Brush and roller technique

Learn to load a brush and roller properly and apply paint evenly without drips or patches.

BR-01Set up your tray and cutting-in brushA 'cutting-in brush' is a small angled brush, about 25-38mm wide, used for edges and corners where a roller can't reach. Pour paint into a roller tray so it fills the deep well but doesn't cover the ribbed slope. If the paint looks like double cream, it's ready to use.

BR-02Load the brush the right amountDip only the bottom third of the bristles into the paint. Tap each side gently against the inside of the tin or tray rim - don't wipe it hard, that strips out too much paint. Beginners almost always overload the brush, which causes drips and blobs.

BR-03Cut in along edges and corners'Cutting in' means painting a neat line along edges - where wall meets ceiling, skirting, or window frames - before you use the roller. Hold the brush like a pen, rest your little finger on the surface as a guide, and draw the brush along in one steady stroke. Go slowly near the edge; you can always add more paint, but a wobbly line is hard to fix.

BR-04Load the roller evenlyA roller sleeve is the fluffy cylinder that fits on the roller frame. Roll it back and forth in the tray's shallow ribbed slope, not the deep well, until the whole sleeve is coated but not dripping. If you lift it and paint runs off, it's too loaded - roll it out more on the ribs.

BR-05Apply paint in a W patternStart about 300mm from a corner or edge you've already cut in. Roll a rough letter 'W' shape roughly 600mm across, then fill in the gaps without lifting the roller, working in all directions. This spreads the paint evenly instead of leaving one thick, obvious stripe.

BR-06Keep a wet edge and avoid common mistakesAlways work into the still-wet paint from your last section, not back into paint that's started to dry - this stops visible join lines called 'flashing'. The classic beginner mistake is pressing too hard on the roller, which squeezes out paint at the edges and leaves ridges. Use light, even pressure and let the roller's own weight do the work.

BR-07Check your finishStep back and look at the wall from an angle, with a light behind you if possible - this shows up any thin patches, roller marks or drips you missed while up close. A good finish looks flat and even in colour, with no brush lines, no roller texture ridges, and no gaps at the edges. If you spot thin patches, let the coat dry fully before going back over it, rather than adding wet paint on wet paint.

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