Choosing the right roller

June 30th, 2020
Paint rollers can often complete a project much quicker than using a paint brush, especially on larger, open surfaces.
With such an extensive range of paint rollers available from your local Brewers branch, it’s important to discover the type of roller which is best suited for the project.
Here Brewers rolls out the facts to ensure you get the best finish with the right product:
On large, flat surfaces using a roller can save a lot of time compared to using a traditional brush. However the type of surface, in particular it’s texture, will determine the best type of paint roller to use.
For example, rougher surfaces need longer fibres to the roller - longer fibres allow the paint to penetrate into the ridges of the substrate such as textured walls or artexed ceilings. Whereas on smooth surfaces such as newly plastered walls, shorter fibres allow a more even coverage.
The type of paint and the surface, in particular it’s texture, will determine the best type of roller to use.
The type of paint being used is an important factor to consider before choosing a roller. For example woven rollers are perfect for many solvent-based paints, whereas microfibre rollers are ideally suited for water-based paint application.
For more information on the most suitable roller for your project pop into your local Brewers branch who will be happy to talk you through the options, or call 0845 504 5040 and talk to the Brewers technical team.
Paint
Type |
Sheen Level |
Products |
Flat Matt |
No Shine |
Albany Microfibre Short Pile |
Vinyl Matt |
Minimal Shine |
Albany Woven Medium Pile |
Vinyl Soft Sheen Emulsion |
Slight Shine/Satin |
Albany Woven or Microfibre Medium Pile |
Vinyl Silk Emulsion |
Medium to High Shine |
Albany Woven or Microfibre Medium Pile |
Eggshell (Solvent or Water-Based) |
Medium Sheen |
Albany Microfibre Short Pile or Albany mohair |
Satin (Solvent or Water-Based) |
Medium to Slightly High Sheen |
Albany Microfibre Short Pile or Albany Woven Short or Medium Pile |
Gloss (Solvent or Water-Based) |
High Shine |
Albany Microfibre Short Pile or Albany Glosser |
Roller facts:
- A science fiction magazine serial in 1931
mentioned using rollers to paint a space ship.
- The basic roller was invented in 1940 by
Canadian Norman Breakey.
- Rollers can be made from natural or manmade
fibres.
- The length of the roller fibres is called the
‘pile’ or ‘nap’.
- Natural fibre rollers, such as sheepskin,
generally hold more paint than their synthetic equivalent. Natural fibre
rollers are also more durable when using on rough surfaces.