TIP 1: Use a 9-inch roller for general painting, a 14- or 18-inch roller for quickly coating large walls and ceilings, and a small foam roller on door panels and wainscoting. TIP 2: Choose a roller’s nap length based on the roughness of the surface: a ⅛- to ¼-inch nap for smooth surfaces, like plaster; a ⅜- to ½-inch nap for lightly textured drywall; and a ¾-inch nap for textured surfaces, like stucco or brick. TIP 3: Use rollers with polyester and nylon fibers with latex paints; natural fibers, like mohair and lamb’s wool, with oil-based paints; and foam rollers on porous surfaces, like bare wood, or where you want a glossy-smooth finish, like on cabinets. See the rest of the Beyond the Basics: Painting series: