To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories.
To revisit this article, select My Account, then View saved stories Scissors Mole Trap With Handle Rat Control
Picking the perfect paint color is never as easy—even choosing a white (will it be snow, dove, or mascarpone?). Likewise, choosing the best paint roller requires some decision making. (Do you need a four-inch or nine-inch paint roller frame? Polyester or foam? 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch nap?) But with this guide to picking the best paint roller, you’ll spend less time agonizing in the aisle for painting supplies and more time choosing that paint color.
As a general rule of thumb, Dennis Fiorilli, director of product excellence at Sherwin-Williams, says to check your paint can for any instructions on recommended rollers. “In the past, one type of roller cover would work for most paints,” he says. “Today, however, with all the new technologies, it’s important to follow the recommendations for the specific paint you’re using to ensure the best results for the project.”
And once you know what roller you need, Octave Villar, painting and applications manager at Behr, advises against going with a low-quality version to save a few bucks. “You may think you are saving money on a bargain bin roller, but you may end up putting in extra time trying to achieve a reasonable paint finish if the roller application makes painting more difficult,” he says.
Keeping paint-specific recommendations and quality in mind, here are all the paint roller details you’ll need to get you, well, rolling….
Roller size depends on the scale of your paint project, but nine inches is standard for covering interior walls and ceilings. Jumbo rollers, such as 12 inches, are geared for professional painters working on heavy-duty commercial projects. “Unless you’re painting lots and lots of walls, you won’t really see the time-saving benefits of a larger roller, says Annie Sloan, a paint and color expert and the creator of Chalk Paint. “And I personally find them unwieldy.”
Small rollers can be helpful for tight corners, windows, and doors, while mini paint rollers are ideal for narrow surfaces, like trim and painting kitchen cabinets. Sloan says she also uses small rollers for stencil work. “You get a pattern that’s very flush to the wall and untextured, which works well for grand millennial, Regency, or contemporary aesthetics,” she says. “The smaller the roller you use for woodwork, the better the effect.”
The right roller will help your final product look more even and smooth.
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.
“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 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.
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.
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.
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.
6 Renovation Projects That Pay Off for ROI, According to an Expert
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies for Good
13 Black Kitchen Cabinets That Will Give You Serious Design Inspiration
4 Color Palettes to Try at Home, According to Color Psychologists
How to Clean Glass Shower Doors and Bathroom Mirrors
18 Ideas for Decorating With Sage Green
19 Cozy Living Room Ideas to Make Your Space Comfy and Eye-Catching
7 Flowers That Bloom All Year
Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now.
Iron Rat Trap © 2023 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Architectural Digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices