Ceilings and Drywall - Medium 3/8″ nap roller covers work best. Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ nap roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.
Professional painters know the importance of using the right type and size roller for a particular job, so they often choose popular paint rollers such as Wooster Pro/Doo-Z Rollers, Stanley PTST03508 Eight-Piece Kit or Microfiber True Blue Four-Inch Covers.
Dampen your paint brush with a little water. Immediately after rolling on your paint, lightly run the paint brush over the painted surface using long, even strokes. Once it dries, you should have a silky smooth texture.
3/16 to 1/4-inch thickness is perfect for smooth surface roller covers for painting metal doors, interior doors, trim and cabinets. They work well with semi-gloss or gloss coatings and both oil- and water-base enamels. 3/8 to 1/2-inch thickness is preferable for semi-smooth surfaces such as drywall.
Opt for woven or knit synthetic paint roller covers if you are painting interior walls and ceilings. This fabric doesn't shed as much as lambswool and it creates a smooth, even finish.
Below are some general guidelines to help you. For smooth surfaces such as new drywall, choose a shorter nap (3/16” or 1/4") to evenly apply the paint.
Don't press too hard on the roller, as the fibers of the roller cover will get matted—let the paint do most of the work.
A Gritty Finish
If your paint job ends up looking and feeling gritty, something got into your paint before (or while) you used it. Stirring your paint properly helps to keep any bits of paint from clumping, and if you're using old paint, it should be strained before you apply it to prevent paint failure.
Try another coat of paint. Just go over the areas where you see streaks and even them out with another coat, being careful this time not to apply the wrong type of pressure or fail to use enough paint on the roller, which is what created the streaks in the first place.
Possible Cause
This can occur when: The incorrect roller cover is used. Lower quality paints and/or rollers are used. The incorrect rolling technique is applied.
It is actually recommended to cut in for every layer of paint you add. So basically, you should cut in your walls first, and then roll out. Once the layer of paint is dry, cut in for the second time and then roll out again. Repeat this step depending on how many layers of paint you add to your walls.
As paint ages, it dries and shrinks, pulling away from the surface of the wall and leaving behind telltale streaks. If your paint job is relatively new, on the other hand, the brush marks are likely the result of an improper painting technique.
Short pile (a thickness of 6-8 mm) provides great cover for smooth walls (including drywall) and flat surfaces. Medium pile (10-12 mm) is handy for lightly textured walls and ceilings but it can still be used on walls.
Smooth: If you find massage uncomfortable or have a 'low pain threshold' then a smooth ball is for you. Spikey/Grid: If you like a firm massage, you can tolerate the sensation of trigger point release (pressing firmly on a tight muscle) then a spikey or grid like surface may suit you.
For flat, eggshell, and satin finishes, knit roller covers do the job more efficiently. For consistent control and smooth finish, we recommend microfiber roller covers. 1/4″ – Use for ultra-smooth surfaces like cabinets, doors & metal.
Foam Roller Surface Texture
A smooth foam roller is a good choice for someone who is just getting into rolling because the pressure is not as intense as with a textured roller. Also, smooth foam rollers are typically less expensive than textured rollers.