Using a roller to apply paint over large areas is a much quicker and neater alternative to using a brush. Paint rollers are used with metal or plastic trays comprising of a reservoir for the paint and an adjacent flat ribbed area for distributing the paint evenly on the roller.
The roller sleeve can have a short, medium or long pile. The short pile sleeve is used with gloss paint. A roller with a medium pile sleeve is best for applying emulsion or satin-finish oil paints. While the roller with a long pile sleeve is for applying emulsion or masonry paint to rough textured walls.
Rollers come in several lengths, the most common being: 175mm (7in) and 225mm (9in). But you can also get 300mm (12in) rollers.
Foam roller sleeve
Inexpensive foam rollers do not produce a good finish as they tend to leave air bubbles in the surface of the paint. But they are useful when using a bituminous paint as they can be thrown away after the job is complete.
Synthetic mohair sleeve
A synthetic mohair roller sleeve has a very fine pile, which gives a quality finish making it ideal for paints that have a sheen finish such as silk emulsion and gloss.
Synthetic sheepskin roller sleeve
This type of roller sleeve produces an excellent finish when painting with emulsion. Also good for painting uneven surfaces including woodchip wallpaper.
Radiator roller
The long handle and small roller makes it easier to paint behind radiators and pipes.
Moulded PVC rollers
The embossed pattern on the moulded PVC sleeve produces a textured finish.
Corner rollers
It’s not possible to paint the corner of a room with a standard roller. Paint rollers with a short width, shaped sleeve are available for this task, but the corners of the room should be painted before the walls to achieve the best finish.
Extension handles
Most rollers have hollow handles so an extension can be fitted to allow you to reach the top of high walls and the ceiling without working from a trestle or stepladder. Some extension handles are telescopic.
Roller tray
A shallow tray for holding paint used with a paint roller.
Long pile roller
A paint roller with long projecting fibres used for painting textured exterior walls.
Medium pile roller
A paint roller with shorter projecting fibres used for painting smoother exterior walls.