PAINT TECHNIQUES (part3:Paint pads and Roller)

For any residential and commercial painting jobs, roller and paint pads are two useful tools for applying paint for large and small areas.

 

Paint pads

Paint pads are the best choice for applying thin coats of paint to smooth surfaces easily and without drips. They are particularly useful for painting hard-to-reach sections of trim.

Grip the pad handle firmly as you paint, and keep the tool in front of your face as you work

USING A PAINT PAD

 

Paint pads are suitable for applying water-based paints. They quickly cover large areas like walls and ceilings and will cope with lightly textured surfaces.
1)Stir the paint and pour some into a flat tray or the speed tray sometimes supplied.
2)Run the pad backwards and forwards on the roller in the speed tray or hold the pad flat against the paint in the tray. Do not let it sink below the pile level. If the pad absorbs too much paint it will drip. A pad needs to be reloaded more often than a brush or roller.

3)Start painting near a comer. Move the pad in all directions with a gentle scrubbing action. Work in strips about four times the width of the pad.
4)Do not press too hard or paint may be forced off the pad in drips. With practice you should get no drips at all.

 

CUTTING-IN WITH AN EDGING PAD

Paint pads are suitable for applying water-based paints. They quickly cover large areas like walls and ceilings and will cope with lightly textured surfaces.
1)Stir the paint and pour some into a flat tray or the speed tray sometimes supplied.
2)Run the pad backwards and forwards on the roller in the speed tray or hold the pad flat against the paint in the tray. Do not let it sink below the pile level. If the pad absorbs too much paint it will drip. A pad needs to be reloaded more often than a brush or roller.
edging pads have wheels that can be adjusted to precisely fit the surface being worked.

edging pads have wheels that can be adjusted to precisely fit the surface being worked.

Using a roller
A roller is a fantastic way to cover large areas with paint in less time than it would take with a brush. Lighter patches, roller marks, splashes and built-up ridges are common painting problems, but mastering a few basic roller techniques helps to avoid them.
CHOOSING A ROLLER
A good roller is sturdy with grip-like teeth to prevent the cover from slipping. The roller should spin freely, have an ergonomic and solvent-resistant handle and a durable frame with a metal arm. Make sure it has a threaded handle to attach an extension handle.
TIP For the perfect finish, don’t overload the roller with paint when cutting into trim.
Got it covered
Foam applies a seamless finish ideal for cutting close to trim. Use a foam roller with foam pads on edging for a similar texture across the wall.
Lambswool is tough and durable yet made from soft fibre that holds paint well with minimum splatter.
Synthetic fibres hold lots of paint on the roller, saving time in application.
Microfibre has minimal lint shedding, and is suited to most surfaces.
Mohair is easy to clean and the extra-fine fibre holds and releases paint well. Best with high-gloss paints.
Roller care
New roller Reduce shedding from a new cover by dabbing it with masking tape to remove loose fibres.
Cleaning up for waterbased paint put the roller in a plastic
Most rollers have a hollow handle that will screw into an extension pole so you can reach the tops of walls or ceilings.

Most rollers have a hollow handle that will screw into an extension pole so you can reach the tops of walls or ceilings.

cylinder that connects to the hose and wash until the water runs clean. When dry, recycle old potato chip cylinder containers to store the clean roller covers.
TIP If taking a short break, cover the roller in plastic wrap to keep the paint wet. Or scrape paint from the cover and rinse until the water runs clear.

 

PAINT WITH A ROLLER

1)Brush paint around the edges of the wall. Load a roller
with paint, starting 300 mm from the floor and 150 mm from the side, rolling upwards at a slight angle with light pressure. Stop short of the ceiling and roll down, working quickly to spread paint evenly.
2) Reload the roller and repeat from a starting point further across the wall, working back towards the freshly painted area.
3)Roll back over the painted area with light pressure to smooth and blend, moving across so the roller always slightly overlaps the previous paint stroke. Continue this way across the wall
4)Without reloading the roller, carefully smooth the paint along the ceiling with long, horizontal strokes, getting as close as possible.
5)To paint around trim, architraves, skirting and frames, J apply paint with long, horizontal strokes. Smooth the paint with short, vertical strokes to match the texture of the wall.