How to Use a Roller Like a Pro

Rollers are one of the most important tools for any painter, amateur or professional or otherwise. Larger rollers can extend for several feet, allowing you to effectively paint areas that would normally be inaccessible to a simple ladder and brush combo. What’s more, rollers big and small can enable you to paint large swaths of your home in a less strenuous fashion while also allowing you to paint with smooth, even strokes.

All of that is great, but still, that doesn’t ensure quality. We’ve all seen properties where paint roller marks are all too obvious. You don’t want that to occur with your home, which is why you’ll want to take a look at these tips for using a roller like a pro.

1. Quality Rollers

Professionals demand professional-grade tools, and you should too. When evaluating potential rollers, you should look for:

• Roller covers that can keep them in good condition
• Extender handles that allow you to paint at varying lengths and distances
• Smooth rolling motion for the roller itself
• Rollers that can soak up a good amount of paint

2. Use Even Strokes

This step is as easy as it is self-evident. Painting in a herky-jerky fashion always produces more visible brush strokes, and that is especially true when it comes to rollers.

You thus need to make sure that you move the roller downward in an even, fluid motion. Do not make any sudden starts or stops. 

One common mistake is to try and paint too much at once. This can once again result in unevenness in the amount of space that is actually covered by the roller and how much paint it transfers to the wall.

In baseball, coaches tell hitters not to always try for home run swings but even, smooth strokes for singles, since those add up. The same is true of roller motion. Smooth and steady wins the painting race.

3. Careful with Color Mixing

Nothing can dirty your roller faster than using two different colors with it. If you are doing a project that requires two or more different kinds of paint, use a different roller for each hue.

You should also wash off your roller between uses so old paint doesn’t become caked on there and pollute future painting projects.

4. Work from the Top Downward

Paint is made of liquid, which naturally travels downward once it is applied to a surface via the force of gravity. You want to manage the amount of influence gravity has on your project, and a good way of doing so is by making it work for you by painting from the top to the bottom.

Doing the reverse will simply cause paint to dribble downward as you try and work your way up to the top, producing an uneven paint job. Conversely, starting from the top and working your way down can produce an even and consistent color throughout the process.

With these tips, you can use your roller like a pro during your next big painting task.