Painting is not just limited to taking a paint roller to a wall; there are things like wall prep and proper technique to think about. For instance, cutting-in is a step that people don’t think much about when attempting to paint their space. Cutting-in is the process of using a paintbrush to paint tight spaces, like where walls and ceilings meet. Cutting in is beneficial because it prevents uneven, messy lines and paint splatter. If you’re taking on a DIY paint job, this how-to guide will walk you through cutting-in like a pro!

Supplies:

• A medium sized angled brush. The brush should be about 2-3 inches wide in order to create a line thick enough to start painting next to it with the roller.
• A container without a lip. A common painting mistake is using lip of a paint can to take off excess paint from both sides of the brush. This is not the right technique as it leaves the brush with an inadequate amount of paint. A container without the lip will help prevent you from dragging the brush along the sides of the container to remove excess paint.

Directions:

1. Fill the container till it is about an inch to two inches deep with paint.
2. Dip half of the brush bristles in the container of paint and wipe the excess on the edge of the container making sure there is still enough paint on the brush.
3. Start at the desired area by holding the angled brush like a pencil. Make sure your grip is not too tight to prevent your hand from shaking.
4. Start the paint stroke using the pointed edge of the brush, and then slowly apply pressure while moving your hand down the line.
5. The bristles should be spread out and as you draw the line, you should notice that only the end of them are creating the line.
6. Remember to avoid trying to cut in all in one action. You will achieve the best results by painting edges in multiple strokes.
7. Once finished with your line, you can continue to paint the rest of the wall with a paint roller without worrying about covering the edges of your space!

Cutting in is an important part of the painting process, and is easy enough to complete if you follow the proper steps! It will take a bit of practice before you become a pro, but cutting in is a great skill to have! For professional cutting-in, you can always get in touch with the experts at Certa Pro Painters of Freehold, NJ to get the job done quickly and efficiently.