While bigger painting projects are more efficient to do with a roller, paint brushes are still needed to do the 'cutting' Paint cutting is using a brush for areas that are too tight to get with a roller. Spots that need to be cut include ceiling lines, corners, near crown molding and along baseboards and door trim.

It's important to note that not all paint brushes are created equal – nor are the painters. Here is what you need to know about brushes:

Brush Size

• 25 to 63mm - a precise brush used to cut for the inexperienced painters. Smaller brushes are also ideal if painting the grooves on a window or door as well as some trim types. These brush sizes are the most common and versatile.
  
• 76mm - are used for cutting corners in larger areas, this is usually the maximum size that is used.
  
• 101mm - the biggest brush most hardware stores supply, but a brush this size is almost never necessary and only used for very large corners. 

Brush Type

• Synthetic filament – made of nylon / polyester that is easy to clean and durable. The nylon keeps the brush strong while the polyester helps it retain shape while providing a high-quality finish. Synthetic brushes are very popular and versatile.
• 100% Pure Bristle - These are best with oil based paints.
• Polybristle Blend - Best with oil paints.

One of the most important painting tools is a high quality paint roller to prevent streaking. As a roller cover gets older the paint either a) won't stick to the roller or b) sticks too good to the roller and doesn't come off. Selecting the correct roller cover depends on whether you are using oil or latex paint as well as the type of surface being painted.

The standard length of rollers is 270mm, this is the most common size and is used for walls and ceilings. For doors, a length of 230mm is more suitable, with a 4mm nap. 

The thickness of the material used on the paint roller is known as its nap. A good rule of thumb to apply is that, generally, the smoother the surface and glossier the paint, the shorter the pile needs to be.

• Short nap 4 to 8mm: This is the best choice to use with glossy paint, as it leaves a thin and smooth coating.
• Regular nap 10 to 18mm: The better option for use with water based paints on smooth and semi-smooth surfaces such as wall boards and cement render. 
• Long nap 20 to 32mm: Suitable for paints on semi rough surfaces such as masonry and brickwork. 

Fabric Material

Depending on the paints you are using and surfacing you are painting on, different materials will be more suitable than others. Please see below for more details:

  

 

 

Extension Pole

Extension poles are available as an adapter to a standard size roller. These painting tools simply screw on the end of a standard roller. They are usually made from aluminium.

Extension poles are available from 60cm all the way up to 7 meters. The best extension poles are telescoping and adjustable for a wide range of heights. There are a number of people who prefer the extension pole as opposed to the dangers and overall inconvenience of a ladder.

Step Ladder

A step ladder is an inevitable tool used in painting. There are just some applications that even an extension pole is not recommended such as cutting in near the top of door trim and near ceiling crown molding. 1.5 to 2 meter step ladders are the norm for most home floor plans.

If ceilings are a bit higher or if painting is going to be done on the exterior of the house than a taller 2.5 or 3.5 meter step ladder may be needed. Some people prefer a drywall stand (50cm to 1 meter) as a more convenient way to move around a room when trying to paint a ceiling they are just short of.

Extension Ladder

For exterior painting as well as home floor plans with vaulted ceilings or high stairwells an extension ladder is going to be needed. A 5 meter extension ladder is very common but a 6, 7, or even 12 meter size may be needed on multi-level homes.

There are various extension ladder tools that are also recommended for optimum safety. These include self-leveling leg adapters to make sure the ladder is stable. There are also stabilizers for the top of a ladder that expand out on both sides at dimensions ranging from 1.5 to 2 meters. These are used when painting above a window or just for increased general comfort. If someone has to get on a roof to paint a dormer or chimney a safety harness should also be considered.

Drop Cloth

Jobsite Lights

Halogen or LED lights are an often overlooked necessity when it comes to painting tools. Complete, even coverage of a room is especially crucial when painting. Adequate lighting is important to make sure every square inch of a wall or ceiling is covered and is key to prevent streaking, runs, and bubbling.

Fans

Fans are also must have painting tools both for safety and performance. Air circulation is key so that the painter isn't breathing in fumes all day. Fans also help the paint dry faster and at a more uniform pace. Many painters prefer an oscillating fan for increased circulation.

Dehumidifiers

In places with a humid climate, humidity can be a painters enemy as it affects solvent drying times. In very humid conditions, the water in the paint are unable to evaporate faster than the solvents in the paint. A painters dehumidifier will help remove moisture from the air, speeding up paint drying times.

Sanding Equipment

It never hurts to sand down walls, ceilings, doors, etc. before they are going to be painted. Sanding down is part of prepping an area and is a great way to ensure the surface is smooth (if it's supposed to be) and clear of paint chunks, cobwebs, and other dirt.

A wide variety of sandpaper grit is needed depending on the painting job. Finer grit (120-220) does a great job of removing most surface debris while a medium (60-100) may be necessary for more embedded items.

Caulk Gun

It's nearly inevitable that there are going to be some gaps on the areas that get painted. This is especially true when painting the exterior of a home because weather changes expand and contract wood, siding, doors, and windows. A caulk gun will be needed to fill in these gaps so that they can be painted in an adequate manner. Painters caulk adheres to wood, vinyl, plaster, and masonry.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to painting tools needed to fully get the job done. Drywall compound is frequently needed to fill in walls that have dents and dips. A pliers is needed to pull nails out as is a hammer to pound nails in. Utility knives or just razor blades are essential for scraping off paint that might splatter on a window. A paint sprayer obviously speeds up the process and then a masking gun would be needed as well.

Painting is a great DIY project, but as you can see there are a number of painting tools that would be needed to get a professional quality finish. Sometimes it's simply easier – and actually cheaper - to “call the pros.”