Aug. 06, 2024
Once you know the size of your paint roller frame, it&#;s time to zero in on the cover, which comes in various materials. Below are the three most common types of rollers and what they&#;re used for.
G.SB supply professional and honest service.
Polyester
&#;Polyester is the general-purpose material for all paints, stains, and surfaces,&#; Villar says. &#;Most rollers used today are comprised of a poly (synthetic) material.&#; One exception: Sloan says she&#;d steer clear of using polyester roller sleeves with a gloss paint.
Lambswool
&#;Lambswool is a traditional material that is good for solvent-based paints,&#; Sloan says. They are an animal product, so she notes that vegan DIY&#;ers wouldn&#;t use lambswool rollers. Villar adds that this material does take a bit longer to break in, but once it does, it can last for numerous jobs. &#;This type of roller is often prized by professionals for this reason,&#; he says.
Foam
Here&#;s what Sloan would use for those gloss paints. &#;Foam rollers are also best for protective products, such as lacquers or stains,&#; she says. And Villar points out that foam rollers come in a variety of densities, which are chosen for specific projects. He says, &#;For example, high-density foam rollers may be used with thinner coatings or when trying to achieve a fine finish on smooth surfaces, while a slit-foam roller may be used to paint over acoustic or textured surfaces.&#;
Roller cover thickness, or nap, is most commonly determined by the texture of the surface you&#;re painting. &#;A more textured surface (like brick, masonry, or stucco) requires a higher nap, such as a 3/4-inch to 1 1/2-inch roller cover,&#; Fiorilli says. &#;For smooth walls, a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch nap works best.&#;
&#;Mini covers work best,&#; Fiorilli says. Typically six inches or smaller, this size is ideal for the narrow width of baseboards. &#;These are also available in different fabrics that provide the best finish for trim, including foam and mohair.&#;
Once you&#;ve picked the perfect roller, get the most out of it by breaking it in&#;typically done by soaking it in water. &#;This will help remove any loose material, dirt, or debris on the roller while conditioning the fabric to absorb paint,&#; Villar says. After wetting your roller, he recommends wringing it out until it&#;s damp or using a roller spinner to remove excess water.
A stained roller cover
Photo: Rastoni/Getty Images
Though you&#;ve expertly picked your roller and come to rely on it, it&#;s important to note that your cover won&#;t last forever. So when do you replace it? &#;Once the fiber stains or stops accepting paint and sliding,&#; Sloan says. But before that happens, you can extend its lifespan by cleaning your cover with a mild detergent after each use.
&#;Shed-resistant or lint-free rollers can be less prone to leaving loose fibers on the painted surface, making them a good choice for a beginner,&#; Villar says. &#;But beware that these rollers may not pick up or release as much paint as other rollers labeled &#;high capacity,&#; for example.&#; Villar also mentions that you&#;ll want to survey your entire home improvement project before heading to the store. He says to ask yourself, &#;Are you painting large surfaces, tiny areas, or a mix of shapes and sizes? Are there hard-to-reach areas or different surfaces and materials to be covered?&#; It&#;s likely you&#;ll need more than one type of roller, plus other accessories in addition to your paint roller kit, such as an extension pole or a paintbrush for touch-ups.
Further reading:Are you interested in learning more about roller for putty? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Speaking of additional tools, Sloan notes that your roller tray is just as important as the roller itself. She says, &#;Avoid plastic and invest in a good-size paint tray so you can play with the paint a little and coat the roller evenly before applying it to the wall.&#; Investing in the right tools will make your DIY project a breeze.
Having the right roller can make or break your project. But how do you know which one is right for you? Let us help give you some tips from the professionals.
Rollers can come in a variety of sizes. They range most commonly from 3 inch mini rollers to 18 inches long. Mini rollers are generally used for smaller areas such as closets, cabinets, or behind toilets. For the average wall, a 9-inch roller would suit perfectly. The larger rollers tend to be used on large projects and for commercial painting.
TIP: 9 Inch Roller is the most commonly used size
The next thing to consider is the fiber the roller cover is made of. Roller covers are replaceable sleeves that fit your specific paint roller. They come in different materials, ranging from natural and synthetic fibers to foam. Each roller cover works best in specific applications.
When using latex paint, a nylon or polyester roller cover tends to work best. The nylon or polyester material resists matting, making them the best option for water-based latex paint.
On the other hand, a wool roller is a good choice when working with oil-based paint. This is most ideal for painting on any surface that has texture.
A woven roller cover is most ideal for high sheen paints such as the semi-gloss finish. The woven roller reduces the amount of lint as the fibers making up the roller are locked into the backing.
A microfiber roller will give the smoothest finish possible for eggshell and other flat paint sheens. Microfiber tends to be very popular with contractors as they hold four times their volume of paint to help finish big projects efficiently.
A foam roller will help to get a smooth finish on a surface such as cabinets. Foam can hold a lot of paint, fitting for porous surfaces such as bare wood.
Learn more about painting cabinets and trim here.
A final thing to consider is the nap of the roller. The longer the nap, the more paint it can hold. But the flip side of that is that the longer the nap, the greater the risk of leaving behind a stipply, textured finish on your wall. Here is a general rule of thumb when choosing a nap length.
TIP: 3/8 nap tends to be the average size for most home projects.
Aboff's has a wide variety of rollers to choose from. If you are still unsure, talk to your Aboff's Paint Specialist at any of our 33 locations.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website royale play ragging roller.
Previous: How Plane Blades Revolutionize Aviation Efficiency & Safety
Next: 11 Items That Should Be in Every Driver's Car Tool Kit
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )