Easy tips on Selecting the best Paint Roller for your next project
Ensuring you are selecting the best paint roller for your job is crucial. There are many different types of paint rollers and here we will give you all the tips you need for selecting the best paint roller . Understanding how to choose the right paint roller can save you time and money in the long run. Choosing the right paint roller requires a good understanding of what your project requires.
Step 1: Select the right size roller and handle:
Selecting the right size will depend on your project, you may need two different size rollers and corresponding roller handles to complete your job. You will need a roller handle and a roller sleeve or refill to transfer the paint your wall. Pick a roller handle that is strong and rolls free therefore make sure it easily spins and does not bind at all or it will cause problems during the painting process. I do recommend buying good quality paint roller handle with paint tray because these items should last the DIYer a life time.
Paint rollers come in several sizes and roller covers come with different coverings, each with a different purpose in mind. To choose right roller you first need to select the size of paint roller you want and the kind of surface you’ll be painting. For most DIY projects you will be selecting either the 4 inch Mini roller or the standard 9 inch;
- The “mini” is usually 4 inch in length are good trim rollers and use for painting small areas.
- Standard painting rollers and most common are generally considered to be 9 inch in length to work on walls and ceilings.
Package deals are available local at home depot for paint rollers and on line at Amazon.
Step 2: Select the length of the paint roller nap on the roller covers.
You have to select the length of the nap on your roller covers. Nap is available in various lengths therefore use the one recommended for the surface you’re painting. In general, the longer the nap, the more paint it will hold but this may increase the amount of surface texturing. Don’t pick a roller based on the amount of paint it will hold. Use the following as a general guideline.
- 1/4-inch nap or 6 mm – Smooth or fine surfaces, such as new walls, ceilings, wood doors, and trim
- 3/8-inch nap or 10 mm – Smooth to light-textured walls best for smooth painting on new drywall.
- 1/2-inch nap or 13 mm – Most walls and medium rough surfaces, such as textured plaster, and concrete. Great general purpose paint roller.
- 3/4-inch nap or 19 mm – Rough surfaces, such as textured walls and ceilings, textured plaster, and concrete. Better penetration and coverage on rough surfaces.
Step 3: Roller nap material made from natural or synthetic fibers.
Better quality rollers should have plastic inter and will hold up much better than cardboard cages they will last longer and are much easier to clean, than a cheaper cardboard version.
Roller nap is made from natural or synthetic fibers or combination of both. Here is a chart of most common materials use for roller construction and their properties for your home painting needs;
- Polyester Knit – Specially formulated for today’s latex coatings. The highly crimped fibers offer the best protection against matting. Knit rollers pick up and release higher amounts paint than woven rollers.
- Soft Woven – Not as popular as polyester knit. Can be used for both latex and oil coatings, they do a fine job with gloss and semi-glass paint.
- Wool/Polyester Knit – Fifty percent of the roller cover fiber is natural wool, which allows for greater paint pick-up and delivery. Fifty percent is polyester, which helps the roller keep its shape during prolonged use. The blend results in an excellent balance of productivity and low matting.
Conclusions
There are many options available for paint rollers. But for the average homeowner, that will be painting walls and ceilings, you will want to purchase good quality roller handles and trays, stick with polyester knit or wool/polyester knit rollers combinations. If you are painting dry walled walls and ceilings then stick with a roller nap length between 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch. Favor the shorter nap if you want a slightly smoother finish.
Questions, comments or ideas please contact me.