Achieving a smooth, streak-free finish when painting a wall with a roller starts with proper preparation and technique, beginning with how you handle the edges and corners before the main rolling begins.
Essential First Steps for a Smooth Finish
To lay the groundwork for a streak-free wall, focus on the initial preparation and application around the edges. Based on recommended practices for painting with a roller:
The Importance of Cutting-In
Before you even bring the roller to the large areas of the wall, you must perform a crucial step called cutting-in.
- Cut-in the edges of one wall at a time. This ensures you work efficiently and keep a wet edge, which helps prevent lap marks and streaks later.
- Paint all edges, corners, and around light switches. Use a brush to carefully apply paint along the ceiling line, baseboards, corners, and any fixtures or trim. This provides a clean line where the roller cannot reach precisely.
- Start with the corner, then bring the line of the paint out from it to make rolling easier. By extending the brush stroke a few inches away from the corner, you create a margin that the roller can comfortably meet without getting too close to the corner itself, facilitating smoother transitions.
Preparing to Roll
Once the cutting-in is complete for the section or wall you are working on:
- Once you have finished 'cutting-in', with the roller loaded with paint lay it carefully against the wall. This is how you begin the main rolling process. Applying the roller gently ensures an even initial application and avoids splashing or creating heavy marks that can lead to streaks.
By diligently completing the cutting-in process and starting the roller application with care, you establish a strong foundation for a smooth, professional-looking finish on your wall, minimizing the likelihood of streaks.
