Do's and Don'ts- Paint Rolling

                     

     I have rolled countless walls in the past 20 yrs. and would like to pass onto you some very good advice . Below is a list of do’s and don’ts for the DIY on how to apply paint with a roller to achieve professional results. Now remember I have many years experience and I’m still actively painting which keeps my craft sharp. If you’re a weekend warrior take your time, have patience and you will be very proud of your work.

    Do, purchase quality tools, lint free roller covers, heavy duty roller handle and

adjustable roller pole, heavy drop cloths. Keep the tools clean after use and you will have them a long time. It is worth the investment.  Don’t purchase cheep kits

    Now assuming the walls have been prepped and cut in you’re ready to roll….Oh! Wait a minute, if the paint your using is a flat finish the procedure is fairly easy. If you’re using a sheened paint there is more care involved. Shiny surfaces show all imperfections. I recommend painting one wall at a time.

    Tape off your base, door frames, window frames and chair rail. Bring your roller as close to these taped off areas as possible.This will help reduce marks left from the cut in and or roller when walls are dry.  Ok! You’re on your own, go for it!

    Do, choose a roller nap which goes with the type of wall texture. ½ inch for smooth surfaces and 3/4inch for slightly textured, 1 inch for heavy texture.

 I recommend purchasing a lint free roller cover.

    Do, roll vertically up and down the wall using slight pressure while moving to the left or right for your next pass.  Don’t roll an “N”or “M” at the start of each pass. Do not stop in the middle of the wall. Don’t roll in different directions.

    Do, use a tray to get the most paint if using a gallon. Use a five gallon bucket if using more than a gallon. Don’t waste paint and time.

    Do, start rolling three quarters of the way up the wall. Don’t start at the very top.

Since the roller is filled with paint there will be no room to spread out. There will be a big blotch of paint dripping down your walls.

    Do, apply an even amount of paint to the roller. The best way to do this is to tap the roller into the paint a little at a time while turning the roller to get an even distribution. Don’t submerge the roller into the paint.

    Do, keep your roller wet at all times. Don’t decide to have lunch and leave the roller out of the paint and expect it in good condition when break time is over.

Keep ceiling fans off so it does not dry the paint in the tray or form a skin.

    Do, keep an even pressure while rolling. Don’t push too hard, this will cause the paint to make thick lines on the wall, we call them ropes. Too little pressure will leave an uneven finish. Try not to stop in the middle of the wall.

    Do, apply paint to the roller after each pass to keep the finish uniform. This will also keep a wet edge on your work. After a couple of passes reroll over the area with only the weight of the roller and a dryer roller ( this is the only time a dryer roller is used ) Roll starting at the top and bring it down to the very bottom. This will smooth out any lines which may have been applied. Don’t let roller get dry while rolling on the paint. This is important when applying paint at each pass.

Do, let paint dry completely and most likely a second coat will have to be applied.

Follow all the above for the second coat.

Note – Some companies have a line of washable flat paints. These products have a low sheen to them which needs more finesse when applying. Follow these rules and you’ll have a better chance of success.