Are Roller Trays Outdated? – Pro Tips for Quick and Clean Results

Every painter has a painting technique they would vouch for when asked what the best method of painting is. Experienced interior painters Perth have tested several methods, and will most likely use a method based on the task at hand and other variables involved such as the season.

Roller trays are a painting tool that first time painters and DIY home painters can leverage for quick and clean results. Once they have perfected their skills, many painters choose not to use a roller tray when applying paint by rollers. Instead, they prefer to immerse the roller into the paint and apply directly.

The reason why this can be difficult for an amateur is that the paint is not carried evenly on the surface of the roller and this will result in an uneven finish. According to house paintiers Perth, the ’soaking’ also causes paint to seep onto the metal core of the handle, affecting the smooth rolling action of the roller. You are likely to also find a lot more dripping and splashing which leads to wastage of paint.

The Roller Tray Technique

First, place the roller tray inclined at an angle, forming a well at one end and a gradual “drying-off” slope at the other. Pour the paint to the level where the slope begins. To apply paint, first dip the roller into the low “well” area, rotate the roller slightly on the slope of the tray and dip again. Repeat this until the entire roller surface has some paint.

Next, gently trundle the roller on the slope to “discard” excess paint. This allows the subsequent application to be even and to also avoid dripping and splashing. Do not roll off too much of the paint. Otherwise, the coat may be exceedingly thin and additional coat (and work!) would be required.

Types of Trays Painting Trays

Painting trays come in 2 common sizes - 7 inch and 9 inch. Which to use will depend on the size of roller you use. The trays can be made of metal or plastic. The plastic ones are now more common because they are cheaper and not susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Cleaning Your Painting Tray

At the end of your job, remove as much paint from the tray as possible and clean off any remaining paint with old rags. The more paint you remove, the easier it is to wash and clean the tray.

Some people love to carry our DIY painting jobs for fun. Using these tips will not only make your work easier, it will also make it more enjoyable. As usual, if you want the best results for a painting job (perhaps for a house you’re selling?) it’s recommended that you hire expert interior painters Perth. The many years of experience under their belt, combined with their knowledge of this industry makes them worth your consideration and investment.