Painting FAQs

Q: Which paint brushes do I use for which job?

A: When selecting a brush it is important to consider the following areas:

• type of bristle
• job to be completed
• coating to be applied

There are 2 types of bristle: synthetic and natural.

Synthetic bristles are very hard wearing, lasting up to 5 times as long as natural bristle brushes. As synthetic bristles do not absorb large amounts of water and swell up they do not cause tramlines to appear in the paint. Their structure produces a fine finish on all water-based paints.

Natural bristles have a structure that allows them to take and hold paint within the brush. In addition, the split ends of bristle brushes help to produce a fine finish with traditional solvent paints. However, they do not perform well with water-based paints like Crown Acrylic Gloss.

Brushes come in many sizes. As a rule of thumb, the larger the area you are painting, the larger the brush that you should use. For walls a 2" or 3" brush is required for cutting in, whilst a 1" or 2" brush will give you more flexibility when painting doors, skirting boards & architraves.

Browse our tools section to find the right paint brush for your job.

Q: What type of roller do I use?

A: Rollers are ideal for painting large areas, particularly ceilings. They are quick and easy to use. There are several types of roller to suit different paint jobs: foam, mohair or sheepskin, available in short, medium and long-pile.

Your choice of roller really depends upon the sort of paint you are using. A short-pile mohair roller is suitable for applying silk emulsion. A medium-pile sheepskin roller is ideal for applying matt emulsion. Foam rollers are not recommended for normal emulsion paints as their spongy texture creates air bubbles in the paint film which can then burst, leaving a crated, orange peel effect.

Search within our tools section for the best roller for your job.

Q: Is there a right order to painting a room?

A: Generally when painting a room it is advisable to start at the top of the room and work down. The following is a typical sequence:

• Ceiling - Apply two full coats of emulsion Matt finish is ideal for this purpose.
• Walls - Apply two full coats of your chosen emulsion, working away from natural light.
• Doors & skirting boards - Start with the windows to give them a full day to dry before closing them in the evening. Next paint the door & doorframe followed by the skirting.

Take a look at our selection of emulsion, matt and other paint finishes for inside the home.

Q: I have removed wallpaper from my walls. How do I prepare them for painting?

A: Having removed wallpaper by scraping, the surface must be thoroughly washed down to remove all old paste and size. While the surface is still damp is the best time to fill all holes before painting. If the area is small then a light weight filler is the ideal solution as it is dry in as little as 15 minutes. However, if the area is larger, then use good quality interior filler, which can then be rubbed down to a smooth finish prior to painting.

The wall can then be painted with your desired finish emulsion.

Choose from a large range of emulsion paints in our interior paint section.

Q: Can I paint over stained wood?

A: Before you paint over stained wood, we would recommend that you apply a coat of Trade Aluminium Wood Primer such as Johnstones aluminium wood primer, as this will seal in the stain.

Q: My bathroom gets very steamy, what paint would you recommend to provide a long lasting finish?

A: Kitchen and Bathroom paint has a superior moisture and steam resistant formula that is perfect for wet and steamy environments. It's easy to clean and able to withstand high condensation. Kitchen and Bathroom paints are available in a Matt or Midsheen finish.