Choosing the Best Paint Roller for Semi Gloss Paint

It’s a good idea to understand how paint roller options will affect the final result of your painting project. Certain kinds of paint rollers and other tools go better with specific kinds of paint, and good painting tool matching will help provide an easier painting process and a better overall paint job.

Semi-gloss paint is a relatively high-sheen paint. Semi-gloss or full gloss paint is more shiny than matte paints, or even some kinds of satin paints. Gloss and eggshell paints are relatively easy to clean, and some types can stand up to a good scrubbing. However, as they have a relatively high sheen, semi-gloss paints tend to show off dirt or irregularities and accentuate flaws and spackle repairs on a wall space.

Roller Options

Foam paint rollers are tempting because they are relatively cheap, and advertised as disposable. Foam paint rollers absorb a lot of lighter paints and help them to be applied evenly to a wide, smooth surface. However, they release a lot of paint that drips when pressure is applied and tend to leave lines of paint at the edges of the roller marks. A narrow synthetic or lamb’s wool roller is good for semi-gloss paints. The roller does not have to be that thick with semi-gloss paints.

TIP: Our painting consultant Edward Kimble, author of Interior House Painting Blog, adds, “Foam rollers release drips of paint with pressure, and I would advise against their use. Since most DIY painting is done infrequently, and even if a professional painter is working, ALL rollers are disposable. You can keep a paint saturated roller in plastic shopping bags for a few days, and just throw them out when done. They can generally be had for less than $5.00 and are not worth washing, and if you do wash them, when they are reused they splatter paint.”

Roller Methods

In addition to good roller choices for semi gloss paints, some practical application tips can really help with the final result. Smooth the wall area carefully before applying the paint, and make sure to remove any dust. With paint rollers, some experts recommend a type of “V” or “W” pattern, where broad strokes on a wall are tied together by finer, more precise painting to create an even application.

Some pros don’t like this method, as paint can dry fast, and some areas will look different than others because they are double-coated. They recommend rolling be done in straight lines from floor to ceiling, overlapping half way, giving the best uniform look for the least amount of paint. Smaller paint rollers called “trim rollers” may help to reach corners and other small areas. Thinking ahead can make a painting project much easier and provide a better visual result when the job is over.

TIP: Edward says, “Do not skimp on roller covers and buy the cheapest ones. Often the less expensive ones will deposit pieces of roller covers onto the wall when first using them, the “Fuzzies.” Spend a little more money to avoid a lot of aggravation. It is a good idea to saturate the roller cover with water and use a “spinner” or a roller cleaner to remove any material that would otherwise come off on the wall.”

Edward Kimble, professional painter and author of Interior House Painting Blog, contributed to this article.