How
to Choose the Right Paint Roller for your Paint Project
By Mark J. Donovan
Paint rollers save an incredible
amount of time compared to painting with standard paint brushes. You can
paint a room or surface several times faster with a paint roller than a
paint brush. Paint rollers also prevent hand fatigue that often accompanies
using a paint brush all day. Selecting a paint roller can be confusing due
to the wide variety of options that are on the market.
Paint rollers are most commonly found in 9 inch lengths, however smaller
ones are available for painting in tight areas or small surfaces.
The chief item to consider when
selecting a paint roller is the nap length. Paint rollers are sold in
various nap lengths to address different surface textures. The smoother the
wall surface the thinner the paint roller nap required. For example, a 3/8
inch nap is adequate for most interior wall surfaces due to the fact that
the interior walls are typically constructed out of drywall which has a
fairly smooth surface, particularly after the primer has been applied.
Plywood on the other hand often only requires a 3/16 of an inch nap. With
exterior painting projects, where the surfaces are often rougher a thicker
paint roller nap is required, such as ½ inch or more. The thicker the nap
the better job the paint roller can do in getting the paint into the deep
recesses of the wall surface.
To select a paint roller that is
right for your painting project consider the wall or surface texture. Read the
label on the paint roller to determine its thickness and what type of wall
surfaces it is best used on. Keep in mind that paint roller naps can vary in
thickness from as little as 3/16ths of an inch to as thick as 1 inch. They are
also made out of a variety of materials including nylon, mohair, wool, polyester
and polyester/wool bends. I often select a polyurethane foam paint roller when
painting interior walls. They seem to do a good job holding paint and spreading
it evenly on the wall surface.
If on the other hand you are applying a high gloss paint
or a polyurethane varnish you may want to choose a paint roller that
consists of a polyester/wool blend.
To conclude if you are painting a smooth type surface with a flat or
eggshell type paint, select a paint roller with a medium nap. If on the
other hand you are painting the surface with a varnish or oil-based paint
select a shorter nap. And if you are painting a rough type surface select a
paint roller with a longer nap.
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