A foam roller should be made of polyurethane foam in various densities. It is suitable for water-dilutable paints and varnishes and creates a smooth texture.
Historically, there was a belief that a good roller has a yellow cap — several importers supplied German moltopren foams of higher quality than domestic products.
Quality depends on foam density. Three standards are available on the European market:
PAINTO offers two types (standard and super dense). The stated densities ensure even painting without bubbles on the surface.
Some manufacturers use foam with a density below 25 kg/m³ due to the lower cost. Larger pores trap air, which creates so-called bubbles during painting. Lower density reduces stability and leads to roller deformation.
Rounded ends prevent leaving stripes on the painted surface caused by excess paint on the edges.
For regular painting with water-dilutable varnishes, 30 kg/m³ foam is sufficient, but a roller with higher density is always a better choice. Professional companies choose 45 kg/m³ density.