In preparation for apartment renovation, many owners pre-purchase tools and materials. If there is a preliminary surface treatment before painting or wallpapering, it is very important to choose the right roller for the primer. Many people think that any of them will do, but they run into some troubles while working. The surface is not stained, the composition is applied unevenly or the spray is flying in all directions. The right tool will help to avoid misunderstandings.
Design features
The tool consists of several elements:
- A pen. Mostly made of plastic. Sometimes an extension handle is used in order to reach a great height. In this case, you do not have to use a stepladder.
- The basis. Metal curved rod.
- Bobbin. The element on which the nozzle is put on (fur coat).
- Coat. It is made of various materials, the most convenient for a particular type of work.
Advantages and disadvantages
The primer roller has significant advantages over a brush. Even in one pass, he paints a much larger area. It evenly distributes the primer over the surface, without leaving stains and unpleasant smears.
On the handle (clasp) of the roller, you can put on an extension cord and use it for priming the ceiling, the upper part of the walls, the facade of a country house. The fur coat is easily removed from the clasp, you can replace it with another material and use it for all kinds of work and with any finishing materials.
Among the drawbacks of using a primer roller, it can be noted that for hard-to-reach spots it is necessary to use a special construction tool (corner, mini) or a brush.
For priming with a roller, a special tray is needed, and working with it requires certain skills.
Types of Rollers
Before starting a repair, you need to know which roller to apply the primer to. They come in different types and sizes, they must be selected for a specific type of work:
- Mini. They are used for priming surfaces in hard to reach places. Standard sizes: width 150 mm, diameter - 15 mm.
- Midi. They have optimal dimensions: work surface from 160 to 250 mm, diameter - from 50 to 80 mm. Universal models are suitable for priming any surfaces.
- Maxi (front). Work surface with a width of 250 mm, diameter - 80 mm. They cover a large area, but it is difficult and tiring for non-professionals to work with them, this requires special skills. A heavy tool is used for priming facades in construction work.
Materials for the manufacture of fur coats
There are many materials for rollers, but only three are used for priming. Each of them is suitable for a specific coating:
- Foam rubber. The cheapest and simplest material is used for applying viscous compounds. For a liquid solution, it is not suitable, since during the work it will spray the composition in different directions. Leaks may form on the walls.
- Fur. Faux fur is used for most jobs. The pile length does not exceed 15 mm. With this tool, you can primer the walls before gluing wallpaper, staining. Fur rollers apply both thick and liquid formulations.
- Velours. The pile length of the material does not exceed 5 mm, such a material will qualitatively prime the surface before painting, since this roller distributes the composition with an ideally even layer. All cavities and irregularities before priming must be puttied and thoroughly treated with a grinder or sandpaper (small surfaces). It is not practical to prime a brickwork with a velor roller.
Selection tips
Before buying a primer roller, you need to determine the goals and scope of future work. For machining large surfaces, a tool with a large work surface is ideal. Mini-models are chosen when creating stencils, prints, for processing corners and applying liquid compositions.
The priming of the walls before gluing dense wallpaper or laying tiles can be done with a tool with a fur coat of any material. Ideally smooth surface is not so important here. For processing the walls before gluing thin wallpaper or silk-screen printing, only a velor roller is suitable.
For porous and uneven surfaces, rollers with "long-haired" material are chosen. Long villi, penetrating into any pores, provide a high-quality and uniform coating. For even walls, you can use a coat with a medium pile.
For effective and comfortable work, a quality tool is important. The handle should not hang or slide, it is very difficult when applying liquid formulations. Various handle extensions or extension cords help treat surfaces at high heights (roofs, ceilings, high walls).
Primer Recommendations
Before you start work, you need to know how to properly prime the walls. First you need to carefully prepare the walls: clean them from dust, dirt and stains. Then prepare the primer, mix some formulations or simply shake them, and dilute other mixtures with water or a solvent.
The finished primer is poured into a cuvette in a special cavity. It is enough that the liquid reaches the squeezing grate. The roller is dipped several times, rolled on the squeezing lattice, after which it is ready for use.
The surface begins to be primed from the corner. For hard to reach places it is necessary to use a narrow roller or apply the composition with a brush. Carefully process joints, slopes, places near sockets.
The primer is applied to the walls in several layers. Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous coating has completely dried. It is important to ensure that there are no gaps or drips. After completion of work, the roller is thoroughly washed with solvent or gasoline.