Can you paint using a brush instead of a roller

[SummersBreeze]

I'm doing some painting in the home.

I painted one room. I watched YouTube videos for techniques and tips. I was happy painting. The end dry result today looks awful. It's patchy. Some areas are more vibrant than others and the other spots are faded.

I was thinking I think I would be better with a smaller bucket instead of a tray and with a brush. Maybe a 4 or 5 inch brush. I found the roller dripped and to prevent drips I was only really half coating the roller and I think that's where I went wrong.

Can one use a brush instead of a roller or do I have to use a roller?

I was hoping on putting on two coats of paint. Looks like I might need coat number three but I don't know if I will have time for that.

Of course you can use a brush!

I only use a brush, find it much easier although it takes time. First coat always looks awful though, second coat will look great.

Can you talk us though exactly what you did in terms of preparation before you started painting, the surface you were painting on, type of paint you were using etc. as it may not be your technique.

Like the previous poster, I find that you always need at least two coats of paint for it to look good.

What colour was the walk before? And what colour are you painting it?

What prep did you do?

Most walls need two coats atleast to look good

You can get better coverage & finish with a brush and it wastes less paint, my eldest uses a paint pad and its even better than a brush.
But you do need to wash the walls first using sugar soap, then rinse that off with hot water.

Paint pads are better than either. Brushes give brush marks and are also patchy

I found the roller dripped and to prevent drips I was only really half coating the roller and I think that's where I went wrong

There must have been something wrong somewhere, because rollers shouldn't drip. When you've picked the paint up on the roller, you need to roll the roller on the flat bit of the paint tray a few times to work the paint into the roller - were you doing that? I think it would be worth getting your roller technique right, because painting a room is an awful lot quicker with a roller than it is with a brush.

Paint pads are fab - so quick and easy and none of the spattering you get from a roller.

I agree with @Time40. There's no way the roller should be dripping - or only half covered. I think you must have skipped the steps of repeatedly rolling it on the flat part of the roller tray then back in the paint and so on, making sure the roller is completely covered but not dripping wet.
A roller is far quicker than a brush and doesn't leave brushmarks.

But you will 100% need at least 2 coats. Possibly three, especially if the colour change is significant.

Thank you so much for all of your replies and valuable help. My painting and rolling skills are horrific. I was definitely not rolling back and forth in the flat tray. I was sticking the roller in the paint and lifting it.

Thank you so much for helping me to identify my mistake.

I washed the walls before starting the work. I used mold cleaner/killer on some damp patches. Sugar soap on other areas.

My lovely decorator does everything with a brush.

I wouldn’t want to do a large area by brush.

I think once you learn to load the roller up right, as has been pointed out, you’ll be fine. You have to think of the brush or roller as a reservoir, and take a little care each time you top it up to ensure a good amount of paint has been absorbed.

HelloDulling · Today 12:28
My lovely decorator does everything with a brush.
🥰🥰🥰🥰

I hope a paintbrush is OK when I paint our downstairs toilet next year. No much room and lots of pipework. What make of paint did you use? We used a well-known DIY store brand I'm one of our rooms, and finish was awful.