How to Avoid Roller Marks When Painting Long Walls

Paint with a roller pole extension to keep all areas within reach.

Avoiding roller marks when painting long walls is not difficult, but it does require some care. The most important aspects of avoiding roller marks are to spread the paint evenly and keep the edges wet as you work so they blend smoothly. Most roller marks are caused by paint that is too thick in the areas where the roller was re-dipped in the paint or by allowing the edges of the painted portions of a wall to dry before the paint coat is complete. Some cheaper paints simply require two coats to look good--the first layer will show roller marks because the paint is too thin to coat the wall properly. Quality supplies alleviate this part of the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Stir stick Paint Paint brush Roller frame Roller handle extension Roller pad Roller tray or paint screen

Instructions

1. Stir your paint well before you apply it. This will avoid streaks and uneven paint color caused by poor mixing.

2. Paint the 2 inches all around the edge of your wall with a brush before using the roller. The roller can't get into the corners, and trying to fix them after you've rolled will cause differences in texture.

3. Screw your roller frame onto a roller handle extension pole long enough to allow you to reach the top of the wall from the floor so you don't have to climb up and down ladders while painting. Make sure the roller frame spins freely and evenly--an uneven spin means uneven pressure on your wall.

4. Place a good quality roller pad onto your roller. Thicker nap (the fluff on the pad) will deliver heavier texture, while thinner nap will give you a flatter roll. A 3/8-inch nap is standard for most walls and should give you a fairly flat texture that doesn't contrast too much with the brushed corners, while still holding an adequate amount of paint.

5. Pour paint into your roller tray or set up a paint roller screen in your paint bucket. Both methods work, but rely on the user for results. Dip your roller into the paint and roll it off on the tray or screen until the pad is evenly covered but not dripping. Try not to dip the whole handle into the paint or you will end up with a very messy work area.

6. Apply paint to the wall starting about 8 inches up and inward from the bottom corner of the wall. Roll the paint upward at a slight angle so your stroke ends up about 8 inches down from the top of the wall and 16 inches in from the side.

7. Roll back down, straight on the vertical, and use long strokes to fill in the entire height of the wall up to 16 inches inward, without dipping again into the paint. Starting away from the edges keeps the thickest paint from building up at the edge of the stroke and allows you to spread that paint in all directions. At the top and bottom, make sure you roll as far over the brushed sections as possible to blend the texture.

8. Start your next stroke about 8 inches inward from the painted area and 8 inches up from the bottom of the wall, and continue the pattern. As you roll the area next to the surface you just painted, continue to roll over the edge of the painted area to blend the new section into the old.

9. Continue painting in thin vertical chunks in this pattern, making sure to work continuously so the edge doesn't dry before it is blended with the next section. Don't stop until you've completed the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Roll slowly to help you maintain an even pressure. Don't press too hard to squeeze more paint out of the roller pad. Instead, if you are running out of paint before the vertical section is complete, try painting a narrower section each time. Don't lift or drag the paint roller when changing directions, as this can cause a disruption in the roller pattern.

References

• Family Handyman: Paint Roller Techniques and Tips
• My Perfect Color: Roller Marks