[iPaint]

I'm almost embarrassed to be mentioning this, seeing as this is a "professional" forum, because the problem I've been having with some of my walls is not very professional-looking in my mind. Oh well, here goes...

When I look down a wall about a day or two after I've painted it, doing some QC, I'll sometimes notice a thin, vertical line every now and then with a different sheen/lustre than the surrounding paint. I suspect that perhaps when I back-roll an inch or so into the fresh paint, I might be doing so with a dry roller or something. Or maybe too wet?

When I look straight on, there's nothing strange at all; the coverage is perfect. It's only noticeable when light is reflecting off the wall at an angle. Maybe this is normal and I'm being too anal, but I think this is unacceptable (I'm a perfectionist!).

What are your thoughts about what causes this problem? And what tips can you give for back-rolling that will ensure a perfect wall? Thanks.

 

[NuView Painting]

are you using a n 18" roller or an 9" roller...if not using an 18" roller you could be creating a pressure point where your pressing to hard on the roller...MAYBE!!!!

 

[slickshift]

Top 3 Reasons for Roller Lines

#1) Cheap paint...use a quality premium product from a Paint Store (if you can buy it at W*M, Sears, or HD, it's not a that good of a paint
#2) Cheap sleeves...absolute minimum Purdy White Dove or similar Wooster/etc...I'd recommend a nice 50/50 wool/poly myself
#3) Incorrect technique...usually trying to squeeze every last drop out of the roller...just lay it on and apply it
Even if you mean backrolling after spraying, #3 still applies...just roll it, don't squeeze

 

[Rich]

#1)
#3) Incorrect technique...usually trying to squeeze every last drop out of the roller...just lay it on and apply it
Even if you mean backrolling after spraying, #3 still applies...just roll it, don't squeeze

I vote for this one Every time where I've seen your problem occur, has been when a newby was trying to get every last drop out of the roller.

Another time where I notice this is..I will occasionally use a nap to prime (same color), clean the nap and then use it for the finish. Sometimes there is residual primer left when the edge is pressed or if the sheetrock isn't laying flat in areas. This will also cause lines or flashing and such.

 

[MooreMan]

Questions:

1 Is it bare drywall?

2 Was it primed?

3 What finish are you using?

4 What method of application? Spray and backroll, rolling?

5 Is it new home work?

6 What quality of paint?

Need more information please.

 

[iPaint]

Questions:

1 Is it bare drywall?

No, this was a re-paint.

2 Was it primed?

No.

3 What finish are you using?

Eggshell on some walls, semi-gloss on others. I noticed my problem with both finishes, so it's probably a "me" problem, not a paint one.

4 What method of application? Spray and backroll, rolling?

Strictly rolling.

5 Is it new home work?

No.

6 What quality of paint?

Mills Legacy.

Need more information please.

I used a 9" roller. When I mean "backroll", I mean I finish rolling to a given point, I re-load my roller, I roll the next area, but near the end make sure I overlap the previous wet edge about an inch or so. But I don't believe I've been "squeezing" the roller; I apply just enough pressure to hold it to the wall. Maybe some of you are right: by that time, perhaps my roller has dried out too much, because this happens only every so often.

 

[Rich]

well I guess you answered his questions...or demands :whistling2:

quick question-
are you rolling from the top of the wall all the way to the bottom?

 

[iPaint]

Yup. I'll roll the top section, reload, roll the bottom section, then roll everything top to bottom. Not sure if this is standard practice, but it's the way I was taught.

 

[Rich]

Well ok then...I guess the only thing you may want to try getting in the habit of is turning your roller so that you "empty" the goop that collects on each end while you begin to roll a section. This will help with any lines as well. Follow?

 

[MooreMan]

well I guess you answered his questions...or demands :whistling2:

Just questions, I've found that the more information you can gather the better. I'd rather not make assumptions and shoot form the hip.

 

[MooreMan]

Try a better quality roller. Another thing you may check. How far apart are these lines. Perhaps they line up with the tape lines. Even though is is a rework the previous coating may not have enough hold out. The proper primer may be in order.

 

[iPaint]

Well ok then...I guess the only thing you may want to try getting in the habit of is turning your roller so that you "empty" the goop that collects on each end while you begin to roll a section. This will help with any lines as well. Follow?

Good idea. I now have some ideas as to what's causing this problem. I think one of them is the fact that I hadn't painted for a couple of years, went into business, got my first job, then got paranoid about getting things perfect instead of, in the words of "slickshift", "just lay it on and apply it". But the customer was really pleased, and that's all that matters. It was a minor issue to them but it bugged me. Thanks for your input, everyone.

 

[timhag]

When i roll i apply no pressure at all letting the weight of the roller keep it on the wall. I never try to squeeze the paint out, thats where the problems come in. A good even application will take care of your problem

 

[regal]

Try Aura, its a seamless finish, and im a SW guy!

 

[MooreMan]

Try Aura, its a seamless finish, and im a SW guy!

This is true even with the eggshell finish. Quite impressive.

 

[plainpainter]

I've noticed this before - it's because the wall is 'dry' and another coat would have fixed the problem - I did this with a high quality paint using a 14" roller supported on both sides with a high quality sleeve. And I saw those lines from a very large angle - it was a repaint on walls that only had one paint job then were wallpapered twice - the house was a 60's house - so it hadn't seen a paint job since the 70's at least. Very dry walls - you needed more paint to saturate the pores better - another coat would have done it.

 

[painttofish]

premium paint and a good sleeve go a long way for this problem. If there is a long wall with a window letting natural light come in at the right angle, premium matte paint may be the way to go.

 

[Tmrrptr]

A quality roller skin and the ability to resist the urge to save product by going "just a little bit further" make all the difference in a good application.

 

[bikerboy]

Sit on floor,
cross legs,
hands palm up,
repeat over and over,
two coats, two coats, two coats.........

 

[plainpainter]

Sit on floor,
cross legs,
hands palm up,
repeat over and over,
two coats, two coats, two coats.........

Exactly - two coats. I was running way way way way over budget on this one job - basically gave them a $800 total skim job over there 12x24 room for free. To save money - I went to ACE and picked up a can contractor grade drywall primer and tinted it to the finish - since my patch jobs became over 70% of then entire surface - I combined the spot priming and first coat into a first coat. And used a high quality eggshell paint - and used almost the whole can to cover this room just once, left enough to do a dry re-cut. The finish looked absolutely spectacular - except from an angle, I saw those vertical lines. This was a 14" roller supported on both sides with a purdy dralon sleeve using next to no pressure. It was the otherwise only blemish on an almost perfect job. Homeowner even noticed it - and told him it would need another coat - but was it really worth it? Since now - with all the furniture and book cases and pictures on the walls - you can't even see the majority of the wall.