(Photo: @billyves12 via Twenty20). Paint rollers will cover a larger surface area than a paintbrush and will provide an equally smooth finish to large and small areas. The same goes for storing the roller covers, too. For oil-based paints, pour solvent into the paint tray and dip and roll the cover in the tray. Step 4: Cleaning the Paint Tray . How do I make sure my paint roller doesn't leave streaks? If you did not prime your sleeve with water, dip and roll the sleeve at least 5 or 6 times to fully coat it. Let the roller dry in a well-ventilated area for a few minutes. If the paint takes more than an hour to dry then you should wash your roller so the paint on the roller does not dry out while you are waiting. Continue until all the paint is gone. Tip #1: Extra coat of paint. As you may well have realized, getting rid of the excess paint from the rollers is a slow and meticulous undertaking. Gloss is an oil-based paint which does not flow as smoothly as water-based emulsion but when dry forms a very hard layer. Load the roller with paint by dipping it half an inch into the paint and then rolling it up and down the screen. A roller with smashed nap may paint unevenly. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can adjust the pattern of your homemade rollers as you work, adding more variety to your design. Wet Paint Roller Storage: To keep a wet paint roller sleeve from drying out between coats, wrap the sleeve in aluminum foil or a plastic bag, then store the wet paint roller sleeve in a refrigerator for up to four days. Further Information. Cut off a good sized piece of cling wrap and lay it down flat on a hard surface. When it comes to painting large surfaces, a paint roller can save you a lot of time and energy. Watch this video to find out more. This article has been viewed 815,171 times. For large areas, use a bucket with a roller screen placed inside. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This paint roller, the Wooster Sherlock, is sturdy and designed to keep the roller cover from slipping off while you paint. Always spread the paint towards the previously painted section for the smoothest coverage! For breaks that are a little longer, such as between coats, proceed to the next step. Put on gloves. Keep paint brushes and rollers from drying out so you can get more use out of them. Use a little bit of paint thinner on a paper plate or even a rag and cover the roller with it. Approved. Wash the roller and pan with a hose until it seems basically clear, then wash with soap and warm water, then rinse throughly, and finally let dry (clean off all paint residue.) We always recommend you start by preparing the room. Last Updated: January 7, 2021 There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Now use the water hose to get the paint roller spinning until the water and paint start flying off the roller like friggin MAGIC. Is it okay to use a 14" roller cover on a 12" frame? Cleaning fresh paint from a roller takes about five minutes, and if you do it properly, it's time well spent. If you roller left to right, the rounded edge should be on the left (trailing edge). ), soak it with a water hose. 3. Smoothing out the paint near the ceiling and floor with a vertical stroke is challenging if you have never used a paint roller before. To ensure that this does not happen, you should wear a pair of gloves. Place the wrapped roller or brush on a tarp or other protected surface while you wait for the paint to dry, take lunch, or focus on trim work. For instance I'm fond of painting ultra-thin, and so I save the thinner for later reducing the next coat. A good paint roller holds the sleeve in place. A paint roller works as a very capable paint sponge. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 815,171 times. I was amazed to find that this got almost all of the water out of the roller, eliminating those first few watered-down strokes on the clean wall. Filling a dry roller cover with paint will require five or six repetitions. How much paint do I put in the roller tray? (The rounded edge helps reduce lines.) Painting is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to freshen up the look of a room. Then work within a single section with 1 load of paint before moving onto the next section with a new load of paint. So what is the best type of roller for emulsion paint? You can find these at your local supermarket. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Use-a-Paint-Roller-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-a-Paint-Roller-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Use-a-Paint-Roller-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid98225-v4-728px-Use-a-Paint-Roller-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"