Techniques For Painting With a Roller

PaintRoller2-ClaffeysPaintingIf you want to paint a room, and you want to do it quickly, efficiently and get the best results possible, then the paint roller is the right tool for you. There are other tools you can use, the paintbrush or the paint sprayer…but, there are  pros and cons to using them:

  • While brushes are the right choice for edging around ceilings, floors and  millwork, they take much longer to cover large wall surfaces and can leave streaks.
  • Paint sprayers definitely have the “cool” factor, and they can be fast, but using them requires much more prep work, more clean up time, and they go through a lot of paint (probably more than necessary). Also, if you happen to run out paint while the sprayer is still running, you could end up with globs of paint on your wall.

For rolling paint, these are the tools you’ll need:

  • A five gallon bucket for the paint and a bucket screen
    • Professional painters prefer the 5 gallon bucket and screen to the gallon can and tray because it can hold more paint, you won’t have paint dripping down the sides, and best of all, you can “box” your paint, meaning, if you have purchased your paint in 1 gallon cans, you can pour them into the bucket together and eliminate any minor consistencies that might exist.
  • Roller cover or sleeve
    • This is not the place to cut costs, a cheap cover doesn’t hold enough paint for a quality job, and it won’t cover your surfaces as well as a good quality cover. In addition, you won’t have to replace it after every project. A good roller cover can be cleaned up and used for many other projects. You can ask the paint expert at your paint store for recommendations.
  • Roller frame
  • Extender handle

You will want to use a brush to paint around the edges before you begin rolling.

Use a paint roller like a pro…

  1. If your roller cover is new, take a couple minutes to remove loose lint or fibers, by patting tape over its surface or using a vacuum cleaner on it.
  2. LoadingPaint-ClaffeysPaintingpngOnce your paint is in the bucket and your roller and frame are assembled and ready, begin loading it with paint by dipping one side into the paint, roll it against the screen, continue doing this until the entire cover has been loaded.
    1. Tip – Overloading the cover with paint will cause extra splatter and drips
  3. Begin rolling at the top of your wall and work your way down, rolling the paint on the wall in either an “N” or “W” pattern.
    1. Working as close to the wet trim as possible will alleviate the chance of leaving brush marks.
  4. Moderate pressure is the key to smooth coverage; heavy pressure tends to leave a bead or ridge of paint along the stroke area, and lite pressure will require extra stokes for good coverage.
  5. When your roller stroke is completed, to avoid the look of a distinct edge, don’t just stop and lift the roller in place, but instead continue the movement and lift lightly away from the wall.

When you are finished with your project, for a day or just for a break, you can store your roller, paint and all, in a sealed bag, just make sure your have squeezed out all the air. Your roller will be just fine to continue working with for an hour or a day or two.

If you would like some help with your next painting job because you would rather not do it yourself…
Call Claffey’s for a free estimate – (425) 888-3634
Claffey’s Painting is a full service painting contractor serving Western Washington, Chelan, Douglas and Kittitas Counties. We have painted over 7000 homes and would enjoy the opportunity to help paint yours. We can guide you through all the decision making processes so you get the right paint for the right job, and the professional job you’re looking for.