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Essex Builders BlackThorne | How to paint walls with a roller

Brilliant DIY Post by http://www.house-painting-info.com/painting-walls.html (source last accessed: 24 October 2009

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Taken from www.house-painting-info.com

“Rolling a Wall

Prior to starting any wall painting double check the masking on the base and coverage of the drop cloths on the floor. Always keep the 5-gallon bucket with roller screen in front of you.

Load the roller by dipping it into the paint. Do this a few times at first and remove the excess by lightly raking the roller across the screen. Do not totally submerge the roller into the paint. This will produce drips from the ends of the paint roller.

A clean, unused, roller will require extra dips and raking across the screen before it is properly loaded.

Use a slow upward stroke, start applying the paint near a corner and in the middle of the wall. Light pressure on the roller is all that is needed. Too much pressure will produce splatters and deposit too much paint in one area. Rolling to fast will throw paint all over the place.

While painting walls use a straight-line pattern when unloading your roller. Avoid rolling the paint to thin. Over lap each new stroke 3-4 inches, as the paint spreads out reduce the pressure. Continue this pattern for 3-4 feet then lightly load the roller and re-roll in a vertical pattern to remove any thick areas or thick edges left by the roller.

Smooth or lightly textured walls need a finish stroke in the downward direction. This will produce a consistent roller stipple in the same direction.

Painting walls with heavy textures requires a tight “V” or “W” pattern. Apply the pattern to a 3×4 foot section. Reload the roller and fill-in the pattern. Work sections of the wall from top to bottom. Finish the painted area with a full vertical pattern to even out the paint.

The most important considerations when painting walls is applying too much paint in one area or not enough paint. You will recognize the distinct look of very heavy paint. Re-roll these areas with a dry roller while the paint is still wet. Using a final vertical pattern from the ceiling to the floor will spread out any heavily deposited paint.

If rolled to thin a second coat will be necessary in order to achieve the desired look.”

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