How To Paint a Wall With a Roller

Knowing how to use a roller is paramount if you want to paint the walls in your home DIY style. To achieve a good finish, you need to have the right equipment as well as the right technique. We understand that this is easier said than done, so we thought it would be worthwhile sharing our top tips on how to paint a wall with a roller. 

How to paint a wall with a roller- preparation

Before you get started learning how to paint a wall with a roller, it is important you gather the right supplies. This means you need a tray, frame, roller sleeve and optionally you could get an extension pole too. It's also important to make sure that you have the right roller to complete the job. Generally, 20-32mm covers are suitable for most paints on textured surfaces like concrete, 10-12 covers are used for low sheen and flat paints and 6-8 covers are often used for gloss or semi gloss paint. At Victory Colours we stock a range of paint roller handles, frames and sleeves. 

How to paint a wall with a roller step by step

Step 1:

Fit the roller to the roller frame

Step 2:

Dip the roller, carefully and lightly into the tray of paint. We recommend making sure that the paint covers less than half of the roller. Next, roll it back and forth on the paint tray ramp- this is to ensure that the paint on the roller is evenly distributed.

Step 3: 

We find one of the most effective ways to get a good finish when painting with a roller is to paint the surface in a zig zag style pattern, then go over the space with crisscross strokes.

Step 4: 

After you have covered the wall in paint, level off the surface with long, parallel stokes. To do this it's best to work in sections. 

Step 5:

Make sure you never leave a used roller exposed to air for too long, either wrap it up if you are taking a quick break or be sure to clean it thoroughly after use. Taking care of your roller is important if you want to use it again. 

Which paint to use

Another crucial step in achieving the best possible finish is to use a high quality paint. Victory Colours is a high quality paint that has been created with a technically advanced formulation which has an amazing resistance to stains and washable properties. This paint, paired with a quality roller- our favourite being by ‘two fussy blokes’, means you can have a seamless finish. Here are some more benefits of Victory Colours paint:

• Environmentally friendly
• Vegan and cruelty free
• High opacity 
• Low VOC
• Ultra low odour
• Toxic free
• Easy application

Using a high quality paint means your walls will look great for longer as the paint is designed to be more hard wearing than regular paints. This means that it will be better at holding up against wear in high traffic areas and you won’t need as many coats. It can also save you money in the long run as you are less likely to need to touch the paint up as often and will not have to repaint for a longer period of time. Another thing to consider is that a lower quality paint often coincides with higher levels of VOC- volatile organic compounds.