Interior Painting Tips - Using a Roller

[MrDjc1970]

i rolled side to side and then up and down for 8 years and met an old school paint/dec like yourself and he showed me the W way of rolling and i must admit his method is really good also. i like your vid as its the way i am self taught but the W style is just as good. nice vid AsktheBuilder.

[ironlungstoke]

balancing that roller pole is everything people. the littlest pressure can mean the difference between an apprentices work and a journeymans work in no time.

[moedem]

help i get differant shades when sun shines on my paintwork..what to do?

[AsktheBuilder]

@moedem Use my method here and apply the paint heavier that you currently are.

[MzYeLloWbUsRyDa]

@moedem use a pole, use the cage with the metal on the side of the direction your rolling. Load your roller fully, not globbing. Start in the middle of the wall spreading paint up and down leaving 1/2 ft at the top and bottom. Back roll over that you just rolled out bringing the paint as close to the ceiling and floor as you can, then once more roll over it using even pressure to carry the paint evenly leaving no lines. Repeat until wall is covered!

[mike82y]

rollers are heavy

[AsktheBuilder]

@mike82y Eat more Wheaties and spinach. :->

[bad4good100]

listen as a master painter i have to say i dont do everything just like his vids but out of all the vids i see online he knows what he is doing and i would listen to any tips he can give all painters like me always find somthing bad to say about other painters but hes ok long as he can cut without tape lol need to see more vids

[AsktheBuilder]

@bad4good100 Thanks very much. I'm just trying to share in the videos techniques that have worked well for me. Are there better ones? You bet. I'm hoping pro painters like you tape videos and send them to me so I can add them as Video Responses. Do that if you have a chance!

[TheWaqarpk]

it is importent to put water????????????????????

[AlayaCambata]

Could you NOT use white on white?

[AsktheBuilder]

@AlayaCambata Yeah, that was a mistake. I'm going to reshoot this video in a month with a contrasting color. Then I'll add it as a video response. When you see it done with contrasting colors, you won't believe it. Then I'm going to demonstrate the proper amount of paint to leave on the wall.

[tawkingjames79]

And I garantee it, test it with a paint millage (thickness) gauge.

[tawkingjames79]

The reason the pros dont roll side to side; The first 2 to 3 feet the roller hits the wall will have the most paint on it, dip the roller again, now where you start at- same thing. You're gunna have more paint in different areas. Start in the middle of the wall roll up then down and again, you will spread it consistently. The pros do it that way not because its faster, but because its consistent and I dont get called back to a job because the walls are light at the top and bottom.

[shadesofperfection]

Im a Benjamin Moore PDS painter and would not use this method. I roll from top to bottom and then back roll, while back rolling apply slight pressure to the leading end of the roller. Do this and you will have a even finish with no roller lines.

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks for your comment. It's always nice to get an opinion from a pro. The method I show is absolutely not the end-all and be-all method. It's one that's worked for me to blend and hide the grain produced by the knap on the roller. Using finishing strokes going about 90 degrees from the initial application direction does this. It's not a fast method to apply paint, that's for sure. But it does produce a remarkable coating. Try it once on just one wall and compare the results to your method.

[kmerchant99]

@shadesofperfection yea i deffintaly agree with you my dad and uncle have painted for over ten years with there own business and a few years own there own. i noticed he actaully had a decent paint to promar from sherim willams.

[morthrop]

URG! No WONDER my paint job looked poor. I painted up and down strokes and just pushed the roller hard against the wall. I never bothered to go sideways, never used the proper, even pressure on the roller. Thanks for this video, helped alot when I did it the second time around!

[fabrosin]

Thanks a lot for information on painting with rollers

[thisisamovie]

thank you so much

[mccartl]

I just did half of my daughter's bedroom with this method and the other half with the conventional W method. I'm sure I wouldn't want to use this technique if I painted for a living as it is a bit pokier but for an amateur like me who only paints every once in a while this is a godsend. Thanks for the advice and I'll use this technique from here on in. Including the extra coat that I'll have to do over the terrible job I did on the other walls.

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks! The pros who comment here fail to mention that I never said it was a faster method. What it does is blend the grain of the roller.

[iGioAc22Milan]

What would be the best color to paint your very dark basement?

[MKUltraProject]

White

[taledarkside]

When painting with a very glossy paint. How do you prevent roller strokes? Even when using even light pressure. Do you go with a foam roller or a high quality roller?  I know the imperfections get a lot more visible with the glossy paints.

