We’ve got you covered with exclusive access to the latest tips, trends, and promos. Valspar is a well-known, industry-leading painting rollers and coatings brand established in 1806 and is a part of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Valspar is proud to be a part of the Sherwin-Williams Company, which has been in business since 1866. Colors which display on computer screens and printed colors may not match the paint’s actual color. Please log in with your username or email to continue. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. How is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This article was co-authored by Jeff Baldwin.
Jeff Baldwin is a Residential Painter and the Owner of Baldwin Custom Painting. With two decades of painting experience, Jeff specializes in high-end residential and small commercial painting projects. There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. How marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has been viewed 822,577 times.
Using a paint roller is a quick way to modify the interior and exterior walls of your home. While paint brushes might seem like the easier choice, you will actually save yourself a lot of time by opting for a paint roller instead. Paint rollers will cover a larger surface area than a paintbrush and will provide an equally smooth finish to large and small areas. Buy a paint roller with a solid metal frame for reusability. Look for paint rollers that have small teeth or prongs that will grip the roller sleeve when applied. The teeth will keep the sleeve from rotating or falling off while you paint. Avoid purchasing a single-use paint roller, as a low-quality frame will limit the control you have while painting.
Attach a handle to the roller frame to easily paint tall or large areas. The handle will give you better control for painting large areas that require long, even paint strokes, and will save you time from scaling up and down a step ladder. If you are painting a small or easy-to-reach-area, attaching a handle to the frame is not necessary. Purchase a sleeve based on the area you need to paint. Long sleeves work well for painting large areas like walls, and shorter sleeves are ideal to paint small or narrow areas. Make sure the sleeve fits your roller frame.
Choose a nap or sleeve thickness, that will work best with the texture of the surface you are painting. Walls with a coarse texture will require a longer nap than walls with a light texture. For oil-based paints use a synthetic or natural fiber sleeve, and for latex-based paints only use a synthetic sleeve. Avoid buying a cheap or single-use roller sleeve. It will not hold as much paint as a quality-grade sleeve, and it will not spread the paint as evenly. Pour your paint into a bucket fashioned with a roller screen or a pan.
The roller screen will help coat the roller in paint, so it should not be submerged. Do not overfill the well in the pan. It is very easy to spill the paint when loading the roller if the pan is overfilled. For large areas, use a bucket with a roller screen placed inside. The bucket will hold more paint than a tray will, and will not be as easy to accidentally push around or spill. Prime the sleeve by removing stray fibers and dampening it with water.
Use a piece of tape or a lint brush to remove loose fibers on the sleeve, as these may clot the paint as you apply it. Then, dampen the roller with water to finish priming it. Shake the roller to remove any water that got inside the metal frame, and pat it dry with a cloth. The sleeve should be slightly dampened, and not dripping with water. This technique will save you time, as dry sleeves take longer to load evenly with paint. Dip the sleeve in the paint and roll it on the screen or on the pan. Continue to roll the sleeve until it has an even coat of paint.
The screen and the bumps on the pan will help distribute the paint around the roller. Avoid re-dipping the primed sleeve into the paint directly. Oversaturating the sleeve may cause streaks of paint to run down the wall when you roll it on. If you did not prime your sleeve with water, dip and roll the sleeve at least 5 or 6 times to fully coat it. Use a paintbrush to outline the perimeter of the wall with paint. Paint with long, horizontal strokes for an even coverage. The thickness of the roller sleeve makes it hard to apply paint around adjacent corners, ceilings, moldings, doors, and windows. Even if you do manage to paint those areas closely, the paint will most likely dry with streaks.
Roll the paint onto the wall using a slightly angled, upwards stroke. Most of the paint on the loaded roller will transfer onto the wall from this first motion. Then work within a single section with 1 load of paint before moving onto the next section with a new load of paint. Spread the paint to unpainted areas by sweeping the roller up and down. Aim to cover the areas by the corner, ceiling, and bottom portions of the wall that you intentionally left blank. Use continuous motions that move up and down like a vertical zigzag.
Continue this motion until the applied paint is evenly spread for that section of the wall. Always use a gentle pressure while rolling on or spreading the paint. Forceful motions or too much pressure can put streaks in the paint, and cause paint to build-up on the sleeve. If the paint roller begins to stick to the wall and won’t spread the paint, do not add pressure. This means the roller needs to be loaded with more paint. Reload the roller with paint and begin painting the next wall section. To get a smoother coverage, always spread the paint towards the previously painted section.
