Thoughts on Electric Paint Rollers

Ingenuity and innovation are what drive industries forward. For the DIY painting industry, that means upgrading the standard paintbrush or paint roller to an electric paint roller. The idea is pretty simple. By offering a pump that can send paint to a roller, you spend less time going back to the tray to load up on more paint.

In a perfect world, an electric paint roller could save up to 50% of the time you spend painting the average room.

In reality, many electric paint rollers have design flaws that cause more problems than they offer in benefits.

The Best Models Available Today

It is important to differentiate between an “electric” paint roller and a “smart” paint roller. The latter offers a hollow tube within the handle of the equipment that can supply paint to the roller. The former uses a pump, air pressure, or some other form of electric supply to run paint through a hose to the roller.

Here are the top-rated electric paint rollers that are available right now.

Picture	Name	Our Rating	Price
Picture	Name	Our Rating	Price
	Wagner Smart Sidekick Power Roller	3.6	$$
	Black and Decker Pro Electric Power Paint Roller	3.5	$$
	Ryobi Duet Power Paint System	3.0	$
	Wagner Cordless TurnoProll Paint Roller	3.6	$$
	Snowball Electric Power Paint Roller	3.5	$$$

Why Are Electric Paint Rollers So Problematic?

Power rollers bring the awkward factor up to 11. They also don’t really save painters that much time compared to the traditional roller. The only real benefit that is immediate is the elimination of a paint tray.

You have to do everything else with a power roller that you would with a standard roller.

The paint needs to be mixed.
You need to tape down your interior and lay plastic down to prevent splatter.
You’re going to have downtime because the roller needs to be replaced periodically.

There are generally 14-inch and 18-inch models available. As with the standard roller, you’ll need to paint with a brush in tight corners and lines to prevent splatter. In a standard 120 square foot room, you might save between 10-20 minutes on your total painting time.

If you have several rooms to paint and you want to get things done in a single day, that means you’ll be able to paint about one more room with an electric roller compared to a standard roller. With the costs of a power roller to consider, it is easy to see why many consumers see a greater value in the traditional painting methods in this category.

Then there is the cleanup process. With a traditional paint roller, you just take off the used roller and throw it away. With an electric roller, you are forced to clean all of your equipment at the end of the day. By the time you’ve finished cleaning, you have likely lost all of the time savings you just gained by going with a powered option.

How Can Electric Paint Rollers Be a Beneficial Addition to a DIY Project?

Electric paint rollers are a good option to consider if you can check off these three specific items for your next DIY project.

You have a large area to paint that involves flat surfaces without interruption, such as a window, a ceiling fixture, or an unusual wall shape. If your wall is a big rectangle, this equipment can speed through the painting process.
You are planning to use a paint that is water-based. Electric rollers do not handle the same variety of paint types that spray guns or traditional rollers can handle.
You have a power source that is readily available. Powered rollers do better when they are within 10 feet of their power source. Some models come with a 6-foot power cord that extension cords do not support.

Even if you can tick these three items off, keep in mind that you’ll likely be applying a primer with different equipment before you apply the paint with the powered roller.

You must also have the paint hose be part of the consideration process. Not every painter is comfortable with a long hose that dangles from the handle of their roller. It can feel cumbersome and can even get in the way when painting high walls or ceilings.

What About a Smart Roller Over a Power Roller?

Some people are just done with the traditional paint roller. It can be messy. You’ve got those trays to deal with all the time. At the same time, the cost and problems with an electric paint roller are equally bothersome.

In the middle sits the smart roller. This design utilizes a paint tank that is in the handle of the roller itself. You press a button and paint flows to the roller. Some models are even pressurized so that you can keep painting overhead while the roller does the work for you.

Here are the problems that come up with a smart roller system.

Paint dries. Unless there are liners compatible with your paint tank, it’s a one-and-done piece of equipment. You have to either thoroughly wash out the tank before the paint dries in it or just use the same color of paint everywhere.
It is messy in other ways. It can be difficult to control the flow of paint to the roller with a smart design. If this switch breaks, you’ll have zero control. And, if the roller comes off for some reason while you’re painting, then you’ll have a huge mess all over the floor.
There are valves that can fail. Smart rollers can fail to draw paint from the can because of a duckbill valve failure. The roller can malfunction because of a cap or core problem. Even with a warranty in place, the cost of replacing painted carpet or fixing hardwood flooring is much higher.

To sum up the average consumer experience with smart paint rollers and electric paint rollers takes three words: “Not Worth It.”

How to Solve the Problems of Electric Rollers

Now let’s be fair here. When going over the public reviews, there are some common complaints that are usually easily preventable.

“I got paint on my carpet.”
“I had to spend 2 hours cleaning up my tool.”
“The equipment doesn’t work as intended.”

When you receive a power roller (or a smart roller, for that matter), there is usually some assembly required. If the assembly is not performed correctly, then the paint roller will not work as intended.

Missing parts are one of the biggest issues we all face when ordering items online. Not every manufacturer is good about ensuring all needed parts are included. What do we do if that happens? We often become impatient and try to use the product anyway instead of initiating a return or a request for the missing parts.

And that can mean bad news, especially for DIY painters.

As for those who rate electric rollers in the 1-star range because of carpet or flooring damage, here’s the question to ask: why didn’t you cover your floor with plastic or a tarp? Any painting equipment can drip onto the floor if it gets too much paint on it. Even if a valve malfunctions, the plastic preserves the floor from damage.

The issue of cleanup, however, is a legitimate complaint. Every power roller model requires at least 60 minutes of cleaning work, so it can be reused the next day. That’s a lot of time if you’re only painting one room. You could legitimately spend more time cleaning the equipment than actually painting.

That’s why the scope of the project must be a top consideration. If you’re only painting one room, then an electric paint roller is probably more equipment than you need. Go for a traditional roller instead.

If you’re painting an entire house, however, or have an extensive exterior that needs to be painted in a day, then an electric roller does make some sense.

How Much to Budget for an Electric Paint Roller?

The best models in this category are priced above $200. That cost does not include the motor or compressor that is necessary for the equipment as well.

Because this is powered equipment, you’ll need the same safety equipment that you’d wear with a paint sprayer. That means you need to wear a good respirator and should probably be wearing safety goggles as well.

Affordable models, especially smart rollers, are in the $30-$50 price range. Some units are about $120 for all the equipment you need to get started. These models are typically beneficial for specific jobs, so be sure to review all of the manufacturer’s recommendations before getting started.

In Conclusion

The best electric paint rollers can be a good investment if you’re aware of the negatives this equipment is known to produce. Use common sense when painting with it and protect your floors. Wear safety equipment. Do more than paint one wall with it.

For experienced painters, an airless paint sprayer or an HVLP spray gun may be a better option. You receive more control over the paint. These sprayers can also be used in more environments and can be used with more paint types when compared to electric rollers.

The choice is really up to you. Just don’t settle for the fake positivity about this technology that you’ll find elsewhere. Power rollers can be good to own if you have the right job for them to do.