How to Paint a Wall Without Bubbles Coming Up After Using a Roller
Many DIY painters are familiar with the bubbles that often spring up in paint after using a paint roller, giving the painted surface an orange peel texture. A very simple painting trick can help you paint a wall without bubbles coming up after using a roller, however. Improve your rolling technique and let the paint dry properly before applying a second coat, and you'll find paint bubbles a thing of the past. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Painting tape
- Drop cloth
- Paint
- Paint stirrer
- 2-inch paintbrush
- Paint roller
- Paint tray or 5-gallon bucket
- Paint roller screen (optional)
Instructions
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Select a roller with a nap length of 1/4 inch, which will give you a smoother texture and reduce the bubbles. Use a roller that's anywhere from 7 to 12 inches long.
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Prep for your paint job: Tape off the top and bottom sides of the wall to prevent paint from dripping, and put a drop cloth on the floor.
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Open your can of paint and stir it with a paint stick to fully blend it. Dip a 2-inch-wide paintbrush into the can halfway, then tap the extra paint off by scraping the brush against the sides of the can.
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Paint the corners and sides of the wall with the paintbrush, since you won't be able to get that close with your roller. Paint all corners before rinsing off your paintbrush under cool water to clean it.
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Pour paint into your paint tray and slip the roller cover on your paint roller to begin using it. Alternately, pour your paint into a 5-gallon bucket and slip a paint roller screen inside.
Place the roller in the paint tray or bucket and coat it with paint, then run it back and forth against the grooved surface of the tray or against the screen to evenly distribute the paint to all parts.
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Take the paint roller to the wall and work the roller back and forth in a "W" pattern that's 3 feet wide and long. The lower nap results in fewer bubbles, and this painting technique also helps lessen bubbles, since you're not always working the same area. Go back and forth until you've filled in the "W."
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Make a new "W" just below the first one, then work down the wall until you've reached the bottom. Touch up gaps between the "W's" by rolling the roller over them; this gives your wall a uniform appearance without bubbles.
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Start a new column next to the first one and continue working in this way until you've covered the whole wall, filling in the gaps as necessary. When you're done, let the paint dry the recommended dry time, listed on the back of the paint can. Put on a second coat, if needed, using the procedure outlined above.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