Continue this process until the entire wall is painted. Connect the separate paint sections with overlapping strokes. Use the same up and down, zigzag motions you used to spread the paint. You do not have to clean or get a fresh roller cover for this process. The paint residue left on the roller will help blend the wet paint on the wall without oversaturating it. Smoothing out the paint near the ceiling and floor with a vertical stroke is challenging if you have never used a paint roller before. Use a horizontal stroke to smooth the paint near those areas. Apply a second coat of paint once the first coat has dried if needed.
Examine the painted area during the day, and see if the color pigment is even. Most light colors of paint will require 2 coats to adequately cover a wall. Some of the darker paints may require 3 coats. For oil-based paints, you can apply a second coat after it has dried for 24 hours. Latex paint dries quickly, so you should be able to apply a second coat after 4 hours of drying. Clean the roller frame and sleeve when you are done painting.
Use a roller scraper to remove excess paint from the roller. Run the scraper across the sleeve lengthways. Get as much of the paint off as you can before washing. Then, rinse the sleeve with water until you can squeeze clear water out of it. Allow it to dry overnight before placing it back onto the metal frame. Roller scrapers can be purchased in the painting section at a local hardware store. If you do not have a roller scraper, carefully use a putty knife instead. Should I wet a paint roller before using it?
Getting the roller damp before using it helps you apply paint smoothly. How do I get a smooth finish with a paint roller? The length of the nap determines how smooth of a finish you’ll have. If you want a smooth finish, then go for roller sleeves with short nap. How do I paint a ceiling? If you’re using a roller, paint it as you would a wall. Cover the floor with a tarp.
If it’s a different color than the walls, mask off the top of the walls. Should I paint a wall from right to left? In general, with a roller, you’ll roll the paint on in the curved up and down pattern described in the article. As for where on the wall you start and finish, it’s just a matter of where is most comfortable and ergonomic for you. How much paint do I put in the roller tray? As much as you need, or even a bit less. It’s easier to add more later than to remove what you don’t need after the fact.
Can I paint doors with a paint roller? Yes, especially small foam rounded-edge rollers. The rounded edge helps reduce lines. If I have painted with a roller and applied too much paint and there are roller marks, how do I correct this? Just go over it with a top coat and smooth it out, or you can let it dry, sand it, and then paint the area again. When painting with water-based paint, I normally wet the roller before beginning. Should I do this when I’m working with oil paints as well? Water and oil do not mix, and this could cause some annoying problems.
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Paint rollers can be used for painting with nearly all types of paint, including matte and gloss paint. Load a Paint Roller Step 13. To use a paint roller, pour your paint into a shallow pan, dampen the roller sleeve with water, and roll the sleeve in the pan to load it evenly with paint. Then, sweep the roller up and down to spread the paint on the wall. Sorry that the video wasn’t helpful.
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 822,577 times. I have never used a roller and am about to! Having read this article, I feel slightly less nervous. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Thank you very much for this article! Very helpful for a beginning painter like me! Previously no idea about using roller.
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The direction to roller the walls. With most DIY painting projects, knowing a few additional painting techniques can lead to the most satisfying results. Storing paint properly and using the right tools can ensure that you prevent blemishes and cover surfaces evenly. These nine DIY painting tips can help you improve the quality of your work and save time and money in the process, whether you’re preparing to sell, changing your decor or doing some routine home maintenance. Don’t let your paint dry out A half-empty can of paint will dry out. Drop golf balls into the paint can to fill the air space, or place plastic wrap under the lid, seal it tightly and store the paint upside down.
Use the right primer If you’re painting new drywall, use a water-based primer to hide imperfections and provide an even base before applying color. If you’re painting paneling, water-damaged or smoke-saturated walls, opt for an oil-based primer. Avoid lap marks To avoid stripes caused by rolling over paint that’s already starting to dry, keep a wet edge by painting the full height of the wall and then moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next. Stir paint with a modified stirrer Before you stir paint, drill holes in the stirrer to help mix the paint more thoroughly. The holes help the paint flow through the stirrer, aerating it like a whisk and mixing the paint evenly. The nap is the fabric material covering the roller, and longer naps create more stippling on your wall because of the way their fibers distribute the paint.
