Hat Effect

How to avoid getting the “hat effect” when you paint!

When you have finished painting a wall or room have you ever noticed that you have a hat effect around your ceiling, trim, light switch plate, or outlet?

What has caused this is your use of a roller and a brush; the normal painting tools. The cause of this effect is the difference in areas having a “stipple” created by the roller and the lines created by the brush.

How to minimize this effect:

#1 remove the plate covers and put tape over them.  When you roll do not roll over them but roll as close as you can making sure that you do not pick up any dust drywall loose particles.

#2 If you were using flat or eggshell paint you might need to do two “cuts” as your might not have put on enough paint when doing your cut.

#3 If you are using a “matte flat” you must be careful as this type of paint has an “angular sheen” and you may not be able to correct the effect.

#4 Always cut first a wall and then roll the roll.  Doing one wall at a time.

#5 If you tape the baseboard, be sure to pull the tape as soon as you have completed the wall. Tape particularly if you use eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss with make a coating that will join the wall and the tape and if you don’t remove it early you will tape the paper off the facing of the drywall and you will need to do repairs to the drywall.

#6 If you left the tape on too long, then take a razor and but along the top of the baseboard before you start to remove the tape.  Tape left on too long may also remove the paint from your baseboards and you will have to repaint them.

#7 If the color you are using requires a coat of primer first or another coat to achieve a perfect look you need to allow the paint to dry (see the paint can).  Latex paint will feel dry to the touch in 20 minutes or so, but it is not dry and you can make a mess by putting a 2^nd coat on too soon.

#8 With eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss one should cut and use either of the following methods to avoid a hat effect.

a. as you cut use small roller with the same size “nap” as the “nap or covering” on your roller to immediately go over the cut and getting as close to the trip of the ceiling as possible without touching those areas.

b. After you have cut and roller the area get on your ladder and roll the

aeaa as close to the ceiling and the trim as possible.  This must again be done immediately not latter.

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