right? Not quite. If you know how to choose the right paintbrush, you can save time painting. Choosing a paintbrush requires a good understanding of what each brush does and what your project requires. Paintbrushes come in various shapes and sizes, each with a different purpose in mind.

Getting water based paints out of your paint brushes is easy, and you won't make a mess, if you have the right tools and follow the appropriate steps. Mild liquid soap cleans away latex paint, but a paint brush comb will be sure to get all of the paint so you can use the brush again on future paint jobs.

A roller is a roller, right? Not quite. Knowing how to choose the right paint roller can save you time. Choosing the right paint roller requires a good understanding of what your project requires. Paint rollers come in various sizes and roller covers come in different coverings, each with a different purpose in mind.

Before you repaint a room, you need to prepare the walls for the change. This video shows you the supplies you need to prepare your walls properly for a perfect paint job.

Adding vertical stripes to a wall creates a great effect for bathrooms, dining rooms, hallways, and other spaces in your home. Make sure your base color is the lighter of the two. Aim for a stripe between 8 and 12 inches wide.

Dust that collects around doors, windows, corners, and even on your wall surface, can ruin your paint job. Clean your walls before you paint to be sure that your finished paint job looks great.

Getting oil paints out of your paint brushes is easy if you have the right tools and follow the right steps. Since you have to use paint thinner to remove oil paint from brushes, it's very important to be sure you're cleaning your brushes in a well-ventilated room and away from flames. You should also where protective eye goggles and gloves.

Latex paint is water based, and alkyd paint is oil based. Latex paint dries much faster than oil-based paint and it comes in a range of finishes, from flat to glossy. Alkyd (oil-based) paint is often used in high-end kitchen renovations.

Can't decide whether you should paint with a flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, or high-gloss finish? Consider the room's lighting, how often it will need to be cleaned, and the tips in this video to find the perfect finish for your painting project.