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The tool par excellence for painting walls, ceilings and medium-sized or large surfaces (doors, medium-sized wooden or metal furniture) is the roller, as the job gets done quicker and easier than with a paintbrush and a larger surface can be covered in a uniform manner without having to give it many coats.

The roller holds more paint than other tools due to the thickness of its fibres, consequently special care must be taken when taking the paint directly from the tin or tray, for as it absorbs more paint than is needed it will leave drops on the floor or on the wall. So as to avoid this, it is advisable to drain the roller well or cover it with paint using a brush rather than putting it directly in the tin.

Before starting to paint the surface with the roller, it helps to know that with this tool the different coats can be seen; for this reason, we paint firstly in a vertical direction, and once the paint is dry we give it another coat in a horizontal direction. It is also important to apply the roller gently and never press it against the wall, so as to avoid leaving marks.

Once the job is finished, it is important to keep the roller in perfect condition. Generally it is enough to remove the remaining paint and wash it with soap and water, rinse it, leave it to dry completely and then wrap it up in newspaper. Another cleaning option is to wash it several times in water and wring it out from top to bottom if it has been used with water-based paint. If synthetic paints have been used it is advisable to wash it repeatedly with a weak solvent.

There are various types of rollers on the market which are suitable for the different surface textures as well as the different sorts of paint. The size of the tool also affects the result; normally an 18 ï¿½ 22cm roller would be used for large surfaces and a 7cm roller for window frames and other smaller areas.

The size of the fibres is another factor to consider. Smooth surfaces require short-pile rollers (9.5mm or less), averagely rough surfaces require medium-pile rollers (9.5 - 19mm) and very rough surfaces, such as gotele-finish walls for example, require long-pile rollers (19 - 38mm).
The different types of paint also affect the choice of roller:

Sponge roller: Used with oil-based and water-soluble emulsion.
Sheepskin roller: Used with water-soluble emulsion.
Synthetic or natural skin roller: Ideal for applying lacquers.
Relief painting roller: Used to emphasise the finish.
Plastic foam roller: Suitable for achieving a speckled effect

If rollers are essential for painting rooms generally, paintbrushes are fundamental to complete the job, since before starting with the roller we must first paint the corners of the walls, ceiling joins, edges of doorframes and all those hard to reach areas with a brush.
These are the main uses of paintbrushes (small paintbrushes must be used in very small areas): all those areas of any surface which cannot be reached by a roller and require total precision when applying the paint. Paintbrushes are also used to paint radiators.

Paintbrushes must be of the best quality and it is essential to have various models at your disposal for different functions. Three flat paintbrushes will be needed, one large one to paint smooth areas (corners of walls, doors, wardrobes...), a small one for small areas (chairs, windows, etc.) and another one with a bent handle for the inside of radiators, and two smaller paintbrushes, one to outline walls and another to put the finishing touches to any area.

Correct maintenance of these tools will ensure that they are useful for longer and will improve the job. Paintbrushes should be stored face up or hung from the handle so that the bristles donï¿½t get deformed. Before putting them away, they must be washed carefully so that they are ready to be used the next day. It is recommended that this be done with plenty of hot water and that they be left to dry uncovered.

A problem that might arise when washing them is that the bristles may become loose, so they should be soaked in water or solvent, according to the type of paint used.

So as to avoid the bristles falling out, we can carry out a preventive task before using new paintbrushes for the first time. This involves immersing them in boiling water for a few seconds, rubbing them on a cement-like surface until they are dry and then removing all of the loose bristles. From then on, the tool will be in perfect condition to start working.