How to Use a Paint Roller

Paint rollers make it easy to cover large flat areas such as ceilings, walls, and even floors. Roll on!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paint Roller Pans
• Paint Rollers With Extension Pole

1. Buy a sturdy roller frame; you'll be pressing on it reasonably hard. Get one with a threaded end in the handle so you can add an extension pole. Pick the right sleeve for the job. Smoother walls take a shorter nap (the length of the hairs); heavier textures such as plaster or stucco need a longer nap (3/4 inch or more).
2. Start first with a brush in corners and around trim. (See "How to Use a Paintbrush.")
3. Get your roller ready. Before dipping the sleeve into the paint, dampen it with water (for latex) or solvent (for alkyd). After dipping it into paint, roll off enough paint so that it doesn't drip.
4. Lay down the paint in the shape of an "N" or "M", then go back over it in straight columns, being careful to flatten the paint ridges as you go. On walls, don't feel you have to go from floor to ceiling - just work down in a general fashion.
5. Get as close as you can to the corners without scraping the edge of the roller against the corner. Keep a brush handy if you do, in order to smooth paint out.
6. Wrap the roller sleeve in foil, plastic wrap, or a damp rag - or immerse it in water (if you're painting with latex) if you're going to stop painting for more than a few minutes.
7. Clean both the roller frame and the sleeve well if you plan to use them again. Squeeze as much paint out of the sleeve as you can, then rinse, squeeze, and rinse until the liquid (water or solvent) is pretty clear.

Tips & Warnings

• Standard rollers are 9 inches, and are actually two parts: the roller itself (the frame), and the cover, or sleeve - the part that gets wet with paint.
• Rollers are almost never appropriate for woodwork, such as cabinetry or passage doors (even flat ones). The exception is floors, whether using paint, stain or clear finish topcoats.
• For most projects, a paint tray is fine. But for larger projects, you can get a framed screen that hangs into a 5-gallon bucket.
• For larger projects, you may want to buy or rent a "power roller", which pumps paint directly to the roller so you don't have to dip it. Be aware, however, that the quality of these products can vary.
• You can buy rollers that are shorter and thinner for getting into difficult areas, such as behind toilets or into odd corners.
• If you use anything except water-based paint, never leave the roller, the sleeve, or any rags or brushes in an enclosed space. Many fires begin this way! Place them outdoors or in a bucket of water, out of reach of children and animals.

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