8 Best Roller Brushes for Textured Walls + Tips for Painting

Last updated: December 16, 2020


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A closeup of a bright white textured wall


Painting your walls might seem easy enough, but the process can be a bit different if you have textured walls. There are many different painting tools available, including roller brushes specifically for textured surfaces.

There’s a lot to learn when it comes to shopping for the right roller brush for textured walls. You need to know what to look for in a roller, as well as the best way to use it. This article will help you get started by discussing the following:

We’ll start by diving into what brushes are best, and then get into what you should look for in a roller brush for textured walls. If you also need to paint a textured ceiling, make sure to check out the best paintbrushes and rollers for popcorn and textured ceilings.

8 best paint rollers for textured walls

Lots of paint rollers are available, so it’s important to narrow down your options. To get you started, here are our recommendations for the best roller brush for textured walls.

1. Wooster Golden Flo Roller Cover

Wooster Golden Flo Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Polyester

Best Feature: Quality

The Wooster Golden Flo Roller Cover is a great quality option for working with textured walls. This roller cover is high density – which helps it to resist matting – and its core is resistant to water and cracking. It also provides great coverage when painting.

2. Purdy Colossus Roller Cover

Purdy Colossus Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Polyamide

Best Feature: Versatility

For a brush that can handle lots of rough surfaces, you’ll need the Purdy Colossus Roller Cover. This roller cover uses a quality woven fabric, so it works well on all semi-rough to rough surfaces. It’s also approved for all oil and latex-based paints.

3. Wooster Painter’s Choice Roller Cover

Wooster Painter’s Choice Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Mint green fabric

Best Feature: Maintenance-focused

If you’re looking to do some touch-ups of your textured walls, the Wooster Painter’s Choice Roller Cover is the best choice. This cover will help you easily cover part or all of your walls. It’s also approved for use with all flat paints.

4. Wagner SprayTech Power Roller Cover

Wagner SprayTech Power Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Polyester

Best Feature: Smooth finish

The Wagner SprayTech Power Roller Cover is a great option for those looking for a beautiful finish on their textured walls. The roller cover is made of quality polyester, allowing paint to be applied efficiently. It is recommended to purchase one of the Wagner holder products in order to properly use this roller cover.

5. Wooster Super/Fab FTP Roller Cover

Wooster Super/Fab FTP Roller Covers

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 3

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Shed-resistant fabric

Best Feature: Efficiency

Another great choice from the Wooster line, this 3-pack of Super/Fab FTP roller covers will help those planning to work on multiple projects to save money. The covers are made with a high-quality, shed-resistant fabric that is also non-matting. They work great on rough surfaces, and when using flat, eggshell, or satin paints.

6. Purdy Marathon Roller Cover

Purdy Marathon Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Nylon-polyester

Best Feature: Efficiency

The Marathon Roller Cover is another great option from the Purdy brand. The cover is made with a high-quality nylon-polyester blend that makes it super absorbent and easily releases paint. It works well with all oil and water-based paints.

7. Wooster Lambswool/100 Roller Cover

Wooster Lambswool/100 Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Natural lambswool

Best Feature: Consistency

If you’re looking for a natural roller, the Wooster Lambswool/100 Roller Cover is for you. The natural lambswool cover is designed to maintain consistency while painting. It’s also quick to set up, and it works with all paint types.

8. HomeRight Roller Cover

HomeRight Roller Cover

Image Credit: Amazon.ca

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Polyester

Best Feature: Quality

The HomeRight Roller Cover is a great option for those wanting great quality and value. The cover is made of durable material that will give you a smooth, beautiful finish on your textured walls. This roller cover is compatible with the PaintStick and PaintStick EZ-Twist roller holders, as well as other similar products.

What’s the best type of roller brush for textured walls?

When you’re ready to start shopping for a roller brush, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. Below are our tips for what to look out for when purchasing a roller brush for textured walls.

