Practical guide on choosing the right roller.

 

How to Choose the Right Roller Size?

Rollers come in various sizes designed for different surfaces. For instance, if you have a large and wide surface, rollers between 30 to 45 centimeters can be an excellent choice.

• “7 Important Tips for Choosing Brushes and Rollers and Their Maintenance“
• “Wall Painting Tutorial with Rollers and Their Tricks“

For medium-sized surfaces that aren’t as wide, 23-centimeter rollers can be used effectively. Finally, for painting narrow frames and railings, opt for rollers sized between 5 to 15 centimeters to make control easier.

How to Choose the Right Roller Cover?

Roller covers often come in different materials and textures. Some are synthetic, while others are made of lamb’s wool or foam. There are also examples covered with various woven fabrics. For painting interior walls and “ceilings“, it’s necessary to use synthetic or woven covers for applying paint. Synthetic covers typically shed less fiber compared to lamb’s wool models, providing a smoother finish.

 

For “oil-based paints“, opt for lamb’s wool covers for better results. Lastly, for delicate furniture painting in carpentry, foam covers will deliver a smooth and consistent finish.

 

Types of Different Rollers

In general, there are five types of rollers designed and used for specific purposes:

1. Plain Rollers

   These are among the most common types used for “painting interior walls” and ceilings. They consist of simple parts like a handle, frame, and rotating metal roller that facilitate easy application. Their only drawback is their height, which makes them unsuitable for painting narrow areas like cornices and frames.

2. Pad Rollers

   When choosing a roller, consider those with a fixed pad. These rollers do not rotate; they only absorb and freely distribute paint across various surfaces. They prevent paint splatter and apply a thin layer smoothly.

3. Patterned Rollers

   These rollers feature different patterns on their surfaces, allowing for easy application of designs on wide walls.

4. Specialized Rollers

   Often used by professionals, these rollers have patterns on their woven fibers that are difficult for non-professionals to replicate on walls.

5. Mini Rollers

   Also known as mini rollers, these are commonly used for painting small and narrow areas. They typically range from 5 to 15 centimeters, offering precise control with a smaller diameter compared to other types.

Suitable roller for acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is a water-based paint that requires only a small amount of water for thinning. This paint dries within less than 2 hours after application. One of the features of acrylic paint is its washability. You can easily wash this paint with water and cleaning agents. With this explanation of acrylic paint, let’s see what type of roller is suitable for it.

One of the reasons acrylic paint requires a specific roller is its high viscosity. The higher the viscosity of a paint, the more likely it is to leave traces on the intended surface. This is why the use of a brush can also sometimes lead to such problems.

On the other hand, what option is suitable for applying acrylic building paint. The roller is the best tool for applying acrylic paint on the wall that can control the viscosity of this paint. Also, there is no possibility of leaving roller traces on the wall or the intended surface. We have said all this to say that choosing a roller for acrylic paint includes a roller with long nap that can control the viscosity of this paint.

Suitable roller for oil paint

Oil paint is one of the solvent-based building paints that need to be thinned with thinner. This paint has high resistance to water, chemicals, moisture, light, and sunlight. Oil paint, like acrylic paint, is washable. So you can easily wash the surface of this paint with cleaning materials and water.

This paint has a strong smell compared to other building paints. Although it is not compatible with nature, it shows more resistance and integrity than other paints. Oil paint is usually diluted with thinner or gasoline. You should use a mask and safety gloves when using this paint.

To implement this color, a brush, roller, and pistol can be used. Of course, brushes and pistols can maintain the desired coverage of this color on the surface of interest. If you intend to use a roller to implement the oil paint, it is better to choose a low diameter roller.

However, it is better to go to the brush to prevent the surface of the oil paint from being torn. Because the paint roller can sometimes show the surface of the oil paint in droplets. This does not happen in acrylic and plastic colors.

Suitable roller for plastic paint

Plastic paint is one of the water-based layer paints that has no odor and does no harm to nature. This paint dries in less than an hour after application. Therefore, the simplest and cheapest color to run is plastic paint. However, unlike acrylic and oil paints, plastic paint is not washable and cannot be washed with water and cleaning materials. Therefore, it is better to be used for ceiling and low traffic areas.

All of the above is to reach the proper roller for plastic paint. Plastic paint is mostly implemented using 25cm medium rollers. These types of rollers have short nap. Due to the low viscosity of plastic paint, it is better to use a short nap roller to minimize the possibility of leaving tool marks on the intended surface.

Roller Selection and Tutorial

What’s the scope of your project? When choosing the right roller, consider the size of the area you’re working on. For medium-sized areas, simple rollers are suitable. If you’re aiming for a custom and unique appearance, textured rollers are a good choice. When painting small and narrow sections, use mini rollers. Lastly, if you prefer minimal paint and a thin layer, consider rollers with pads.

 

What type of paint are you using? Matching the paint with the appropriate roller is crucial. If you’re using latex paints, textured rollers should be in your toolkit. For polyurethane projects, foam rollers are a better choice.

What’s your preferred coverage like? Rollers are a great “painting tool” for quick, one-handed color, but some small or hard-to-reach areas may require the use of a brush for a cleaner job.

Can you use a roller for painting doors? When selecting the right roller for your home’s door, consider its surface. If it’s completely flat, opting for a mini roller is a wise choice, but if it has many grooves and heights, using brushes is necessary.

For expert advice on choosing the right roller, visit the Top Painters website.