How to Use a Paint Roller on a Wall

You’ll need a roller cover and roller cage, paint, stir sticks, paint tray and liners, spray bottle of water (for latex paint), Paint thinner and tray (for alkyd paint), and a 5-in-1 tool.

Put your roller cover on the cage. Stir your paint thoroughly, and pour about ½ and inch into the tray’s well.

Prepping your roller ensures faster painting — and saves paint. For latex paint, dampen your roller cover with water from your spray bottle or the faucet. For oil-based paints, roll the alkyd-appropriate roller cover in the tray of paint thinner. Scrape off excess moisture with your 5-in-1 tool.

Roll down the slope of the rake in to the paint well. Properly loading the roller cuts down on spatter and drips and improves coverage.

Lift the roller out of well and place it at the top of the rake. Roll it back down the rake but not into the well.

Continue moving the roller up and down the rake until the roller no longer drips.

Hold it in your dominant hand. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your roller directly in front of you for control. If you’re using an extension pole, place your dominant hand toward the bottom for control and your non-dominant hand at the middle position for leverage and pressure.

Use a long, slow, upward diagonal stroke to unload the first part of the “M” pattern.

In a continuing motion, follow the first upward stroke with a long, slow stroke downward at a diagonal.

In a continuing motion, use another long, slow, upward diagonal stroke and another long, slow downward diagonal stroke to finish the “M” pattern.

Paint a series of horizontal strokes working from the bottom of the “M” to the top.

Smooth the section by making a series of downward strokes from top to bottom.

Repeat the process of loading and painting. Working in small sections, move from dry areas to wet ones, overlapping the wet edge each time.