Which Paint Roller to Choose?

This article will guide you through the process of selecting the right paint roller for your project. We will compare different materials and their key characteristics. The choice of a paint roller primarily depends on its intended use. Rollers vary in size, fur material, pile length, and application. So, which paint roller to choose?

Roller Size

The size of a roller refers to the length and diameter of its fur. Based on these characteristics, rollers are conventionally divided into:

  • Mini-rollers: up to 100 mm
  • Medium rollers: 100-150 mm
  • Large (facade) rollers: 150-250 mm

The outer diameter of the roller depends on the manufacturer. The inner diameter, or sleeve diameter, is usually 6 or 8 mm. Since the roller is used with a handle, the inner diameter should match the diameter of the handle. The larger the surface to be painted, the larger the roller should be, which reduces the amount of material needed. Smaller rollers are easier to reach hard-to-reach places.

Roller Fur Material

The material of the fur is very diverse and each type is suitable for specific types of work and paints. Some manufacturers indicate the material on the packaging.

  1. Velour: A fabric base with a plush pile made of polyamide fibers. Versatile. The fibers do not shed or splatter paint. Tolerates solvents and aggressive compounds well. However, the paint layer applied with them is even smoother, and the surface looks exceptionally smooth. That’s why they are used when high-quality wall painting is required. Suitable for finishing smooth surfaces. Can be used with any type of mixture: alkyd, water-dispersion, and oil-based paints.
  2. Foam: Does not mat, elastically returns to its original state. The higher the density of the foam, the longer the cover will last. Cannot be used with aggressive mixtures and solvents, as the material will simply corrode. Highly absorbent, so it can splatter during work, especially if done very actively. Due to the structure of the foam, small bubbles may form during painting. The advantage of the material is its low price. Suitable for applying water-dispersion paints, primers, varnishes, and adhesives to smooth surfaces.
  3. Natural fur: A very popular tool, such rollers have good absorbent properties and, when working, give away all the paint that has accumulated in them. Suitable for all types of paints. Fur provides an even coating, without drops and color transitions. The downside is that it can leave fibers on the surface. Suitable for working on any surface. Used with water-dispersion paints, especially recommended for working with oil paints, enamels, and varnishes. Should not be used with lime paints – lime very quickly destroys the fur.
  4. Polyamide: This is a wear-resistant synthetic fiber. Provides good paint retention and distribution over the surface, has high chemical resistance. Resistant to aggressive components of dyes. The longer the pile, the better it paints a rough, coarse surface. Designed for applying all types of water-based paints to smooth and rough surfaces.
  5. Polyacryle: Synthetic fibers, in many properties, the “fluffed pile” resembles wool. The pile length is also different, and in terms of functional characteristics, it resembles a polyamide roller. But due to its lower resistance to aggressive components, it is usually cheaper than polyamide. Used for applying water-based paints or with a limited content of aggressive components.
  6. Polyester: Belongs to the class of polyesters. Polyester fiber resembles cotton (an analog can be imagined as synthetic winterizer). It is one of the cheapest materials for the production of covers. It has good absorption and holding capacity, does not leave lint on the surface. The cheapness of polyester covers compensates for insufficient mechanical strength (fragility of the fiber, caking, fiber rupture) and low durability. For applying all types of paints and protective coatings to rough and semi-rough surfaces.

Other types of rollers

In addition to applying paint, rollers can also be used for other purposes. For example, to create textured surfaces, special textured (structural) rollers are used, with which you can get not just a uniformly colored coating, but a surface with different textures: wild stone, marble, some kind of pattern. Their fur is made of foam. And instead of paint, structural coatings made of putty or plaster mixtures are used.

Also, some types of rollers can be used to remove air bubbles when arranging self-leveling floors. Such rollers are called needle rollers. They have an aluminum or wooden handle. To roll the wallpaper and the joints between the canvases, pressure rollers are used, which have a different shape of the roller. They can be plastic or rubber.

Therefore, the question of which paint roller to choose has many answers. Make the right choice for yourself, considering the information provided in this article.