Table of Contents
What is nap on a roller?
Each roller has a different thickness of fabric or “nap”, specifically designed for different surfaces around the home. The thicker the nap or length of fabric, the more paint a roller will hold. The thicker the nap, the rougher the surface the roller is designed for.
What is a 3/8 nap roller?
3/8-inch nap for smooth to light-textured walls. 1/2-inch nap for most walls and medium rough surfaces, such as textured plaster, and concrete. 3/4-inch nap for rough surfaces, such as textured walls and ceilings, textured plaster, and concrete. 3/8- or 1/2-inch nap is a good general-purpose roller cover.
What is the difference in nap on paint roller?
Different naps are good for different surfaces. As a general rule, the shorter the nap, the smoother the surface you’ll use it on. Using a long nap on a smooth surface tends to create a bumpy finish, while a short nap on a rough surface will often tear apart or shed fibers into the paint.
What type of roller gives the smoothest finish?
Walls, Wood, and Metal – Small 1/4″ nap roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces – Microfiber rollers are best.
How thick should a nap roller be?
The nap is determined by the surface texture to be painted: 1/4-inch, 3/16-inch: For very smooth surfaces like metal doors and plaster. 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch: For smooth and semi-smooth surfaces like drywall. 3/4-inch: For semi-rough surfaces like wood or a textured ceiling.
How do I choose a nap roller?
When painting a new drywall surface, choose a nap length between 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch. With a nap that short, the roller cover won’t hold a lot of paint, but you’ll be left with a smooth finish. For previously-painted drywall, use a 3/8-inch or 5/16-inch nap length. The longer nap will hold more paint.
Are knit or woven rollers better?
Knit roller covers can pick up and release higher amounts of paint than woven fabrics because the fibers have a looped backing with a single pass-through process resulting in a more “open” fabric. You can achieve spray-like results with both of these roller covers when applying any type of paint, varnish, or enamel.
Do you paint the ceiling or walls first?
The ceiling should always be painted first. This allows you to effectively cover the surface with at least two coats while not having to worry about any over-spray (the effect of excess paint being sprayed onto the walls) by the roller. When painting the ceiling, you should always use a roller with a double arm frame.
Can popcorn ceilings be painted with a roller?
What Type of Roller is Recommended? Painting a popcorn ceiling is much easier (and faster) with a paint sprayer. But if you don’t have access to a paint sprayer or renting one is not an option, Poellinger recommends choosing a roller that matches the thickness of the texture you are painting.
What rollers do professional painters use?
Which is the Best Paint Roller to Use? PRODEC 9″ Trade Professional Medium Pile Roller Kit. Hynec Ultimate Paint Roller Set. Harris Walls & Ceilings Essentials. Wickes Professional Roller on an Extendable Pole. ProDec Twin Head Masonry Kit. Harris Powercoat Paint Roller.
What is the best type of roller for painting walls?
Using the best type of roller Basically, foam, mohair and sheepskin rollers come in short, medium and long-pile. A short-pile mohair roller is suitable for applying silk emulsion, while a medium-pile sheepskin roller is best for matt emulsion. Short pile is the choice for very fine or flat surfaces.
What kind of roller do you use to paint a deck?
What’s the right roller for the job? For staining a deck, go with a standard 9 inch napped paint roller. A napped roller will apply the stain in much the same way as a lambswool pad, but in a much more efficient way.
Do you cut in before or after rolling?
You’ll need to “cut-in” the corners and areas around trim with a paintbrush. Cut in the corners before you roll paint on the main surfaces. This means painting both sides of each corner starting about two brush lengths away and painting in to the corner. Use a 2- or 3-inch brush for paints.
Can you reuse rollers?
With roller covers, you can extend their life over several jobs without compromising quality. A quality roller should last up to 5 cycles before shedding. You can reuse it without affecting the quality of the paint application and over time it will end up paying for itself.
Are foam paint rollers good?
Foam rollers tend to last a shorter period of time than traditional rollers. They are excellent tools for a painter who does not perform painting jobs on a routine basis. If you are someone who only paints a room every few years, foam rollers are ideal for you.
Will a thick nap roller to hide imperfections?
A thick nap roller will hide imperfections but it will not fill any holes. Rollers are made to cover a large area in one stroke so they will miss some places where you will have to touch it up with a brush.
How do I get a smooth finish with a paint roller?
Start at one end, running the roller up and down the full height of the wall, moving over slightly with each stroke. Move backward where necessary to even out thick spots or runs. Don’t let the roller become nearly dry; reload it often so that it’s always at least half loaded.
