Altitude Roller Sleeve

Rollers and trays cover the frames, sleeves, trays, liners and extension poles used to apply emulsion, masonry paint and other coatings quickly over large areas. Roller sets combine a frame, one or more sleeves and a tray, and mini roller kits suit doors, edges, radiators and other small areas.

Sizes and fit

9 inch rollers are the usual size for walls and ceilings, 12 inch rollers cover large areas faster, 7 inch suit smaller rooms, and 4 inch mini rollers handle woodwork and tight spots. Sleeves are also made with different core diameters, such as 1.5 or 1.75 inches, so match the sleeve to the frame. Frames with a threaded handle take an extension pole for ceilings and high walls.

Choosing the sleeve

The pile is the length of the sleeve's fibres. The longer the pile, the more paint the roller holds and the rougher the surface it suits:

• Short pile: smooth plaster, ceilings, doors and flat woodwork, for the smoothest finish. Short pile microfibre sleeves also suit gloss, satin, woodstains and varnish on smooth surfaces.
• Medium pile: general emulsion work, including slightly textured walls, ceilings and textured wallpaper.
• Long and extra long pile: rough surfaces such as brick, render, pebbledash and blockwork, including masonry paint.

Sleeves are made from woven or knitted fabrics, microfibre and natural fibres such as sheepskin. Check the pack for the paint types each sleeve is designed for.

Trays and cleaning

Choose a tray wide enough for the roller. Disposable tray liners cut cleaning time when changing colours. Clean sleeves soon after use following the paint maker's instructions: water for water-based paint, or the recommended solvent for solvent-based paint.

For brushes, see paint brushes; for masking, fillers and dust sheets, see decorating tools and sundries.