Has anyone used paint pads instead of a roller ?

[whatwouldyoudoifisangoutofkey]

I've never painted a wall in my life .
I've seen it said that these are easier for novices.
Anyone any experience?

paint pads can be patchy
use a roller get a good one and go slow to avoid paint splatter/ spray on everything

I'd probably just use a roller honestly.

I am a not-terribly skilled decorator. My conclusions are as follows:

Buy branded frog tape, the delicate version. Accept that doing the taping is going to take pretty much as long as the painting will. Ideally give the room a couple of days to dry before you try and do the skirting boards at the end but meh I usually can't be bothered to be faffing about with my furniture that much.

If I had an ideal room painting set up it would be:

Day 1 - Prep the walls (sugar soap etc). Paint the ceiling.
Day 2 - nothing.
Day 3 - tape the ceiling edges carefully (on the ceiling side), preferably do the skirting boards too unless you're painting in a light colour. Do the cutting in first. Then roller the walls. Give it a few hours, second coat.
Day 4 - nothing.
Day 5 - tape the bottoms of the walls and paint the skirting boards.

Done.

In reality I don't usually do that because I'm usually scrambling to get it done in a weekend, but that makes taping much harder because the paint is more delicate. The frog tape is pretty good but it's not perfect and you can end up taking your newly rollered paint off again if you aren't super careful.

Experienced decorators would say you should just cut in (paint the edges) without taping, and I do sometimes do that but I am really just not very good at it, so I generally tape everything up where possible.

Remember to unscrew the door handle if you're painting the door and to unscrew the light switches from the walls. If it's the bathroom remember to take the toilet cistern top off.

I don't get on with paint pads. Spraying gives the best finish, but it takes a while to mask up. Roller is next best, but as @rwalker says, get a good quality one. I have a frame that can handle multiple widths of roller and find a 15 inch to be a good balance of width and ease of handling. Get a decent paint kettle and cut in the edges first. If you start early enough you can get two coats done in a day but better to leave overnight.

Ok. Sounds like a roller
Do you have to press hard with a roller?

I tried the paint pads but couldn’t get the hang of them. Rollers are easy just depends which type you prefer. I like a sheep skin roller and I don’t have to press hard

Love paint pads and hate rollers. Find the latter are messy and give a rough, less professional finish (but fine for ceilings)

This is how I feel, but have struggled to find decent paint pads in recent years.

I use paint pads or good quality rollers. As with anything, quality makes a difference. @Ineffable23 has some useful tips. I'd add an edging tool thing helps too.

Buy a good paint brush for corners and edges - do not buy harris yjey are rubbish. These are brilliant for the price
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamilton-Fine-Tip-Brush-Brown/dp/B09FF7W1N5/ref=sr_1_5_pp?crid=3JJTQN36ZW5V2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AVpP9DMHmgSuSCOn33NCEd1WJGAcgpobXELBURzsJSZHdTqGgsA9AIxrV0SdX8QyJRzlo4-QD3XW2iGF20C--ODWKmOt8M3smfg7YzY-xt0Ma_IvZ2Kl3pkuNp_mMB5mZxm-uSU_GgzFGym_tH7wGOvAXD1nBXUYxBb4ZhypZAyf8x0WXzWiHZd5ovmk2SYdTposiwAblACHODkeRw4tgtQlGVVfTBpOzA1dk6Hpu7kc7DK9sMqdI-B5OiwRk_3uocqfWIlwiC2cgCrRl0yfyiYsNIhHSPO8Ea98HzUE8PY.vsl0HRcN7_WvbJnnUOh4YPNnPhmj6FUzF_8XVtCIZLs&dib_tag=se&keywords=hamilton%2Bpaint%2Bbrushes&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1732002079&sprefix=hamil%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-5&th=1

I’ve painted many rooms and I hate rollers. I hate the inevitable spots and drips you get with them which means you have to prep so much before you can just get on with things. I use a good quality paint - Dulux is best I think - and then a good wide ish brush and just go for it. Doing that I only need to use an old sheet for where I’m actually standing and just move that around as I go. I never tape anything either. I just use a smaller brush for the edges and just go very slowly. Most of the walls in my house are wonky and old anyway so tape wouldn’t work.