Don’t wash your brushes or rollers If you’re using latex paint, there’s no reason to clean your brushes or rollers if you don’t finish your project in one day. Because cold temperatures keep latex paint from drying quickly, you can simply wrap your rollers or brushes in plastic bags or tin foil and put them in the refrigerator. Be sure to let them fully warm back up before using them. If you’re using older tape, sometimes it can be difficult to peel off its roll without tearing or sticking. If your painter’s tape continues to peel, microwave the whole roll for 10 seconds. Determine the kind of paint on existing walls Not sure if a wall’s existing paint is oil or latex? Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub it in a small area across the wall. If the cotton ball has paint residue, the paint is latex.
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No paint on the cotton ball? You’ll be painting over an oil-based paint and will want to use an oil-based primer before painting. Invest in a paint pen Buy a paint pen that lets you load it with a small bit of your new paint color for small touchups later. Sometimes painting projects are best left to professionals. Find out if a home improvement project should be done DIY or by a professional. TV Ads Show Fans the Many Sides of Dale Jr. What Is the Total Cost of Car Ownership?
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Avoid buying a cheap or single, as a low, the rounded edge helps reduce lines. Authored by Jeff Baldwin. Quality application equipment, paint it as you would a wall. To get a smoother coverage, be sure to let them fully warm back up before using them. And cause paint to build, oH to makeover a little girl’s bedroom.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. Home Office: One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, OH. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Looking for an instant change to your brick fireplace? Learn how to whitewash brick for a quick update. Learn how to use chalkboard paint to create writeable surfaces on your walls, drawers and almost any surface. Find out how to provide a modern update to any room by painting the trim. The right paint can really make picture frames and decorative items pop.
Find out how to paint an accent wall in your home. Learn how to paint your cabinets for an instant makeover. Architect and builder, Tom Bury, and Taniya Nayak, Interior Designer, visit a home in Cleveland, OH to makeover a little girl’s bedroom. Learn how to determine which painting tape is right for your DIY project. The more prep you put in, the better the results. Want to make a bold, unique statement? Stripes that go up-and-down make a room with low-ceilings look taller. Painting a room isn’t just about the quality of paint, but what tools you use. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. In addition to top-quality application equipment, you may need some of the painting tools and painting materials listed below in order to successfully complete your painting project.
If you are like many homeowners, you already own some of these items. Depending on the nature of your painting project, you may consider investing in some of the items below. Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon. We’ve got you covered with exclusive access to the latest tips, trends, and promos. Valspar is a well-known, industry-leading paint and coatings brand established in 1806 and is a part of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Valspar is proud to be a part of the Sherwin-Williams Company, which has been in business since 1866. Colors which display on computer screens and printed colors may not match the paint’s actual color. Please log in with your username or email to continue. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. How is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together.
This article was co-authored by Jeff Baldwin. Jeff Baldwin is a Residential Painter and the Owner of Baldwin Custom Painting. With two decades of painting experience, Jeff specializes in high-end residential and small commercial painting projects. There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. How marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has been viewed 822,577 times. Using a paint roller is a quick way to modify the interior and exterior walls of your home. While paint brushes might seem like the easier choice, you will actually save yourself a lot of time by opting for a paint roller instead. Paint rollers will cover a larger surface area than a paintbrush and will provide an equally smooth finish to large and small areas. Buy a paint roller with a solid metal frame for reusability.
Look for paint rollers that have small teeth or prongs that will grip the roller sleeve when applied. The teeth will keep the sleeve from rotating or falling off while you paint. Avoid purchasing a single-use paint roller, as a low-quality frame will limit the control you have while painting. Attach a handle to the roller frame to easily paint tall or large areas. The handle will give you better control for painting large areas that require long, even paint strokes, and will save you time from scaling up and down a step ladder. If you are painting a small or easy-to-reach-area, attaching a handle to the frame is not necessary. Purchase a sleeve based on the area you need to paint.
Long sleeves work well for painting large areas like walls, and shorter sleeves are ideal to paint small or narrow areas. Make sure the sleeve fits your roller frame. Choose a nap or sleeve thickness, that will work best with the texture of the surface you are painting. Walls with a coarse texture will require a longer nap than walls with a light texture. For oil-based paints use a synthetic or natural fiber sleeve, and for latex-based paints only use a synthetic sleeve. Avoid buying a cheap or single-use roller sleeve. It will not hold as much paint as a quality-grade sleeve, and it will not spread the paint as evenly. Pour your paint into a bucket fashioned with a roller screen or a pan.
