Rollers are paint tools that can get your projects going. When you need to cover a wide area like walls, ceilings and floors, using these makes you apply your finishes in a more efficient manner.
When you’re a beginning DIY-er, there are things you need to know first though. There are variations of rollers, one more appropriate than another for certain types of surfaces. You also need to pay attention to how you use these essential paint tools to ensure an even application. Get into terms and techniques you need to learn before you start rolling.
Nap Length: An Important Paint Roller Property
Every roller has a roller cover, and roller covers are filled with naps. You can consider a nap as the counterpart to a brush’s bristles. Nap length affects how thick the roller cover is.
A high-nap roller, or a roller with a longer nap length, means the roller cover is thicker. Rollers with these kinds of naps are used for textured surfaces. They are more effective at getting paint on grooves and other crevices. It’s also used to impart a more textured finish on smooth surfaces.
Rollers with shorter naps, or low-nap rollers, make for a thinner roller cover. These are used on smooth surfaces and can impart a just as smooth finish.
Rolling Techniques for a Good Finish
The right paint roller for your project is one of the things needed for a good finish. Another is execution. You can’t just roll paint on the surface in random strokes or directions. One of the most optimal techniques is painting in an M-pattern. This would allow you to maximize the spread of paint and make it even.
An inefficient manner of paint application would likely cause portions of the painted surface to dry so that when you paint over already dried paint, clear lines can form. These are called lap marks which you want to avoid if you want an even paint finish.
Cleaning and Storing Rollers
For your rollers to last long, it’s important to clean them properly. After a painting session, gently scrape, press or squeeze any excess paint off of a roller.
When that’s done, use a paint product’s respective cleanup solvent to clean your rollers with. When painting with water-based paints, water would be enough, but it would have to depend if, for instance, you’re painting with enamel or epoxy paints. Visit this article to know about the right thinner for cleaning up your tools depending on which product you used.
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned your paint roller, shake off the excess solvent and leave it to dry. Protect the roller nap by hanging the roller or storing it upright.
When paint has dried on your rollers, you can always trim the edges where beads of paint have formed. Just keep the nap length even and not too short.
When NOT to Use Rollers
Rollers are not a jack-of-all-trades painting tool. When picking tools appropriate for the project, you may consider using brushes instead. For narrow surfaces and tight crevices, there are brush sizes that allow better control of application.
In the same way, other paints may need to be applied using a spray gun. Lacquer finishes, for example, are some of the coatings that are sprayed in order to achieve a more consistent finish.
Get the Best Rollers for Your Painting Project
Ready to paint? Boysen actually has rollers and roller refills you can purchase at our official store. Quality tools ensure they last long and actually help impart the finishes you want. Fuyama rollers, purchasable at the online store, have good durability and loading capacity which are worthwhile features for the tools you need for your project.
Knowledge about the tools used for your painting projects make you take the right steps for creating a beautiful home that fits your vision. Explore our blog and subscribe for more home inspirations.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate sending your inquiries to [email protected] or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for one-on-one consultations. Our technical team will be happy to help.
