Decorator using a roller to paint a wall

How to avoid brush and roller marks when painting

Getting a perfect, professional finish when you paint a wall or fixture is key. Most of us nowadays take these kinds of jobs on ourselves rather than pay someone to do it for us.

At first sight, it seems the easiest thing in the world to slap on some paint. However, getting it wrong could mean your wall looks uneven and have visible marks from the brush or roller strokes. Here’s how to get it right first time:

Preparation is important

As with any job you want to make sure you’ve done all the preparation that’s necessary so that you can simply concentrate on the painting and nothing else. That means putting down covers for furniture and flooring, using painter’s tape on areas where you want to paint an edge like cupboards and windows, and cleaning walls of dust and grease to make sure the paint goes on easily.

Buy good quality products

While it might seem prudent to buy cheap paint, picking a mid-range product is generally more productive and safer. The same goes for the roller and brush you are going to be using. Using cheap brushes tend to leave stray hairs in the paintwork. Rollers, if they are low quality, can soak up paint unevenly and make it difficult to get a good coverage.

Painting white walls with Floetrol

Stir well

When you open the paint, stir it well and make sure you have an even mix all the way through. Paint can sit in stores for months and separate slightly so a bit of agitation is needed to get everything just right. You need to do this with any paint whether it’s water based or oil. Also, if you need to use more than one tin of paint, it would be sensible to mix it all in together before you start. This is because it’s possible for there to be slight variations in colour from different batches. You certainly don’t want an uneven finish to your work.

Have good lighting

You can’t see lines and patches if you don’t have enough light or can’t see properly. If you’ve ever painted a wall at night and then come down in the morning and found patches all over the place, you’ll know what we mean.

Use a Paint Additive

If you really want to improve your chances of getting a professional finish, then including a paint conditioner in your mix is always a good idea. The two main products we sell at Owatrol are:

Floetrol: Designed to be used with water based paints and make them perform more like oil based ones. The good news is that this helps reduce any unsightly marks because it improves the flow of the paint. It also maintains the wet edge for longer, allowing you more time to get a good finish. All you need to do is add a little to your paint as per the instructions and stir in well. It doesn’t affect the inherent qualities of the paint or its colour.

Owatrol Oil: This product has the same purpose as Floetrol but it’s a paint conditioner for oil-based paints rather than water-based finishes. In addition, it also acts as a rust inhibitor and helps to prevent cracking and peeling. Again, it’s easy to use and one of the best ways to get a great finish.

floetrol-effects-on-paint

To sum up…

You may not need a paint additive for every one of your decorating jobs but it’s a useful product to have on the shelf and a godsend if you find you’re not getting the smooth coverage you need. It helps keep the edges wet as your painting and produces a highly professional finish. A paint additive is also helpful if you’re going to be painting in less than ideal conditions. For example a cold and damp winter’s day…

Finally, it pays to take your time and put on the paint with even, fluid strokes. Whether you use a roller or a brush, being in too much of hurry to can mean you don’t cover areas properly and then have to do extra work to get the final finish.

To learn more about Floetrol and Owatrol Oil, please use the following links:


We hope you found this post on how to avoid brush and roller marks when painting helpful. If you have any further tips or advice, please feel free to leave them below. We love hearing from you!

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Owatrol Team
About Owatrol Team

Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.

16 thoughts on “How to avoid brush and roller marks when painting

    1. Hi Ken,

      If you’re painting bare plaster then we’d definitely recommend using E-B as it will stop you from needing to mist coat – it’s a primer and first coat of paint in one when you use it in your paint so you’ll be saving time and your second coat will adhere better too. You can then use Floetrol in your subsequent coats if you’d like to, to help remove brush and roller marks.

      Please let us know if you need any more help.
      The Owatrol Team

  1. I am currently trying to find a solution for a problem . We had our lounge painted , and the results on three separate occasions was an eyesore of roller marks . We live in a rooftop apartment in the eaves if you like . There is a southfacing window ( the light isn’t kind ) all three painters were professionals . No one can figure out why this has happened , and why each coat of paint has made the problem worse . We are currently wanting to correct this problem but have no idea what caused it in the first place . Not easy . A decorater has suggested we get a sealant on the walls to begin with before repainting . Would be grateful for your advice and would like to know if you have a product that might help . Kind regards Marie Broxup

    1. Hi Marie,

      I have passed your enquiry onto a member of our technical team and will have a response as soon as possible.

      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

    2. Hi Marie,

      Having consulted with our technical team we would say that whilst obviously we can’t advise on why they have had this issue our suggestion would be to try a litre of Floetrol and test it on one surface. You will need to use a minimum of 15% of Floetrol to paint and may have to go up to 20% to get the outcome you require. You will not be able to see the results until at least two coats are applied.

      If that does not work, then there is certainly something wrong with the substrate and you will probably have to have it re-skimmed.

      Hope this helps,
      The Owatrol Team

  2. Hello,

    I would like to to help remove brush and roller marks.

