The Heart of a Roller
The core, the tube inside of a paint roller cover, will tell you a lot about its quality. Roller covers with cardboard cores won't hold up over time. Cardboard paint roller covers absorb moisture as you paint. This moisture weakens the cardboard core, allowing it to become distorted.
Plastic roller cores avoid any harmful absorption, leading to a longer service life.
Natural or Synthetic?
Synthetic paint roller covers are made with nylon, polyester or a combination of both materials. Synthetic roller covers are great with any type of water-based paint, particularly latex.
Lamb's wool paint roller covers hold more paint and are less prone to splatter than synthetic roller covers. Lamb's wool roller covers are a good general purpose cover, but they really shine with oil-based paints.
Mohair paint roller covers are a great choice when you're working with a smooth surface. Doors and furniture look great when painted with mohair paint rollers. Mohair roller covers work well with most paints and even work with some varnishes.
Specialty paint roller covers are made foam, fabric and rubber. These specialty paint rollers are mostly designed for textured or faux finish jobs.
Right Size Your Nap
The thickness of a paint roller cover is called its "nap". A general rule of thumb is, the smoother the surface, the shorter the nap. Matching the nap length to the surface you're painting will ensure a smooth finish. Categories of nap include:
- 1/8" t0 ¼" for very smooth surfaces like sanded wood, Masonite and sheet rock.
- 3/8" to ½" for semi-smooth surfaces such as sanded plaster, poured concrete and composite siding.
- ¾" for semi-rough surfaces like wooden siding and smooth concrete block.
- 1 to 1-1/2" for rough surfaces like textured stucco, brick or cinderblock.
Type of Paint Rollers
Paint rollers are available as pad, manual rollers and pressure paint rollers.
Paint pads apply pint using a flat absorbent pad. These rollers have guides or wheels along the side that help to keep a straight edge. Paint pads are good for trim or edging jobs.
Manual paint rollers are good for walls and ceilings. Manual paint rollers often have connectors in the handle that allow them to attach to extension handles.
Pressure paint rollers pump paint from the bucket through the applicator directly to the roller. Pressure rollers can save time, but do take some time to learn how to use effectively.
