Roller Dos and Don’ts – Don’t Skimp on this Important Application Tool!
When getting ready to start a coating system application, it’s tempting to go to a big box store and buy packs of rollers for a few bucks. However, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to application tools. Stop and think about how much money you’re investing in high quality materials – epoxy and urethane are expensive coatings– and then consider that optimum performance from these coatings depends on proper application. Truth be told, a good roller will cut hours off the installation time, while leaving behind a smooth, even finish with no roller marks. Here are some Dos and Don’ts when it comes to purchasing rollers for your next coating application.
Do use high quality rollers made with solvent-resistant glues. This ensures that the fabric nap will stay bonded to the core instead of ending up on the substrate.
Do use rollers that are lint-free and shed-resistant. This will help prevent “fish eyes,” a common problem that occurs during paint application. Fish eyes are small circular, crater-like openings that appear during or shortly after the application. If you’re using a cheap, low quality roller, the roller itself may leave behind fabric nap or other debris.
Do use rollers that have moisture-resistant phenolic cores that won’t absorb water and lose their shape.
Don’t purchase rollers with untreated cardboard cores (these are often the kind sold in discounted bulk packs), as they will absorb paint, get soft and quickly lose their shape.
Don’t use foam rollers. While they’re fine for testing paint colors, on large surfaces they create thousands of tiny air bubbles in the paint film that leave behind a cratered finish.
Do look to Epoxy Floor Supply as a one-stop shop for your coating application tools, including rollers. Epoxy Floor Supply offers 9 and 18-inch rollers with a 3/8-inch nap. These high quality rollers have phenolic cores and are shed resistant and lint- free. They are perfect for applying Floor-Glaze clear epoxy coating, Floor-Coat pigmented epoxy coating and Floor-Crest acrylic urethane coating.
Epoxy Floor Supply ONLY sells what we feel are the BEST rollers to use for epoxy applications, pictured below. Click here to find out more about our rollers!
For more information about the 35 packs of 9-inch rollers and the 24 packs of 18-inch rollers, as well as other application tools offered by Epoxy Floor Supply, please visit www.epoxyfloorsupply.com.
