Non Boaty - house decorating question

[tarik]

Have bought number one daughter a small flat whilst at Uni, it needs decorating (she wants white walls/ceilings??!!) I have always used a roller for such applications, SWMBO has spoken to our neighbour who has convinced her that a 'felt pad' applicator is better and quicker. Before I suggest he relocates his pad to where the sun doesn't shine, are they better than rollers or not??

Many thanks - David

 

[PeterI]

Well, as the weather is no good for boating you might as well be decorating. Have nearly finished decorating every room in the house using paint pads (having had each room re-plastered first). They give a much smoother finish. With a roller the effect is stippled and you get splashes flicked off in all directions. Pads take slightly longer but give a really smooth finish, and no splashes.
If you've then got redundant rollers then you can use them up anti-fouling.

 

[Blue5]

Rollers every time for speed and a good finish.

Having been involved with decorating for more years than I care to remember I have never had a client complain about the standard or quality of finish using a roller.

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
Rollers every time for speed and a good finish.

Having been involved with decorating for more years than I care to remember I have never had a client complain about the standard or quality of finish using a roller.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Have tried both and find it difficult (dependant somewhat on paint type) to get a completely even finsh with pads. Rollers are definitely much faster too, and if you loath decorating as much as me - that's a huge factor!!

 

[boatmike]

Agreed. Also the slightly "textured" finish hides minor imperfections in the plaster. For ceilings use an extension pole rather than step ladder /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[richardandtracy]

Rollers for speed, without question. If you make sure the house is totally empty first, all surfaces are reasonably sound & use a 12" roller for emulsion and a 4" roller for undercoat/gloss you should be able to complete 2 rooms per day per person. That's 2 coats of emulsion on the walls, 2 coats of emulsion on the ceilings, a single coat of undercoat on the woodwork and a single coat of gloss on top of the undercoat. It's hard work, but possible.

As for all white. I'd suggest it for one room only. My wife & I tried it in our kitchen in our last house, but it actually looked lighter when we put some colour on the walls.

Finally, make sure your brat is involved in doing the work. If she gets hot, sticky & covered in paint helping you she'll be more careful about the decorations and will be less likely to change her mind about the colour later!

Regards

Richard.

 

[Heigaro]

Used to use pads until I tried a roller. Now, it's a roller for me every time - more even finish, uses less paint and is much, much quicker. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[VicS]

Rollers seem to be favourite but are we talking foam or (artificial) lambs wool?

I have always used the latter but foam may give a smoother finish?

 

[Allan]

I always use roller but the answers above reflect what friends tell me about pads. One friend bought pads and after one room threw all his rollers out. Another friend bought pads and threw the pads away half way through decorating the room. I have never heard of anyone who has tried pads the doesn't either love or hate them! I suggest you buy a load of them and then post back on here saying which camp you are in!
Allan

 

[tross]

Hang on! I thought this forum is about discussing how we spend the brownie points - not how to earn them

 

[nyx2k]

I'm doing the smallest bedroom right now. started with roller and now on pads and finish is much smoother. to do big areas very quickly you can beat a roller but for small rooms i prefer a pad.

 

[richardandtracy]

Foam rollers for items with a gloss finish only. Fake lambs wool for everything else.

Regards

Richard

 

[tarik]

Thank you all for such a prompt response !! I'll try a pad first but I'm certain it wont be as good - call me a luddite.


Many thanks to you all

David