What Kind of Paintbrush Is for a Semigloss Paint?

Select the right paintbrush for your next paint job.

Proper prep work is essential to a good painting job. So is selecting the right tools. When selecting a proper paintbrush for your semigloss paint, which one depends on the type of paint you are using as well as the surface on which you are painting.

Semigloss Paint

Gloss is the term used to describe how shiny a paint is. It is also referred to as sheen. Paint comes in a flat, eggshell, satin, semigloss and glossy sheen. Semigloss paint is a good paint to use in high-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms and in kid rooms. It is durable, moisture-resistant and easier to clean than flat, satin and eggshell paints, but it's not quite as shiny and wet looking as glossy paint.

Paintbrush for Latex Paint

Latex paint is a water-based paint. If you are painting with a semigloss latex paint, select a paintbrush that has bristles made from synthetic fibers, such as nylon or polyester. Synthetic bristles do not absorb water and will therefore leave a smoother finish than a natural fiber paintbrush.

Paintbrush for Oil-Based Paint

If the semigloss paint you are using is an oil-based or alkyd paint, select a paintbrush that has natural or China bristles made from animal hairs. These types of brushes leave a smooth finish when painting, especially when painting with a gloss or semigloss finish. If you own a high-quality synthetic paintbrush, you can also use it for your oil-based paints.

Other Tips

Select a high-quality brush that has a higher percentage of bristles with split or flagged ends and also has bristles of varying lengths. Also, a brush with an angled or tapered edge is usually easiest to paint with. If you are painting a textured wall, use a synthetic brush since the texture can damage a natural brush. Select a 2-inch brush when painting along an edge or corner; it gives you better control. For larger surfaces, a 3- to 4-inch brush works well.

References

• Reader’s Digest: Choosing a Paint Brush
• Ace Hardware: Paint
• Glidden: How to Master Your Next Glidden Paint Project
• Aubuchon Hardware: Selecting the Right Paint Brush