Why does my roller paint look patchy?

Author: Shana Wyman  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 9, 2025

If your roller runs dry, you'll find yourself with uneven patches, leaving your walls looking inconsistent. Also resist the urge to rework wet paint and trust the process… it will look patchy whilst drying! Another common culprit in achieving a patchy effect is not maintaining a wet edge whist cutting in.

How to stop patchy paint when using a roller?

Avoid Roller Marks When Painting Walls by using a paint extender like Floetrol or M1. This product will slow down the drying time and stop the pant from stippling and creating roller marks when painting your home.

Will a second coat hide roller marks?

The additional coverage you get from a second coat of paint will help fill in any areas you missed with the first coat, creating a more uniform finish. As a result, you will lessen the appearance of roller marks when the paint dries.

Why does my newly painted wall look patchy?

Patchiness in a painted wall can happen due to several factors, such as applying too thin a coat of paint, uneven surface texture, or not allowing each coat to dry properly before applying the next. Make sure to use quality paint and apply multiple thin layers for better coverage. For more, check out my Quora Profile.

Why does my paint job look blotchy?

Why it happens: Uneven or blotchy paint occurs when you've either skipped priming or not adequately primed your wall before painting. This can also result from not applying enough coats of paint to get a uniform finish.

STOP Lap Marks. Tips PRO's Use To Paint Perfect Walls.

Why is my paint showing roller marks?

What Causes Brush and Roller Marks? Application of additional paint, or re-brushing or re-rolling, in areas where the paint has partially dried. "Working" paint too much during application (e.g., applying too quickly or for too long). Use of the wrong type or nap size of roller cover.

How do you fix uneven paint sheen?

Solutions
  1. New substrates should be primed/sealed before applying the topcoat to ensure a uniform surface.
  2. Applying an additional coat will often even out sheen irregularities.
  3. Use proper spray technique.
  4. When rolling paint on, use a top quality roller cover.

Does paint look patchy before it dries?

Don't worry if the wall looks patchy at first – this is normal for claypaint. Wait a few hours and you will notice that the colour evens out as it dries (dark colours take much longer to settle to their final colour). We advise that you wait until the colour has settled before applying subsequent coats.

Will a second coat fix uneven paint?

Reapply another coat to fill in bare spots. If there are clumps or bubbles on the painted surface, sand it, wipe clean, and reapply a coat of paint. To avoid streaks or lap marks from a roller, maintain a wet edge by applying paint toward the unpainted area and then back into the just painted area.

Why do my freshly painted walls look streaky?

The Walls Were Not Prepped or Primed Properly

Sometimes, paint streaks aren't caused by poor technique, inconsistent coverage, or too much paint. If your walls aren't prepped properly, then the paint might have trouble adhering to the wall's surface. This can lead to clumps, drips, and paint streaks.

Will roller marks go away when paint dries?

No, unsightly paint streaks do not disappear as the paint dries; it is essential to smooth them out while the paint is still wet or sand and repaint the area once the paint has dried. What's the best way to paint a wall with a roller?

How do you fix uneven roller paint?

How to Fix Roller Marks
  1. Start by sanding down the uneven areas until smooth. Patching may be necessary afterward, be careful as it may take off underlying paint. If severe enough, it may be easier to patch the whole area.
  2. Clean the dust off of the walls.
  3. Prime the area.
  4. Put a sufficient, uniform coat of paint on the wall.

Does Floetrol help with roller marks?

Floetrol helps these water based paints perform more like oil based paints which ultimately makes using the paints easier as latex paints can tend to be heavier making them less forgiving when being sprayed as well as having a greater likelihood of leaving a brush or roller mark behind when being applied by a brush or ...

What is a common mistake when painting with a roller?

Not Fully Loading the Roller

The roller needs to be fully loaded with paint to the core, otherwise you'll get air bubbles on your wall, resulting in “paint acne.” To avoid this mistake, roll back and forth on the roller tray until all bubbles are gone and the roller feels heavy.

How to roll paint evenly?

Roll a “W” on the wall with the roller, filling the empty spaces in a top to bottom motion. This will help place an even distribution of paint onto the wall. Repeat this until you have completely covered the entire wall.

Does paint look uneven as it dries?

If the humidity is too high, the solvents in the paint will take longer to evaporate. This long drying time cause the paint to dry with a darker appearance, though it can also lead to uneven drying, streaks, and paint discoloration.

How to fix a patchy paint job?

How to Solve a Patchy Paint Problem?
  1. Allow the substrate to completely dry: Ensure your walls are entirely dry before painting.
  2. Wait on your first coat: Patience is key here – let that first coat set well.
  3. Stir the paint extremely well: A proper mix is vital, and using a mechanical stirrer yields the best results.

Why does my paint look textured from a roller?

Roller marks are exactly what they sound like — evidence of where the painter used the roller brush. They are often caused by a painter putting a second coat of paint on the wall before the first coat has completely dried.

How do you know if paint is dry enough to recoat?

There are several ways to determine whether a surface is dry: OIL BASED products are dry if they are no longer tacky and do not emit a smell. WATER BASED products are dry if they no longer feel cool to the touch and a powder will form with light sanding.

How do you make paint dry evenly?

The best way to make sure each coat of paint dries evenly is to use the right tools and apply a thin, even layer of paint with each coat. Using a paint roller will help distribute paint evenly and apply a thinner layer than a brush, which often holds more paint than needed, leading to unwanted drips.

Why are patches showing through paint?

The larger patches show through because of differences in the texture of the surrounding wall, which has had several coats of paint applied over the years. So you have roller texture and smooth drywall patches.

Why is my paint sheen not matching?

A difference in paint sheens always has a root cause, usually poor application processes, that include: Over-thinning the paint. Overspreading the paint across the surface. Overly porous substrates that result in the over-penetration of the top coat of paint.

Why does my satin paint look splotchy?

Improper application of paint with a satin finish to a wall or other surface results in an uneven, streaky, lap-marked appearance in its light sheen. Overlapping dry paint with wet paint causes these uneven stripes to appear.

Can you paint over uneven paint?

Painting over old, uneven walls

Painting over existing layers of paint is usually the easiest option. A paint that has high coverage and a thick texture, such as our Claypaint or Lifestyle emulsions, will even out any hairline cracks and slightly bumpy surfaces.

Previous article
Is there a way to detect gas?
Next article
Is there an app to identify mold?