Choosing the Proper Paint Roller Cover for Interior DIY Painting

Expanding on an earlier article, which focused on proper rolling techniques, this discussion will focus more on choosing the appropriate roller cover size and type for various interior painting projects. Quality roller covers are important, and will prove the difference in the results of the paint finish. DIY painters should choose tools based on quality, not price, and appropriateness to the current paint project, not whatever is lying around the garage.

How To Paint a Room

I'll tell you the truth. I know how to paint, but I hate doing it. But that shouldn't scare you. For me, it has to do with painting within the lines - it goes against my personality. But for most people, painting is easy and the end product is an updated look for your room. This article will give you step by step instructions on how to paint a room, but it's up to you to provide the motivation.

How To Choose The Paint Rollers

By Size

• 12" to 18" - Used for painting extra large areas; i.e.. warehouse walls, ceilings, floors. The most economical time saver.
• 9" - The most widely used size in America today. Use for all general painting applications.

Reuse Your Roller

Fact

Approximately 64 million gallons of paint each year are left over when jobs are done.  Using a paint roller can help spread that paint a lot faster. There are even special textured paint rollers available, with sleeves designed to produce a variety of patterns. Make sure you don’t throw away that paint roller after the project is done.

Paint Rollers

This story is a gallery of the types of rollers and roller pads available for your painting needs.

Rollers

Rollers have been around since the early 1940s and have become the standard applicator for interior painting because they can put a lot of paint on a lot of wall in a short time. You can spread about three times as much paint on a surface with a roller as with a brush in the same amount of time.

How to Choose a Paint Roller

Choosing the right paint roller depends on what your home paint project requires.

A paint roller consists of a handle, a sleeve (or roller cover), and a cage (a skeletal frame with rotating ribs).

• Pick a paint roller with a steel handle, which is equipped with a plastic grip threaded to fit an extension pole.