[AsktheBuilder]

The most expensive roller you can find.

[needsomeink]

Next time, I would probably have the paint tinted to a color, that way the viewer could see what you are doing.

[AsktheBuilder]

I agree 100 percent. I'm taping a new video of this method to fully explain why it's better to roll two directions. You bet I'll have contrasting colors as that will show exactly why it's so important.

[MuddySouthernWaterz]

a god with a roller,what else to say.

[AsktheBuilder]

Uh, I wouldn't go that far........ :->

[0neofthem]

i made a huge mistake painting my room years ago by painting it w/o primer and rollers lol. shows how much some parents know about painting :p

[TheGoodKid]

I worked for a commercial painting company for a couple of months. The boss would give me hell if he caught me rolling side-to-side. They wanted full top-to-bottom rolls from the base to the ceiling.

[paintcalgary]

If you painted like this for my company, I would let you go. Full top to bottom swing and back rolling is how it's done. If you back roll correctly you won't get rails or flashing. This side step is a waste of time and not practical at all on high walls. Sherwin Williams paint being used is decent paint, so good to see that.

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks for your comment. The technique is to show homeowners how to get rid of the grain caused by rolling just one direction. I never said it was faster. It's not a production method, and I have no intention of applying to work for you. :->

[100eyes]

at least he's giving free advice instead of charging people by the hour.

[Redcoat66]

Try adding some Floetrol! Superb stuff. Add 2.5ltr to 10ltr paint for big jobs. the paint just glides on and no roller marks. I use it on top jobs and the results are very good!

[tonyredsnake]

good practice for newbies

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks. It's a good practice for anyone because of the grain created by rollers. Going two directions ensures even coverage and no grain issues.

[Masterplaymaker]

I learned how to paint walls using this technique, it is very hard for me to believe that some painters don't even dare to try it (mostly assholes) some of them will call you crazy if they see you using this method. I sometimes wonder where did they learn painting? how and why....

[eugenetswong]

Thank you for sharing your techniques. I feel much more confident now.

[flourishjoe]

also for rookies put a little water in your paint not to much maybe 1/7 or 1/8 of the gallon this will help roll the paint on much smoother with much less effort. also you will be able to correct mistakes without it drying out on you to fast. im a pro and when i do private work i always put a little water the finish on the wall looks much smoother and less texture

[AsktheBuilder]

Not bad, but you left out to do what it says on the paint can label. Don't exceed the thinning limits.

[monkeydog2332]

My paint guy tinted the primer for my wood shed, and its covering beautifully (the paint is a deep brownish red, the primer ended up being a pale pink). My house is already primed, all in white, and it is taking a lot more to cover. I haven't tried this method yet (will on the next room), but I'm wondering, if when using a bold color especially, if it would be a good idea to get a tinted primer coat up there first? Or in general, if it wasn't already primed, is the tint primer a good idea?

[AsktheBuilder]

Go to my website and read the real science behind coloring primers. You're not going to believe what you will read. Use the word grayscale as the keyword as your search at my site.

[unknownally]

Very great video!

I'm painting Wal-Mart and you could see some shiny paint marks in a very few spaces. I was trying to save paint and save money. Now I know that's not a good way to paint a store that will be seen by millions. Thanks for the great tips!

[chawk111]

I'm painting a primed white wall dark green and you can see EVERY SINGLE ROLLER STROKE. It looks 100 times worse than before I started! I'm using a pole. Maby that's the problem. Or not enough paint.

Christ. No wonder there's a professional painting industry.

[AsktheBuilder]

Don't be so hard on yourself. Do you think the pros were perfect their first day? No way. It takes hundreds and thousands of hours to develop a technique. You should stop using the pole and put the roller frame in your hand. Get the technique mastered there. Most rookies do over roll. Meaning you spread the paint too thin.

[alienwolf2]

i paint for a living dark colors take two coats allowing the first to dry completely put even pressure and dont let the paint get to thick. this guy sells paint im sure cut it a little

[MoschopsLives707]

Excellent video. Ignore everyone saying this method is wrong. Doing the cross-painting technique is by far the best way to ensure good even coverage and it helps to get enough paint on surface. Why the hell would that make you tired as one person suggests? Surely a good end result is what counts !

[AsktheBuilder]

You're 100% correct. The cross pattern ensures complete coverage. As you know, when you look closely at a roller pattern, there are spots the roller puts on little paint. Changing the direction eliminates this problem. Double rolling the same direction doesn't.

