Painting your home can be a huge project but one that can improve the look and value of your home while saving you money. Pro painters are not cheap to hire and if you have some skill, patience and time, painting your own home can be a big cost savings to you.
One of the questions that DIYers often ask relates to how long to keep the paint roller covers before they need to be replaced. Should you wash them and use them again in the future or just discard them and use a new one?
While you can reuse a more expensive paint roller, cheaper ones are best discarded after one day’s use as they can quickly wear out and leave lint or other debris on your painted walls. It can also be messy to rinse and wring rollers out when cleaning them.
Having said that, more expensive paint rollers can last longer if you choose to spend the extra money and may be worth it in the long run for a quality paint job.
Paint roller cover vs paint roller frame
A paint roller is also referred to as a roller cover and the device that it is put on is actually called a paint roller or roller frame. Laymen often just refer to the cover as the roller however, which is what we’ll do in this article.
The metal handheld roller frame can be used multiple times. You can quickly rinse it off and let it dry after use and might be able to us it for years. Metal rollers are fairly sturdy and can be easily used again and again. If you go too cheap with your roller frame, they can break easily with basic use.
If you need to use an extension rod with your roller frame to reach high walls or ceilings, be careful not to push too hard as you can break the rod. You may also end up with a less than ideal paint job if you press too hard against the wall.
How long do paint rollers last?
While cheap dollar store-type rollers are usually good for 1 painting session, more expensive and higher quality ones can last for up to 5 sessions when properly taken care of.
Cheaper rollers typically start to collect lint and debris which end up on the wall in the form of small lumps which will dry and negatively impact the look of your paint job.
More expensive rollers can often be washed, wrung out and successfully reused. You might get up to 5 paint sessions out of one roller but then again it also depends on how much painting you do each time, how aggressive you are and how well you wash and rinse them.
The quality and type of paint may also impact how long paint rollers last.
Plus, the material your paint roller is made from can also impact its lifespan.
What are paint rollers made from?
Here are the main materials used for paint rollers and the pros and cons of each.
| Paint roller material | Benefits | Downsides |
| Wool or mohair | Lamb or mohair (goat) wool rollers are generally good for a wide variety of paint types and wall surfaces. Recommended for oil-based paints. Also easy to find in stores. | When they wear out, they can leave lint and small debris on the walls if you use them past their reasonable lifespan. |
| Synthetic (polyester, nylon, Dacron) | Can be used with water-based paints on a variety of surfaces and finishes. Very versatile. | They hold less paint than their wool counterparts. |
| Blended (wool and polyester) | 50% wool / 50% polyester blended rollers enable you to use latex and oil-based paints. Tend to be shed-resistant while also offering the large paint capacity of wool with the ease of use of polyester. | Higher price than other options. |
| Microfiber | Usable with a variety of paint types and finishes and offers a smooth professional finish. Microfiber rollers have stripes on them to make them easily noticeable. | Requires a bit of skill and experience as they tend to hold more paint than other options. |
| Foam | Good for painting smooth surfaces with high gloss or semi gloss latex paint. Tends to eliminate lap lines which are common with other rollers. | Tends not to last long and suitable for one time use and small jobs. Can disintegrate and rip over time. Best for trim and other small areas only. |
What size paint roller should I use?
Paint rollers come in different sizes referred to as the nap or pile. It tells you the size and material of the paint roller in terms of the fluffiness of the roller and can impact the look of your final paint job.
The nap is typically measured in inches (“) or millimeters (mm) depending on where you live.
In general terms: The rougher the surface you’re painting, the thicker the nap you will need.
| Paint roller size | Best uses |
| up to ¼” nap | Smooth surfaces like walls, ceilings and cabinets made from plaster or metal that have no texture. |
| ⅜” nap | Semi-smooth and lightly textured surfaces like drywall. |
| ½” nap | Moderately textured surfaces like walls, paneling or painted brick or concrete. |
| ¾” nap | Heavily textured surfaces like stucco, unpainted brick or stipple (popcorn) ceilings. |
| 1″ nap and higher | Roughs surfaces like rough brick and masonry, cinder block or stucco. Chain link fences can also be painted with naps in excess of 1″. |
Does paint roller quality matter?
Better quality paint rollers can offer specific advantages including the following:
Less likely to splatter: Higher quality rollers are less likely to splatter paint against the wall or drip on the floor. Cheaper rollers often have these problems which can be frustrating and messy.
More likely to hold more paint: Higher quality rollers can often hold more paint without dripping which can lower your painting time while also increasing the quality of your result. Thinner and cheaper rollers – including foam rollers – often don’t as much paint as higher quality ones. This can lead to lower quality paint jobs.
More likely to offer a smooth finish: You may have painted a wall and then after it dries, noticed some parts have a noticeably uneven surface that requires repainting. It may be due to a low quality roller and one was additionally used beyond it’s lifespan. Higher quality rollers are better able to offer a smooth finish.
My personal experience with paint rollers
I have always tended to buy the cheap-er paint rollers for my home painting needs truth be told. You can spend a wide range of money on them, from dollar store-type rollers and 10-packs of rollers all the way up to more expensive rollers that the pros might use.
It’s the cleaning part that can become the question….Is it worth cleaning them or should you simply use the rollers and toss them when you finish painting for the day?
If you’re using a more expensive roller, washing and reusing them the next time you paint is a possibility since you are presumably paying for better quality.
But if you’re using cheap rollers, it might be worth using them and tossing them when you’re done for the day rather than washing them. Over time, lint and other debris will make its way onto the roller that can negatively impact the quality of your painting by giving a noticeable texture to the paint after it dries.
Having said that, the cleaning part can be messy. You need a sink and should be ok with rinsing and then wringing out the rollers by hand. The paint water tends to make a mess of your sink, hands and clothes so you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it.
For more expensive rollers, it might be worth it if you’re planning on painting again the next day. But for cheaper rollers, you’re probably best using them and then tossing them when the painting is done for the day.