Choose the right paint roller

Do not get lost in the hardware store aisles when choosing rollers. We have summed up what you need to know below. 

A note on quality
The quality of a roller determines the ease with which you get the desired result. One might think that money can be saved buying a discount roller. However, you end up putting in extra time trying to achieve a reasonable finish, as poor quality rollers distributes unevenly. Discount rollers can also break apart, leaving lint in your finished result.

Width 
The scale of your paint project determines the optimal roller width. 25 cm is standard for covering walls and ceilings. 10 cm rollers are perfect for tight corners, windows, doors, kitchen cabinets, trims and baseboards. 

Nap 
The length of the roller fabric is called the ‘nap’. The thicker and longer the nap, the more paint a roller will hold. Rollers usually come in naps of 3 lengths. 

• Short: 3-5 mm or made of foam. The very short nap or foam holds very little paint. This makes them perfect for very smooth surfaces like trims, baseboards, doors, windows, laminated surfaces as well as kitchen and closet cabinets. Short nap or foam rollers are also very good for gloss and high gloss sheens.

• Long: 15-25 mm. The thick and long nap can hold much paint. This makes them perfect for both regular walls and ceilings, as well as rougher, porous and textured surfaces like brick walls, masonry, stucco or textured wallpaper as the long nap gets into the crevices of the rough surface, without you having to apply too much pressure to the roller.  

Blēo offer rollers in both short and long naps, in both 10 cm and 25 cm width. All you need. 

PRO TIP: Break in your rollers 
Once you’ve picked the perfect roller, get the most out of it by breaking it in. Breaking it in, means soaking it in water, wringing the water out removing excess water and let it dry until damp. This help remove any loose material, dust or debris on the roller, and prepares the fabric to absorb more paint.