    Do I have to use Floetrol in all paints coats ? :
    – primer coat
    – 2 subsequent paints coats

    Many thanks for your help.
    Nicolas

    1. Hi there,
      We would recommend using Floetrol in all of your paint coats, yes.
      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

  3. Hello,

    I would also like to know if Floetrol is compatible with Alkyde water-based paints and Alkyde Urethane water-based paints.

    Many thanks & Best Regards,
    Nicolas

    1. Hi again Nicolas,

      Alkyd paints are a hybrid of water-based and solvent-based paints. As such we cannot be certain as to whether Floetrol or Owatrol Oil is the compatible product and whilst we cannot test Floetrol with every paint in the market, to date experience has proven that Floetrol is generally the way forward. The best way to check is to pour some paint into a spare kettle, add the Floetrol and if this does not separate, then the answer is that it is compatible. If it does separate then you will need to try Owatrol Oil instead which is suitable for oil-based paints.

      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

  4. Hi Owatrool team,
    Many thanks for your quick and very clear answer.

    A have just some more questions related to Floestrol compatibility test before using it:
    – How much Floetrol do I need to add in the paint ? Is 10% OK ? Or less or more ?
    – Then I understand that after adding Floestrol in the paint I need to mix. Then, how long do I need to wait to see it does separate or not (few minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, more ) ?
    – Also, I am not sure to understand what you mean by “it does separate”. Do you mean Floetrol separates like many little bubbles in the paint ? Or is it like mixing cooking oil in water (oil separates above water) ?

    Last question, how long the Floestrol+Paint mix can be used ? I am wondering if I need to mix just only the Floestrol quantity for my painting work or if I can mix all Floestrol with the whole paint bucket and use it later, for example after many months).

    Many thanks for your great help 😉
    Nicolas

    1. Hi Nicolas,

      I have answered your questions here below with the answers next to each question for clarity:

      How much Floetrol do I need to add in the paint ? Is 10% OK ? Or less or more ? – Between 5 and 15% Floetrol is the advised amount. The actual amount required is dictated by the conditions in which the paint is being used. Once the paint is working as liked then sufficient Floetrol has been added.
      – Then I understand that after adding Floestrol in the paint I need to mix. Then, how long do I need to wait to see it does separate or not (few minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, more ) ? – Incompatibility should be noticed with a few minutes, if not instantly.
      – Also, I am not sure to understand what you mean by “it does separate”. Do you mean Floetrol separates like many little bubbles in the paint ? Or is it like mixing cooking oil in water (oil separates above water) ? – If products are incompatible then separation is usually denoted by the paint curdling or Floetrol floating to the top and not mixing in.

      Last question, how long the Floetrol+Paint mix can be used ? I am wondering if I need to mix just only the Floetrol quantity for my painting work or if I can mix all Floetrol with the whole paint bucket and use it later, for example after many months). – A Paint and Floetrol mix will last as long as the same paint without Floetrol in.

      I hope this answers your questions, if you need any further advice please do get in touch.

      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

    2. The best way to find out if you need floestrol or owatrol in your paint is look on your tin of paint and it will tell you what to use for clean up. If you need white spirit you need owatrol, if you need soap and water use floetrol. I’m a professional decorator by the way and love both products.

  5. trying to paint cabinets, have now bought two different high quality paints and recommended brushes and still get brush marks. Help!!

    1. Hi Sue,

      Thank you for your query regarding the removal of brush strokes during your painting.

      If you are seeing unsightly brush marks on your cabinets we recommend using either Floetrol or Owatrol Oil mixed into your paint to help alleviate this.

      Use Floetrol if you are using water based paints – this will make the paint perform more like an oil based one. Floetrol helps reduce any unsightly marks because it improves the flow of the paint.
      It also maintains the wet edge for longer, allowing you more time to get a good finish. All you need to do is add a little to your paint as per the instructions and stir in well. It also doesn’t affect the inherent qualities of the paint or its colour.
      You can find Floetrol here: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/floetrol/

      Use Owatrol Oil if you are using oil-based paints – This product has the same purpose as Floetrol but it’s a paint conditioner for oil-based paints. In addition, it also acts as a rust inhibitor and helps to prevent cracking and peeling. Again, it’s easy to use and one of the best ways to get a great finish. Just add a little to your paint as per instructions and stir in well.
      You can find Owatrol Oil here: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/owatrol-oil/

      I hope this was helpful.

      All the best,
      The Owatrol Team

  6. Garden bench is very rusty with some peeling paint too. What are the recommended stages to repaint? Can I get away with cleaning off rust with wire brush, painting with Owatrol oil, then Hammerite paint? Thanks.

    1. Hi Nicky,

      Yes this is one way of sufficiently re-painting your garden bench, however, you could also opt to use Owatrol Deco – a rust inhibiting multi-surface primer and finish in one.

      Owatrol Deco


      It is an oil-based multi-surface paint and can be applied directly to rusted surfaces as it penetrates down to the sound metal, providing long-lasting protection and extending the lifetime of the treated surface.
      Remove the peeling paint and rust with a wire brush, apply 2 coats and your done.

      I hope this was helpful. Please feel free to contact us gain should you require further assistance.

      All the best,
      The Owatrol Team

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