How to Choose the Right Paint Roller

A roller consists of a handle, a cage and a roller cover, also known as a sleeve. Here's how to pick a quality paint roller for the job.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Roller Grids
• Paint Roller Pans
• Paint Rollers With Extension Pole
• Paints

1. Choose a handle made of steel and equipped with a plastic grip that is threaded to accommodate an extension pole.

2. Be sure the cage allows for easy roller cover replacement.

3. Check to be sure roller cover will stay in place on the cage and will not slide off.

4. If you'll be using oil-based paint, choose a roller cover made from natural fibers, such as sheepskin, lamb's wool, or mohair. You can also use a synthetic-fiber roller cover.

5. If you'll be using water-based (latex) paint, use a cover made of synthetic fibers.

6. Choose a roller cover with dense fibers. For fiber length, the rule to remember is the smoother the surface, the shorter the fiber length should be.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose smaller rollers for trim and small areas.
• Choose 9-inch-long rollers for painting walls and ceilings.
• When selecting a roller, also purchase a roller tray or a roller grid (or screen).
• Buying an inexpensive roller is not recommended - cheap rollers cause paint to splatter. It's best to spend a few more dollars for a better roller rather than spending more time and money fixing a sloppy paint job. You'll inevitably end up buying a better roller anyway.

[kims3003]

on 8/10/2009 great writing and info

[pottery12345]

on 7/29/2009 Use an extension pole to limit the amount of time you need to be on a ladder - saves time and you can see what you are doing better.
Use a light touch when rolling on paint - don't press the roller into the wall.
Don't use a paint tray. Use a bucket instead - it saves time of refilling the tray, is much easier to move around, and you are less likely to have an accident.

[pottery12345]

on 7/29/2009 A 7 inch standard size roller used in place of the 9 inch will give much better control if you don't have a lot of upper body strength.

Let the paint dry completely between cutting in and rolling.

on 6/30/2006 A power roller is an affordable and smart choice. Just what I expected, being able to control the exact amount of paint on my roller and never having to reload meant a more complete job with less time. The pump is also a stand for a one gallon paint can. It's a little heavier to hold onto but worth the effort. Clean up is simple. With set up and clean up, it's best for jobs that use two or more gallons of paint.

on 3/20/2006 Tired of cleaning the paint tray after each use? Line the paint tray with aluminum foil all over. Discard the
foil when finished! Simple.

To clean the roller after use, squeeze out the remaining paint with a blunt knife a few times. It will take out most of the paint.