[Zappyboy12]

i am a professional painter and i pride myself in getting a good finish but i cannot see that your method is wright and he best way to paint a wall i am not saying it is wrong ither but it is no diffrent to other methods out their

[AsktheBuilder]

Indeed there are. You should try this method on just one wall one day and see the finished results. I believe you'll be amazed. It will take you all of 5 extra minutes to try this on a small wall.

[gagootz1]

Any painting school in the U.S. will say your method is absolutely wrong. You would never cross wall a wall under any circumstances. You might do it on a ceiling with a lot of light coming from a particular side but never on a wall..  Very bad advice. Ask any pro or contractor and they will tell you the same thing

[AsktheBuilder]

Well, we sure know where you stand. Have you ever tried this method? Perhaps you might get spectacular results. Homeowners want fantastic results, not always speed.

[gagootz1]

what you are really doing is double rolling. weather you do it cross roll or just straigt up and down. The excess paint sets up, then when you come back and lay it off you get better coverage. Anytime you roll without a pole you are fighting yourself.

[sisterbrothers]

Hey, thank you. Just doing my bedroom, made a horrific mess with silk emulsion on one wall, another wall looks great after watching this video. When I started I thought I knew it all, lol.

[tbed63]

flourishjoe...agreed. Sideways? Then all the paint will flow out of the roller and make a big mess. Also, where is the extension pole? Does he really paint a wall by holding the handle of the roller? Wow! That's a LOT of work. Buy yourself an extension pole and you'll save a lot of time and not get a terrible back ache.

[flourishjoe]

i would never suggest going sideways you can get really tired doing this. best way is to go up and down not the "m" or zigzag motions most people tell u. go up and down but go over the same spot a few times up and down its called backrolling

[dsbuchalter]

hi Tim,

These are good tips. I'd probably fit into the "rookie" category for sure.

[Bigmike3122]

can u paint over wood paneling?

[AsktheBuilder]

Yes, with amazing results. Read the column about this at my website.

[badmashhh]

Thanks Mr Carter that helped mee alot and saved my time :)

[hbkanojia]

Mr Carter,

Can I apply distemper using a roller brush ? Is it applicable on old surface ?..

[AsktheBuilder]

What do the directions on the label say to do?

[sgsiva78]

MrCarter,

My Wall at home is blue, mid tone. I am thinking of repainting it to cream white. So before I do that, I should just apply a base coat before the cream white?

[AsktheBuilder]

Follow the directions on the label. You probably do not need a primer. If you do, tint the primer the complimentary shade of gray that matches the finish color. All colors other than black and pure white have a complimentary gray tone - the shade of gray the color would be if you took a photo of it using black and white film.

[alabamaguitarguy]

Mr. Carter!

I truly enjoy your videos, and I have learned a lot from them while trying to finish a 2-story house from basically a shell with unfinished drywall. I'm looking for the easiest and best-looking way to texture a new ceiling so I wont have to sand the joints without using the "popcorn" method. What do you recommend?

Thanks,

-Matthew

[AsktheBuilder]

I could type for an hour...... You need to tape and finish to prevent the telegraphing of the joints. So why not take the extra step and produce the smooth ceiling which eliminates the need for the texture??????

[danbecs1]

Theres absolutely no need to roll sideways.

Also, it is best to cut in around the entire wall first and roll starting at one end of the wall, and use a pole to roll from the ceiling to the floor trim and then go back over to lay off to avoid roller marks.

[AsktheBuilder]

Everyone has their own method. Thanks for sharing yours.

[richardylight]

This is the best video about painting I ever saw. Every second here is meaningful. It tells you what is good, what is bad, how a bad thing may happen and how to avoid it. This video builds up an expert immediately. Hire him, or raise him.

[etiennekai]

Thanks for the reply... How did that gutter gaurd system test you were doing in your area turn out?

PS No one is right / correct all the time... an intelligent person adapts...

[AsktheBuilder]

We are doing a follow-up video about the gutter guards in a few days. Stand by. If you are subscribed to my channel, you should get an email notification.

[etiennekai]

too much paint going 1000 square feet--- I think you mean too little paint and stretching it to go 1000 square feet and of course you do not roll a wall sideways as a starting point! You should at least go to some training seminars before you speak on a subject and teach it... with that said-- I just found your site and still enjoy it (I am a professional contractor and engineer) and I enjoy looking at all the sites to figure out what the "common man" is doing and learning and repair mistakes

[AsktheBuilder]

You are correct. The sound engineer failed to catch that in the field and we could not easily go back and retape the segment. Thanks for your kind words.

