Purdy Colossus Paint Roller Review

Updated Jun 5, 2026 | Posted Sep 17, 2022 | Tools | 2 comments

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Purdy has been a staple brand for the painters and decorators for a long time now. As a professional decorator myself, I use these products a lot. I thought I’d take a little time to write a very quick Purdy Colossus Paint Roller Review. I hope you find it useful.

You can get this paint roller in many sizes, including 9-inch, 12-inch, and even 15-inch versions. You need a traditional cage to house a 6-inch Purdy roller sleeve and an adjustable frame for the larger sizes. Both the frame and cage screw securely onto an extension pole, making it easy to roll walls and ceilings. You can buy all the Purdy tools online by clicking here, or from many physical stores around the UK.

As Purdy is so well established, there are a lot of copycats. Rollers with the same colour scheme or similar branding. Do not be fooled; the copycats may be cheaper, but they will not have the same level of quality as Purdy.

 

My Purdy Colossus Paint Roller Review

 

As mentioned, I’ve used this brand a lot over the years, and it is still one of my favourites. The roller sleeves hold a ridiculous amount of paint and spread it evenly, making painting quicker and easier. I particularly like using Purdy rollers on ceilings or blown-vinyl wallpaper. They are also fantastic for rendered exterior walls, as the thick nap seems to get into every crevice. This roller is equally good on smooth, flat walls, but it comes into its own on surfaces where most other rollers would struggle.

You’ll find all the other Purdy equipment is of fantastic quality too, from the other rollers in the range to cages, frames, poles, and brushes. They even make a backpack, which may be a bit of a punchline amongst decorators, but it is still a quality bit of kit. I’ll go into more detail in the next section.

The only drawback with the Purdy Colossus Paint Roller is the lint loss straight out of the packet. I generally wrap mine in duct tape and pull off any loose lint, or put them through the washing machine. You only get lint loss on the first use, and it is worth the extra hassle to break them in. Once you have, you will be left with the daddy of all rollers! Click here for more information.

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Review summary

Purdy Colossus Paint Roller Review - Decorator's forum UK

A long-pile roller used to apply various paint products to different surfaces.

Product Brand: Purdy Tools

Editor's Rating:
4.6

Pros

  • Holds loads of paint.
  • Even distribution.
  • Easy to lay off.
  • Great for applying difficult products like contract matt.
  • My favourite roller for painting ceilings.
  • Also great for applying paint to exterior masonry.
  • Well made.

Cons

  • Can shed on its first use.
  • Not as good for applying eggshell and similar products to smooth walls.

Other Good Quality Purdy Tools

 

You now know all there is to know about the Purdy Colossus Roller, so let’s briefly talk about some of the other Purdy tools that are worth looking out for.

 

Purdy Pole

Purdy poles come in a couple of different sizes and fit both a cage and a roller frame. You’ll find them robust and extendable. These poles last for years, even with daily use from someone as heavy-handed as me. Click here to see current prices.

 

Purdy Monarch Elite XL

The Monarch Elite XL is Purdy’s signature paintbrush, and it is the brush most decorators have in their van. It is great for use with loads of different types of material, including water-based gloss, satinwood, some oil-based paints, and emulsion. It has a nice thick stock that holds plenty of paint. It is comfortable to work with, and it is easy to cut sharp lines. Click here to see latest prices.

 

Purdy Premium 10 in 1 Tool

The last tool I’m going to mention is Purdy’s 10-in-1 Tool. As a decorator, I use scrapers all the time. This is like a scraper on steroids. It is sharp, robust, comfortable to hold, and lasts for years. It is also great for opening beer bottles. Click here to see current prices.

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FAQs

 

Do expensive paint rollers make a difference?

One of the most common mistakes people make when decorating is investing in good-quality paint but then applying it with a cheap roller. This often leads to fluff in the paint, roller marks, and orange peel.

Get yourself a good-quality roller sleeve, frame, and pole. Not only will you achieve a better finish, but the equipment will also last for many jobs. Click here for more information.

 

Should you wet your paint roller before painting?

Wetting your paint roller slightly before use is a great idea. It ensures the roller holds more paint during the first few strokes. This ultimately leads to a more even finish.

 

How many times should you reuse a paint roller?

As a decorator, I use the same roller frame and pole every day for years on end. The only thing that really needs changing is the sleeve, and provided you choose a good-quality brand like Purdy, even the sleeve will last for dozens of jobs. You can paint your house many times over with the same roller.

Updated Jun 5, 2026 | Posted Sep 17, 2022 | 2 comments

About the Author

About the Author

Mike Cupit has been in the decorating industry since 2002 and has mostly worked as a Trade Decorator in the domestic sector (peoples’ homes). Self-proclaimed “product geek”, Mike has a passion for paint and decorating tools. Mike now spends most of his time testing paint products and tools, comparing them to similar products on the market, and blogging about the industry in general. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

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2 Comments

  1. Sunil

    Do you recommend the 1″ or 0.5″ nap?

    Reply
    • Hassan

      Thanks Mike. Are you using the long pile on smooth interior ceilings ? If so, does it perform ?

      Reply

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