Choose the right roller nap for your wall texture

Match the roller cover nap thickness to your wall texture: 3/8 inch for smooth walls, 1/2 inch for light texture (eggshell, sand), 3/4 inch for medium texture (orange peel, knockdown), and 1 inch or more for heavy texture (popcorn, stucco).

Why It Works

A roller that's too thin for textured walls leaves holidays (missed spots) in the valleys. A roller that's too thick for smooth walls deposits too much paint and creates unwanted stipple texture. The right nap puts an even coat on every surface contour.

Tips

• Microfiber rollers produce the smoothest finish on smooth walls with minimal stipple
• Cheap roller covers shed lint fibers into your paint — spend a few extra dollars on a quality cover
• Pre-wet the roller with water (for latex paint) and spin it out before loading with paint
• Roll in a W pattern to distribute paint, then smooth with vertical passes without lifting