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.
If by patchy you mean a streaky finish, the best way to get it perfect is to apply a mist coat as the top layer. You do this by adding water to the emulsion, Make a must coat by adding one part water to three parts paint, mixing thoroughly, and then applying carefully always roller if in the same direction.
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.
Wondering why there are white marks on a painted wall or piece of furniture? There are two common causes. One is physical contact, while the other is moisture and temperature.
Having paint streak is very common when not applying enough material, or using tools that don't hold enough material to disperse it properly. You want to make sure the roller has a uniform amount of paint on it while rolling, if it starts ``screaming'' at you on the wall, there's not enough paint left on the roller.
Will streaks go away when paint dries? If you see streaks in your paint while it's still wet, there is a high probability that they're going to be there when it dries. So, unfortunately, you're going to have more work ahead of you to get rid of them.
Patchy paint can result if paint has been applied unevenly. Patchy paint can be down to a variation in surface absorption. Walls might appear patchy if they have variation in texture. Using paint that is not fully mixed can cause a patchy appearance.
Poor insulation, high indoor humidity, and the use of candles or oils can cause ghosting. Prevent ghosting by: Properly insulating walls. Using dehumidifiers and making sure you have good ventilation, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens.
So you have two choices - either sand the whole wall smooth and repaint all of it or get a mini roller and put a few coats of paint on the patches with that which should build a bit of texture and might help. To be honest though, starting with it all flat would be the only way to lose those patches completely.
However, applying your paint coats too thinly can lead to inadequate coverage and cause it to split. Conversely, too much paint can cause mud cracks, resulting in a clumpy, uneven finish.
The surface you're painting on can also impact coverage. Porous surfaces, such as new drywall or bare wood, can absorb paint, requiring more coats to achieve a uniform look. Surfaces with textures or previous layers of dark paint can also make it more challenging for white paint to cover completely.
Pat around the area you wish to cover making sure that your base coat looks smooth and that you get a full coverage. If needed, load your sponge again and continue painting. You can use the rounded edge of your sponge to smooth out any harsh lines that your sponge might have left.
Chalking occurs due to ultra violet (UV) radiation from sunlight interacting with the constituents within the paint film. Over time UV degradation of the binder or resin within the paint film will allow the exposed pigment particles to become more loosely bound to the surface. A powdery surface is the result.
Efflorescence appears when water evaporates from the wall. They have a crystalised, chalky appearance and feel grainy to touch. Salt efflorescence on internal walls is made up of a mix of chemicals such as calcium carbonate, sodium and potassium.
Wash the surface down using water and mild detergent in conjunction with a stiff brush to remove any excess chalk and allow to dry.
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.
When paint is wet, it tends to appear darker due to less light reflection. But as it dries, the water evaporates, causing the paint's hues to lighten up. Oil, acrylic, and latex paints are exceptions to this, appearing darker as they dry.
Also, a second coat of paint helps remove roller marks by allowing you to feather out some of the unevenness in the finish. You can do this by overlapping the uneven areas to create a more uniform finish. However, you need to apply the paints with the proper technique for this to work.
Dip your roller lightly into the paint. It should cover less than half of the roller. Roll it back and forth on the ramp to distribute it evenly; this is how to stop patchy paint when using a roller.
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.