Quick Tip: Always use a paint tray for your painting projects
Whatever painting project you undertake, using a paint tray will save you money, and we explain why.
25/10/2018
Paint trays bought locally are made of plastic, making them affordable and re-usable after a quick clean with warm, soapy water. Using a paint tray not only extends the life of your can of paint, it also allows you to use a paint roller for easy application of paint. Rather than dipping a brush into your paint can, pour a small amount into a paint tray.
Paint trays are inexpensive, and you can buy one at Builders from between R22 to R25 each. If you clean after each use the trays should last a long time. It's a good idea to use a paint tray that has a nice angle for loading a paint roller, as this will ensure that excess paint flows back into the container at the bottom of the tray. Also look out for a good 'tread' on the paint tray, as this not only helps to load the paint roller, but also to raise the nap (pile) on the paint roller.
If you use paint straight from the tin instead of pouring paint into a paint try, the paint starts to thicken and dry out. Keep in mind that paints starts to cure (dry) as soon as it is exposed to air, so keeping the lid on your paint tin extends the life of the paint and prevents it from drying out.
Dipping a paintbrush into a paint tin can also be very messy. You tend to wipe the paintbrush around the edge of the can where it dries and prevents the lid for closing properly, which also results in your paint drying out.