[salas48]

Thanks for the tips Tim.I just started to work as a painter and i need all the tips i can get.I also subscribed to your you tube channel.Thanks

[AsktheBuilder]

You are welcome. There are many ways to do a task. My way is not always the easiest, but the final result is usually top drawer. Good luck in your business. Think of yourself last and nothing but good will happen to you. You will be showered with work.

[zama202bc]

I have been a painter for the past 20yrs here in the UK. This all looks a bit DIY to me. If I have to roll out a wall, I will use a good 12-15inch sheepskin roller. I always like to piss the paint down a little if its a long pile. Furthermore, I also add FLOWTROLL to the emulsion to get that top finish.

[loverleyjubberley]

I`m in the Uk and with all due respect this is not how to roll a wall, a pro would use a pole (space permitting) and the only time i`d go sideways is if the wall was really uneven.

[AsktheBuilder]

I appreciate your comment. There are any number of ways to get excellent results. This video just shows one of them. Perhaps you can get out your camera and show us the way you do it.

[Aone1683]

First, thanks to you and others like you, I have been inspired to create my own tutorial videos on Youtube.

I've been a IUPAT member in NYC going on 12 years now and work/run jobs for the top Paint Contractors in the U.S. I may use the technique you described when rolling ceilings. However, I wouldn't advise anyone to roll walls that way. The most efficient way to roll a wall is top to bottom with an 18if possible. Otherwise, I hope you've got the DOL's number handy.

[acadiantunes]

your coat of primer and your first finish coat can actually go on without keeping a wet edge.the trick is to feather your edge as you trim.i try to keep a wet on the last coat but i dont know if it makes much of a difference[once i noticed a difference in sheen]

[uwereverythin2me]

Hey! I am painting my room red, i primed it today with the gray prime that the lady at home depot said i needed. it looks fairly even, but i want to make sure the red is as even as possible...any tips, suggestions, things i should know before i start? thank you.

[AsktheBuilder]

Apply the paint evenly and keep a wet edge. This means paint fast or add an extender to slow the drying time.

[Aone1683]

I generally use the technique you descibed when rolling ceilings. Efficiently rolling walls requires using a pole or a stick in an top to bottom motion

[acadiantunes]

painting sideways is useless.u'd never make it as a contractor [no offense] have any of u heard about finish paint thats also a primer? i found one.i should be happy but im a bit pissed that manufacturers hide this from us to sell more primer.

[1greatpainter]

I understand the need for even coverage. Professional painters don't roll sideways.

Maybe behind a toilet. What method would you recommend painting a 2 story foyer. I may have to break out my video camera and teach all the rookies the proper technique. And please invest in an 18" roller set up. 9" rollers should be outlawed.

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks for your comment. Please do get out your video camera. Those of us that do videos prefer to see "actions" not "words". Consider being realistic about your tool suggestions. Imagine if I chided you for having a propane torch instead of an acetylene one.

[iam980]

useful tips\aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[abracadabraovernout]

Don't be defensive with me now, because I'm not attacking you...but after 15 years in the painting business, I've found that the people who make the products (chemists especially) have no clue what it takes in real life to apply them effectively. They just don't know. They formulate, do their chemist stuff, then hand it over to the brand manager, who then takes a trip out to the field and gives the product to professional painters to test.

[AsktheBuilder]

No worries. No all companies are like that. And one of my good friends is a paint chemist. He actually does test himself the products he formulates.

[TRBabble]

I am a professional painter, and I agree with your statement that Sales Reps sometimes don't have a clue. Sometimes that piss me off when a customer tells me that the Sales Rep at Ben Moore or Ser Will said that I (the pro) should do it this way. Ty-D Painter

[horsefly4]

come on man this info is for complete amateurs. i guarantee that if you go work for a contractor and start doing that, your going to get chased off the job

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks for your comment, but I must beg your pardon! I went to your channel and there is not one video you have made where you show how to do it your way. Why are we to trust your opinion? Why don't you take the time to show us your way of painting?

[AxelGusk]

Why don't you ask a real painter for some tips. I'm afraid your 'sideways' tip would be ill-advised with todays 100% acrylic latex paints, these latex need to be applied and spread out on the wall as quickly as possible to ensure proper leveling and drying of the paint.

