DIY Home Projects
Painting Roller Techniques


BLACK+DECKER B+D Contributor 187 Projects
Paint surfaces in small sections, working from dry surfaces back into wet paint to avoid roller marks. If a paint job takes more than a day, cover the roller tightly with plastic wrap or store it in a bucket of water overnight to prevent the paint from drying out.
Wet the roller cover with water (when painting with latex paint) or mineral spirits (when painting with alkyd enamel), to remove lint and prime the roller cover. Squeeze out excess liquid. Fill the paint tray reservoir. Dip the roller fully into the reservoir to load it with paint. Lift the roller from the paint reservoir, and roll it back and forth on the textured ramp to distribute the paint evenly onto the nap. The roller should be full, but not dripping, when lifted from the paint pan.