How to Use a Paint Roller

Using a paint roller is even simpler than working with a brush. Even beginners can pick it up in just a few minutes of practice.

Before you start painting, moisten the roller with water for latex paints or the appropriate thinner for other types of paint. Roll out the excess moisture on a scrap piece of wood, kraft paper, or a paper grocery bag—avoid using newspaper to prevent ink transfer. Fill the roller pan halfway, then place the roller into the middle of the pan. Roll it down the slope, stopping just before the well, two or three times to load the roller with paint. Dip the roller again into the well and roll it until it's fully saturated. If the roller is overloaded, it will drip on its way to the wall and may slide and smear rather than rolling smoothly.

The best way to paint with a roller is to work in 2-3 square foot sections. Apply the paint in a zigzag pattern without lifting the roller, as if you're painting large M, W, or reversed N shapes. Then, fill in the gaps by making more horizontal or vertical zigzag strokes. Finish with light strokes that start from the unpainted area and roll into the painted section. Slowly lift the roller at the end to avoid leaving marks. Move to the next unpainted section and repeat the zigzag technique, overlapping with the previously painted area. Finally, smooth out the new paint and blend it with the rest.

Experts recommend beginning with a roller stroke that moves away from you. For walls, this means your first stroke should be upward. If you start rolling downward, the paint might accumulate under the roller and drip down the wall. Also, avoid rolling too quickly, as centrifugal force could cause paint to splatter.

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