[AsktheBuilder]

I did better than that. I asked the paint manufacturers about how they suggest applying the paint. The method in this video shows one method that achieves even coverage with no missed areas. Many painters I talk to have never spoken with paint chemists or brand managers. I prefer to go to the people who make the products. Thanks for commenting.

[TRBabble]

The BEST AND ONLY way of achieving even-coated walls is to two-coat. If you don't, then I will gauruntee that you WILL have HOLIDAYS. ALWAYS TWO COAT. The homeowner (you or them), wants professional walls TY-D PAINTER

[paintunderpressure]

u sound like george bush

[AsktheBuilder]

Didn't know he was an avid painter! Thanks!

[AsktheBuilder]

You can mix SMALL amounts. Read the label for maximum thinning.

[horsefly4]

who paints sideways first? this is called wasting time

[AsktheBuilder]

Thanks for your comment! I went to your channel and you have not uploaded any videos of your own. Why not tape a video showing all of us how you get the same results in less time? We would all like to learn.

[WateryFowl]

Novice here. How important is roller technique when applying primer? Or, maybe to put it another way: how important is it to achieve an even coat of primer? If my primer coat is uneven, will the finish coat look that way too even if I apply the finish coat properly? (I'm trying to cover medium gray walls with a lighter shade -- off white, basically).

[AsktheBuilder]

It's very important. Keep in mind what the primer is doing. Also, the paint film, once dry, must be even. If it is not, the finish coat may turn out blotchy.

[horsefly4]

well thats why we backroll..i been painting for some time now and never seen anyone paint sideways

[Ededitor8]

Sorry mate but where I come from that video raises more issues than it solves. You pured way too much paint in the tray, you dont load the roller by rolling it back and forward in the tray, you never start in the middle of a wall, you definitely dont paint without coveralls on... After 18 years working, teaching and perfecting painting, I look at the video and I think you could have done a lot better helping out the novices. I think one day I will make a video!

[AsktheBuilder]

I agree that it was not my best work. Especially the color choices. No contrast. Your last sentence says it all. Make your own videos so we can tap into your knowledge base. Let all of us know when you post videos on your empty YouTube channel.

[akabigdaddydawg]

Well I learned something from it. Thank you. If you get the chance sometime, could you do a video on how to get the borders right? (You know, how to get that perfect line between the wall and ceiling). I tried using the tape, but it still didn't come out the way I wanted it. Thanks!

[AsktheBuilder]

Sure thing. I am getting ready to tape a series of interior wall and ceiling paint videos in the next month. I will show you how I get a pretty straight line. It is nearly impossible if the corner is irregular because of poor drywall finishing!

[budte]

I always tip the paint over the insstructino side of the tin, so I will always read the colour on the front. For a good finish put the roller on a pole and stretch the paint to avoid tramlines and thick texture finish. Work by mentally dividing the wall into roller load portions. Cheap sleeves false economy.

[freespeachrulez]

You said that they put too much on, did you mean they use a gallon for too big of a area? Also why would my roller keep wanting to slide off one end when I roll?

[AsktheBuilder]

Yes. A person overrolls. The can may say a gallon covers 400 sq ft, and they apply it to say 600 square feet of wall space. Your roller frame is either low quality or the roller is bad.

[freespeachrulez]

Yeah, could be the roller frame, but could it also be the roller being cheap? (dollar store) like maybe the cardboard gets too wet? Thanks for answering my questions. I know your time is valuable.

[chinkadero]

NOBODY rolls horizontally.Stop the B.S.

[AsktheBuilder]

Perhaps nobody does it where you live and work, but pros do it here. You might try it. The 90-degree method of applying the paint really produces a smooth finish with perfect coverage. No doubt there are other ways to achieve the same results. ;-)

[pinballkingpin]

Thanks, whats the thickest lint free nap you'd want to use for smooth interior walls?

What do you prefer to do first,cutting or rolling?

[AsktheBuilder]

3/8 inch is the thickest I would use. I prefer to cut in first then roll. This way the roller texture can extend as far as possible into each corner.

[jayangli]

that was really good. never knew it but easy now we know how

[ForPropertyInvestors]

Thanks for the tips I've added a lot of your handy tips videos to our Australian Group for property investors.

[AsktheBuilder]

Dear hammerofharpel,

You are 100% correct. I am going to reshoot that video with contrasting colors. On real TV you can see the difference, but on the grainy appearance of YouTube you can't.

[hammerofharpel]

Excellent tutorial. Wish you would have used contrasting colors to see the effect.

[carmelo1966]

very helpful i was making those same mistakes lol.