Paint pads are great for getting behind radiators, but otherwise rollers are much better for covering walls evenly.

I'd use paint pads every time. Love them ... on a plain wall or textured paper. Roller makes more mess.

@Ineffable23 had given great advice. Basically the painting is the quick bit, it’s the prep that takes the time.

Before you start using the roller, moisturise your hands and arms and any exposed skin well. This will make washing the paint flecks off so much easier.

You not considering brushes? I much prefer brushes to anything else. More control and less mess. Cleaning a brush takes a while but cleaning a roller is so interminable it makes me want to throw it away. You don't even have to clean a brush every time, if you're knocking off overnight just wrap it tightly in cling film it'll still be good next day.
I hate the potential for spray with rollers. Just don't like them. I've painted a lot of walls and ceilings and rooms and I remain happy with brushes.
Just a thought.

I would be painting up to the picture rail, the ceiling and bit above picture rail have been d one ( not by me ).
The walls have already been painted white and I'm thinking of a final coat of Farrow & Ball in an off white.
I think the thing that bothers me most is not applying the paint evenly.
When I've tried before I think my mistake is overloading the roller and also going over an area too many times.
You guys seem so knowledgeable, all tips and comments gratefully received.
Including why F&B.

@heldinadream I'm a complete novice.
Ive painted skirting boards and windows but never a wall .
It's a big room , high ceilings , turn of the century house.
I think I'd prefer to use a brush but I'm worried about it looking patchy.
I'm very clueless.

I use a 9 inch roller! I find that anything bigger is too heavy when fully loaded so the paint looks patchy and I get very tired. With the 9 inch roller I can go faster, get a better finish and my arm is less tired!

How do you know what is fully loaded and what is overloaded ?

I follow Charlotte the decorator on Instagram despite decorating competently for 30 years. This is all about learning how to do it. Have a look at Charlotte, she has a whole list of videos on how to do stuff. Also Youtube is a great resource for decorating videos. Watch ones posted by decorators, usually a clue in their user name and if you are trying to cut in, take your time, start somewhere that will be less visible when the room is finished like behind furniture. Even if you aren't cutting in a corner, try a corner.

Most people don't load enough paint on their roller and end up going over an area over and over. Dampen the roller first too, it helps the paint adhere to the roller.

Thank you @rollerround , I'll check Charlotte out .
But do n you think that a nervous first timer covering a large area might be better off with a brush as opposed to a roller?

Oh god the videos confirm my fear that I'll mess it all up.
I think I'm going to have to get a decorator.

Use a roller. Don’t load it up too thick. Expect the first coat to look patchy. Second coat will sort it out. Buy good quality paint.

I don’t use tape, just an angled cutting in brush for doing the edges. But our house is old and the walls are not flat.

I spend my money on good paint - chalky not shiny - Matt or ultra Matt and not plasticky. This means there is no reflection and so you can do a worse job and it doesn’t show up!

Nooo it's fine, honestly it's not that hard! You said you've done skirting boards and windows, they are WAY more difficult than walls, honestly!
Re rollers or brushes I think it comes down to personal preference, and you're not going to know which suits you best until you try.
Good quality paint is important. I've never actually used F&B so I can't comment but I think one of their big points is the depth of colour in the stronger colours, if you're only doing a pale colour I can't see the need to spend all that money.
Last wall I painted I used Wickes own brand matt, it was a dark blue and it came out grand. I thought I had a pic but I can't find it and we've moved since. It was a refresh on a wall that was already dark blue, so one careful coat did the job. Came out perfect and took me about four hours iirc.

Agree matt gives a better finish generally. Shiny paint for bathrooms.