Why Cheap Brushes and Rollers Cost You More in the End

That $3 brush looks like a bargain, until you're picking bristles out of your wet paint.

Here's what cheap tools do

• Shed bristles and lint. They leave little hairs and fuzz stuck in your finish.
• Hold less paint. You make more trips to the can and get more drips.
• Leave streaks and texture. Poor bristles and thin roller covers can't lay paint on smoothly.
• Wear out fast. Many are basically single-use.

What good tools do

• Spread paint evenly, so you often need fewer coats
• Cut sharper, cleaner lines
• Save time and frustration
• Last for years with proper cleaning

Where to spend and where to save

• Spend on your angled brush and roller covers. They touch the wall and make the biggest difference.
• Save on trays, liners, and stir sticks.

A quality brush might cost $15–$25, but if it lasts years and saves you an extra coat of paint, it pays for itself on the first project.

Bottom line: Buy a good brush once instead of a cheap brush every time.

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