DIY Painting With a Roller

Painting walls and ceilings with a roller is not complicated, but it can require a certain touch to avoid roller marks when using finishes like semi–gloss and eggshell. To sidestep this problem, consider using flat latex paint for your walls and ceilings. The easiest, most foolproof way to get a professional looking paint finish is to use flat latex, instead of a shiny paint, for these surfaces. Flat latex paint is very forgiving and will not show marks from repeated rolling and brush touch–ups.

If you must use shiny paint on walls and ceilings you should always roll in complete strokes from one barrier to another, such as from a baseboard to a ceiling, without stopping. This will minimize the possibility that roller marks will form. On ceilings and high walls this may be a problem because of the difficulty rolling complete strokes. So if at all possible, use flat latex paint in these situations for the best results.

Prepare the Paint Tray

Use a one gallon or larger paint roller tray. Stir the paint or shake the can to mix all the pigment before filling the tray. Have a paint brush handy to clean the rim of the can and fill the tray one half to 3|4 full. Then use the brush to do the detailed work. With the paint at a manageable level in the can you can use it in place of a paint pail.

Prepare the Roller

When filling the roller don't go too deeply into the paint or place the roller in the pool, to try and soak it up. This will create runs and roller marks from excess paint on the roller frame. Fill the roller by rolling it back and forth into the edge of the paint pool several times until the nap is saturated. If the nap becomes saturated on one side, causing the roller to resists turning, hold it stationary with your hand and force the dry part into the edge of the pool until it is evenly saturated and the roller turns freely.

Work the paint into the roller by turning it repeatedly on the tray until it moves freely and leaves a smooth coat of paint on the tray. With the paint evenly distributed in the roller, attach an extension pole and begin rolling, starting at one corner of the room.

Rolling a Ceiling

Before starting, use a brush to paint the corners between the walls and the ceiling. Begin rolling the ceiling a few inches away from the wall just outside the brushed paint. Roll about a 5 foot strip moving parallel with the wall. At the end of your stroke roll back in the opposite direction, working out away from the wall. Roll back and forth like this, moving out a little farther with each stroke, leaving a zigzag pattern with the paint.

Fill In

Stop a few feet out and then roll back toward the wall, filling in the missed space as you go. When you reach the wall go slowly to avoid bumping it with the roller. Roll repeatedly, back and forth over the whole area several times to even out the coat and flatten any roller marks.

Roll a Second Section

Refill the roller and start a new swath of paint a few inches from the last. Roll a few feet farther out toward the center of the ceiling, leaving a zigzag pattern.

Smooth the Paint

Roll back the other way and into the first section of paint, filling the gaps as you go. Roll back and forth gently until the paint coat is smooth with no roller marks and the two painted sections blend together seamlessly.

Roll the Remaining Ceiling

Continue in this way until the ceiling is finished. Blend the roller work into the brush work around light fixtures and at walls, using a lightly filled roller. Roll repeatedly, but gently until the two areas are blended into a smooth paint coat.

Let latex flat paint dry for an hour or more and apply a second coat, if necessary. Let eggshell, semi and high–gloss latex paint dry three or four hours and let alkyd or oil paint dry 12 to 24 hours between coats.

Rolling Walls

Before starting use a brush to paint the wall corners, along the ceiling line and around trim molding. Check these link if you need to use masking tape to paint a straight line at the ceiling or along trim molding.

Roll the walls starting a few inches away from the corner and a little down from the ceiling. Roll parallel with the wall corner, down to the baseboard and then back up to the ceiling, without stopping. Go slowly as you reach the ceiling to avoid bumping it. Roll back down to the baseboard and then up again, leaving a W pattern with the paint.

Smooth the Paint

Stop a couple feet out from the corner and roll back the other way to fill in the missed space. Go slowly when you reach the corner to avoid bumping the other wall. Roll over the whole swath lightly and repeatedly, from floor to ceiling, to blend the paint coat and smooth out any roller marks. Work out from the corner in this way to apply a swath of paint, a couple of feet wide, from floor to ceiling.

Roll a Second Swath

Refill the roller and start a second swath, a few inches from the first. Begin a little down the wall from the ceiling and roll in complete strokes, working out a couple of feet more into the wall.

Blend the Two Together

Roll back toward the corner and into the first swath of paint to blend the two into a smooth paint coat. Roll repeatedly in complete strokes to smooth out any roller marks and cover in an even coat. Continue in this manner to finish painting the wall. If the paint won't cover in one coat, let it dry completely and do a second coat using the same method of brushing first and then rolling.