Choosing the right paint roller design and grip

You might have to purchase a roller holder separate from your roller cover. If that’s the case, you should find one that works best for your project. Here’s what to keep in mind:

  • Length: Make sure that your roller holder is long enough to reach all areas of your wall, but not so long that it becomes awkward to use.
  • Comfort grip: Selecting a holder that prioritizes your grip will help you maintain control and keep your hand from cramping while painting.
  • Roller cover compatibility: Make sure your roller holder is compatible with the roller cover you wish to use so that it will stay on your holder and work properly while painting.

Choosing the right paint roller length

When selecting a roller cover, you’ll want to make sure its length is appropriate for your project. Here are some lengths you should consider:

  • 4-inch length: This is ideal if you’re working on touch-ups or edging on smaller sections of your walls.
  • 9-inch length: This is the most popular length for painting walls, as it allows you to paint more in less time while still maintaining control.
  • 12-inch length: As one of the more popular large sizes available, you should opt for this length if you’re working with a very large surface and would like to be more efficient.

Choosing the right paint roller cover material for your project

You might be surprised to learn that different roller covers are made with a variety of different materials. These are your best options for working with textured walls:

  • Microfiber or mohair: This is a great option for achieving a smooth finish on walls with very minimal texture.
  • Lambswool or sheepskin: These rollers usually have longer naps, helping them provide consistent coverage to textured walls.
  • Nylon and/or polyester: These materials are popular options for all paint projects, and tend to provide a quality finish with the majority of paints.

Choosing the right paint roller nap (thickness) for your surface

Selecting the right nap thickness is really important. Having too thin a nap can result in your roller cover tearing. Here are the best naps for textured walls:

  • ¾-inch nap: This is ideal for working with medium-textured or rough walls.
  • ⅜-inch nap: This is best for medium-textured surfaces, like drywall.
  • Microfiber nap: While this isn’t a specific nap size, it’s preferable to use this type of roller cover for light to medium-textured walls.

Best way to paint textured walls: roller, brush, or spray?

If you’ve been wondering whether you should use a roller, brush, or spray to paint textured walls, the answer you get from the pros will most likely be a roller. With thicker naps and longer lengths, rollers will help you achieve great coverage and a smooth finish on your textured walls in less time, all while maintaining good control.

A roller covered in white paint being held against a semi-textured wall

A brush is a great option if you’re just doing a touch-up, or painting a small surface of the wall. You should also use a brush for cutting-in your walls. A spray is a good option if you’re more concerned with speeding up the process, but you may still miss some spots — not to mention that you’ll likely have a big mess to clean up afterwards.

Choose a roller if…

  • You’re looking for a quality finish.
  • You want to be efficient and save time.
  • You want to paint the entire wall.

Choose a brush if…

  • You’re only painting small sections – or doing a touch-up – of your wall.
  • You want to ensure you’re doing the highest-quality work.
  • You’re doing edge work or cutting-in.

Choose a spray if…

  • You want to prioritize speed over quality.
  • You want to work efficiently.
  • You don’t mind doing extra work cleaning up.

Best way to paint textured walls with a roller brush

Once you have the tools you need to paint your textured walls, you’ll want to make sure you know how to get the most out of your work. These are our tips for the best ways to paint textured walls using a roller brush.

  • Fill in holes and scratches – Use spackle to fill in any flaws on your textured walls. This will help preserve the quality of your finished project.
  • Clean the walls – Wipe down the walls using a damp cloth. This will remove any dirt and debris that could get stuck and show up in your paint.
  • Use painter’s tape – If you’re working near any surfaces or trim that you don’t want to get paint on, this will give you a safeguard to help you stay focused on the task at hand.
  • Apply a second coat of paint – If you spot any issues after your first coat dries, this will help you even everything out.

Now that you know the ins and outs of using a roller brush on textured walls, it’s time to get started. If you’re thinking that you’d like to go the professional route instead, the City Painters is here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a quote for your project.