Paint pads or roller?

If you’re planning on DIY painting at home, you might be wondering whether you should use paint pads or a roller? We would generally recommend using a good quality paint roller.

Paint pads are a painting tool designed for painting large areas and are said to be faster and less messy – but most professional decorators recommend that a paint roller is the way to go.

Why use a paint roller instead of a paint pad?

Here are some of the reasons why professional painters and decorators recommend using a roller instead of paint pads:

• Using a paint roller allows you to cover large areas of wall or ceiling relatively quickly and easily
• A good quality synthetic or sheepskin paint roller will hold paint well and reduce spray
• Paint pads don’t often give an even finish

Tips for using a paint roller

When you’re ready to pick up your paint roller and start painting, here are a few tips from professional painter and decorators:

• Invest in a decent quality roller as it’ll make your life much easier and spread the paint more spread evenly.
• Always start painting from the source of light (e.g from the window in the room) so that you can clearly see where you’ve been.
• Apply paint by rolling from top to bottom – never roll your paint roller in all directions.
• Keep your roller almost half full of paint.
• If painting on fresh plaster, you’ll most likely need to dilute your paint for the first coat or two as the plaster will soak up a lot more paint than older, established plaster. 

Hire a local painter and decorator

If you’re not a confident and experienced DIY enthusiast, avoid the stress and hassle of painting by hiring a local painter and decorator.

And great news… You’re in the perfect place to find the best local tradespeople near you. Simply pop in your postcode in the box below to find experienced local painter and decorators in your area.