Most of you have probably used paint rollers before, with varying degrees of success. Maybe you just plunged right in and started rolling, developing your own technique as you went. Or maybe you read the instructions telling you to apply the paint in some pattern, usually a “W,” before rolling it out. We’re going to show you a slightly different approach. In this article, we’ll teach you a simple method we use to quickly spread a smooth, even coat of latex paint on the wall. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done in record time and eliminates common problems like light areas, roller marks and built-up ridges that sometimes plague first-time painters.
However, even the best technique won’t work with poor-quality equipment. We start with a good roller frame. We use extensions if needed to reach higher spots. While most homeowners use paint trays, you’ll rarely see a pro using one. That’s because a 5-gallon bucket with a special bucket screen hung over the edge works a lot better.
Here are a few of the advantages of a bucket and screen over a paint roller pan:
- It’s easy to move the bucket without spilling
- The bucket holds more paint. You won’t have to frequently refill a pan.
- It is less likely to trip over or step in a bucket of paint.
- It’s quicker and easier to load the paint roller cover with paint from a bucket.
- It’s easy to cover a bucket with a damp cloth to prevent the paint from drying out while we’re taking a lunch break.
This is some of the strategies we use to speed our procedure in a fast and secure way during our painting process.
