The 10 best paint roller techniques and tips for perfect walls

Start with Quality Painting Tools

Not even the best technique will work with poor-quality painting tools. Don’t waste your money on those all-in-one throwaway roller setups when you can buy a pro setup that will last a lifetime. Start with a good roller frame.

To extend your reach and give you better control, screw a 48-in. wood handle onto the end of the paint roller. You could also use a threaded broom handle.

You’ll need a container for the paint. While most homeowners use paint trays, you’ll rarely see a pro using one. That’s because a 5-gallon bucket with a special bucket screen hung over the edge works a lot better.

Here are a few of the advantages of a bucket and screen over a paint roller pan:

• It’s easy to move the bucket without spilling
• The bucket holds more paint. You won’t have to frequently refill a pan.
• You’re less likely to trip over or step in a bucket of paint.
• It’s quicker and easier to load the paint roller cover with paint from a bucket.
• It’s easy to cover a bucket with a damp cloth to prevent the paint from drying out while you’re taking a lunch break.

Use an old drywall compound bucket or buy a clean new bucket. Add bucket screen and you’re ready to go.