Paint rollers come in all different naps and sizes. There are a lot of options, so picking the right one will help ensure you get the best results with your next paint project. Here is the tips and advice you need to make sure you pick the right one.
Choosing a Roller
- Price: For picking rollers, follow the advice you get what you pay for. Cheap rollers can have the fibers come off and stick right to the wall. No one wants a hairy wall. Plus, these less inexpensive rollers when rolled in a paint tray get don’t hold their shape and make a mess and breakdown through the paint process. Ace makes it easy with our good, better, best on the package. S
- Nap: Next tip is to get the right roller for the right paint job and that’s all decided by the nap. The nap refers to the thickness of these fibers on the roller. A ⅛- to ¼-inch nap for smooth surfaces, like plaster; a ⅜- to ½-inch nap for lightly textured drywall; and a ¾-inch nap for textured surfaces, like stucco or brick. The most popular for painting walls, is the 3/8” nap roller.
- Size: For your walls at home, go with a 9” size. It’s a manageable length meaning it’s easy to maneuver on the walls. Roller covers come longer, but just imagine the weight of a longer roller cover, the roller handle and all the paint that saturates it. If you’re doing something like panels, doors or wainscoting, I suggest a small foam roller.
- Material: Use rollers with polyester and nylon fibers with latex paints; natural fibers, like mohair and lamb's wool, with oil-based paints; and foam rollers on porous surfaces, like bare wood, or where you want a glossy-smooth finish, like on cabinets.
- Microfiber: A lot of people don’t believe me when I say this, but yes you can reuse a paint roller. So, if you have a lot of wall paint projects in mind for your home pick up a microfiber paint roller. As long as a microfiber roller is used on a smooth clean surface that doesn’t have debris on it and cleaned thoroughly it can last a pretty long time.
For more helpful tips and advice, visit a Neighborhood Ace or online at Ace Hardware's Tips & Advice
Published on 2/23/2022.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions before using any product.
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