Too Close To Call

Spending time and energy choosing the right paint for a project makes perfect sense. What’s easier to overlook is another vital step in the process: selecting the right paint roller. A roller’s anatomy is simple: There’s a handle, a cylinder, and a cover for the cylinder. The handle should be made of steel; its grip should be plastic or wooden and able to accommodate an extension pole. The cover should be held firmly in place, but it should also be easy to remove.
Having a high-quality roller is a must for any painting project, as it leads to a better finish and quicker, easier clean-up. A good roller can even cut down on how much time you spend on a job, even by as much as several hours. Rollers range in width from narrow “slim jims,” often used to paint the wall behind a toilet, to 18 inches. This is vital for quality benjamin moore iphone app Your typical roller is usually around 9 inches wide, however. Choosing your width depends on what the project needs.
Roller covers can be just as important as the rollers themselves. When you’re looking for a good roller cover, be on the lookout for seamless plastic or phenolic treated cardboard cores, because they’re able to resist moisture and are made with glue that holds up against paint solvents; this keeps the cover’s nap, or fabric, on its core. On covers with polypropylene cores, the nap can be affixed to the core via thermal fusion, also known as flame bonding – a particularly strong form of attachment. It’s a wise idea to use one core for oil paints and another one for latex paints.
Then there’s what not to look for. Avoid foam rollers at all costs, because they leave behind a finish that looks “cratered,” due to air bubbles. Covers with untreated cardboard cores, which lose their shape after frequent moisture contact, should also be bypassed for a better quality roller. Choose a cover that won’t leave lint or roller marks on the walls.
The type of project that you’re undertaking should point you in the right direction in choosing your roller cover’s nap length, or, the length of the fiber ends on the fabric’s surface. Use a ¼ or 3/16 – inch nap when painting new drywall or an equally smooth surface with high-sheen paint – this will provide the smoothest finish. Putting matte or eggshell paint on drywall that’s been painted before? A 5/16-inch or 3/8 nap can hold a good amount of paint while minimally stippling texturing the surface. A nap length of 3/8 inch is the most versatile; it works well with most walls and paint, providing the roller is high quality. When painting a medium-textured plaster, or any textured, previously painted surface, using a half-inch nap is best. Lastly, if you’re painting a rough surface, like a concrete block, you’ll need a ¾-inch nap or higher.
Another important nap quality is its density. The denser it is, the more paint it can carry without splattering, and the more evenly that paint will be spread. A slow, steady rolling action minimizes splatters, too, as does a roller shield. Lambswool and sheepskin covers are dense enough to hold a lot of paint and work well on textured walls. Lambswool will spread alkyd paints on beautifully, but it has a harder time with latex paint. Mohair and microfiber covers will apply smooth paint evenly to a smooth surface. Oil-based paint loves natural-fiber covers, while artificial fibers can be used with any kind of coating, excluding epoxies or polyurethane.
If you’re planning to paint from ceiling to floor, an extension pole will help you put an even coat on the walls. If you need to pause between coats, store your roller covers by wrapping them in a plastic bag, sealing them inside another bag, and then store them in a dark, cool place for several hours or even overnight. After you’ve completed your painting project, clean the roller frames and covers with soap and water – you can save them for the next time you tackle a painting job.
One of the biggest perks of using a roller is the speed and versatility that you gain. Most wall paints are actually formulated for roller application, so it makes sense to choose that method. There are special rollers now, created just for painting round surfaces or getting into corners; some new versions even have a paint reservoir that, in theory, makes a paint.
A cheap roller isn’t worth the price, since it makes a project more frustrating and time-consuming. Inexpensive rollers can leave a wall mottled and flecked with lint – no one’s definition of a job well done. Like most aspects of painting, picking a roller is trickier than it might initially appear. However, if you follow the above tricks of the trade, you’ll definitely find the right roller for your job.