Ready Set Roll
Getting Started with Rollers
Rollers are the ideal way to paint a large area quickly and get a professional result. Painting with a roller is fast and easy if you let the roller fabric do the work. The fabric pile on the roller will control the paint application, so all you need to do is provide the labour.
Always use good, well cleaned equipment. Good quality rollers hold more paint and give a better finish than inexpensive rollers. If you are unsure as to whether you are using the right roller, check the information on the Resene roller stand or ask staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller - they can recommend the best roller for the paint you are using and the surface you are painting.
Be prepared! Have everything you need ready before you start applying paint. Work steadily! Don’t rush and don’t roll fast with a loaded roller - unless you want to be a spray painter!
Rinse new rollers in water (waterbased paints) or turps (for solventbased paints) to remove any loose fibres or dust before use. If your roller handle has been used before, place a drop of oil on the roller handle bearings (i.e. the two plastic end caps) - it will make painting much easier.
A strong self-supporting paint tray is strongly recommended to ensure that you do not get spillage when lifting or moving the tray. Make sure your roller tray is clean. Tip the paint into the tray to the paint level shown. If you overfill the tray, loading the roller is more difficult and spillages are more likely. Once you’ve got the right amount of paint in the tray, roll the roller into the paint to saturate all the fabric. Use the ribbed section of the paint tray to squeeze out the excess paint and ensure your roller gets an equal distribution of paint. This will make application easier and more consistent.
Applying paint by roller to walls and ceilings
Achieving an excellent surface finish is easy, when you know how! When painting a ceiling or wall, always paint across the shortest distance. That is, if a ceiling is 5 metres by 3 metres, paint across the 3 metre distance - you’ll find you get a better finish.
It is worth investing in a roller extension pole when painting the upper parts of walls or ceilings - the job will be much easier and your muscles and back will thank you later.
Rolling a wall
Step One: Cutting in
Use a paintbrush to cut into the edges of the wall, including windows and doorways. Cutting in means painting the edges of the area you are planning to roll, focusing on those areas that the roller sleeve won't reach. Cut in the entire wall or ceiling before rolling any paint. If you lack confidence you can try using masking tape or a paint shield to prevent unwanted overlaps.
Step Two: Applying paint
Load your roller with paint. Start from the top left of the wall and apply the paint to an area approximately 2 metres high (ceiling height) by 3 roller widths wide. One roller load will usually cover about half a square metre. Roll the first stroke upwards on vertical surfaces to control dripping, then continue rolling using a ‘W’ pattern. Roll over as much of the cutting in as you can to ensure a more uniform finish, as brushed areas tend to look different to rolled areas particularly when strong colours or metallics are being applied. Use the leading edge of the roller (i.e. the opposite end to the handle stalk) to get as close as possible to the edge. Turn the roller as required so that the leading edge runs parallel to the edge that has been cut in.
Continue until you reach the skirting board. Usually you will need 3 or 4 roller loads depending on the height of the wall and the amount of texture (e.g. painting Anaglypta uses more paint and will take longer).
Always make sure your paint is thin enough so that it will roll easily and finish off properly. If necessary, thin as per the instructions on the paint can.
Make sure the roller remains wet with paint during application as a dry roller may result in patchiness.
Step Three: Laying off
You should lay-off when you have painted an area approximately the same width as a paint shield (approx. 1.8m).
Roll any excess paint on your roller onto the next segment of the wall to be painted (if you have nearly finished the room, use newspaper for this).
Start the roller 50cm from the bottom of the wall and roll lightly down to the bottom of the wall. Let the weight of the roller run down the wall.
Keep your hand and the handle close to the wall as this will help you avoid applying too much pressure. Once you have reached the bottom of the wall, roll back up the wall 50cm slowly removing your roller from the wall when you reach 50cm high. Slightly overlap each layoff motion.
Now it is time to lay-off the rest of the wall. Start the roller 30cm from the top of the wall and lightly roll up to the edge. Let the weight of the roller run down the wall slowly pulling the roller away from the wall as you reach 50cm from the bottom of the wall. Keep your hand and the handle close to the wall as this will help you avoid applying too much pressure.
Slightly overlap each layoff motion. Where possible start close to the strongest light source and then work away from it. This makes it easier to pick up any missed patches.
Rolling ceilings
Follow steps as for walls, finishing off along the line of light from windows.
Roller care
• If you wish to take a break, make sure you stop painting at a natural break in the wall or ceiling, such as a corner. Submerge the roller head in the paint that is in your roller tray, then put a plastic bag around the entire roller tray and seal it. This will keep your roller wet ready for painting when you have finished your break, and it will save you unnecessarily washing your roller.
• Wash rollers and trays immediately after you've finished painting. When the job is finished roll out as much excess paint from the sleeve as possible and immerse in a bucket of water working through the pile with your fingers. Repeat this process in successive buckets of water until clean and dry the sleeve naturally. Dispose of the soiled water in the garden, not the drain. You would normally discard foam sleeves after applying solventbased paints as they are time consuming and expensive to clean.
• Once clean, store roller sleeves upright to avoid flattening the pile.
