Rota Finish Roller Review

Updated Aug 26, 2024 | Posted Jan 21, 2022 | Paints | 3 comments

As I write this review, Rota Finish & Rota Gold LoTex rollers are a brand-new range. Manufactured by Ciret and launched at the Painting and Decorating Show. The range includes three different sleeves.

The Gold medium pile, Gold long pile and the Rota Finish. Each one of these sleeves are great products, but I wanted to talk specifically about the Rota Finish. Why? Because I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and it’s brilliant!

Rota have been around for ages and it’s a brand that goes under the radar more than it should. Not only are they good quality, but they’re also affordable. The Rota Finish is a slightly different animal! They are available in 4”,9”,10” and 12”. As we speak, they are only available in a handful of stockists. However, I think that is going to change rapidly once people start trying them out.

 

My Rota Finish Roller Review

 

So, why is this roller sleeve so special? Well paint pick up and distribution are spot on. I don’t just mean it holds a lot of paint, but it seems to apply the same amount of paint when it’s fully loaded, as it does after you’ve rolled it out. The distribution is even, which means you don’t need to keep repeatedly going over the same bit of wall to spread your paint out.

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There is no lint loss at all either. Which I know sounds like it should go without saying, but most rollers lose a little bit when they’re new. The Rota Finish leaves no lint at all, even fresh out of the pack.

The main reason I love this roller is the overall finish. Flashing and roller marks are a problem with a lot of modern emulsions. Particularly products with a slightly higher sheen level like soft sheen or eggshell. This isn’t helped by rollers leaving texture as they move. You don’t experience this problem with the Rota Finish. Everything is left smooth and uniformed, meaning flashing is dramatically reduced.

The only real downside is it’s a pain to wash out. It takes a while in the sink, and the washing machine seems to ruin them. Other than that, this roller is a gamechanger! I can’t wait to see what other decorators think of it. Click here to see current prices.

 

Review Summary

Rota Finish Roller Review - Decorator's forum UK

A roller sleeve designed to apply either water-based or oil-based paint products to any surface.

Product Brand: Rota

Editor's Rating:
4.5

Pros

  • Reasonably priced.
  • Nice tight microfibre.
  • Lint free, even when new.
  • Holds loads of paint.
  • Leaves a flat finish with no defects.

Cons

  • Quite difficult to wash out.
  • Not widely available.

FAQs

 

What paint roller gives the smoothest finish on walls?

A medium pile, microfibre roller with a tight nap is the best for achieving a smooth finish on walls. The Rota Finish is perfect, and it holds plenty of paint too.

 

Are cheap paint rollers any good?

Cheap rollers tend to shed fibres and ruin your paint finish. They don’t hold much paint either. Oh, and they don’t last for more than one job, so they’re a false economy.

 

Does it matter what paint roller you use?

Absolutely! You can be using the best paint in the world, but if you use the wrong paint roller, you will not achieve a very good finish.

 

Is it better to cut in or roll paint first?

We always roll first with the primer but cut in first on the additional coats. If you roll first on the last coat, then you will see brush marks.

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Final Thoughts

 

Ciret still seem to go under the radar a little bit, but the fact is, that they manufacture some fantastic products. Not just ‘budget’ stuff, designed to fit into the market, but tools that are genuinely the best at what they do.

A good example of this is the Kana Tank Brush, which I genuinely think is the best choice for applying oil, stain and varnish to timber. I know it’s very niche, but if you’re doing that sort of work then there’s literally no better choice.

Another example is the Masq masking tape. Ciret make a full range of ‘painters tapes’, and as a Decorator who sprays a lot, I find them fantastic.

And now they have the Rota Finish paint roller. A child could get a good finish with this roller.

Updated Aug 26, 2024 | Posted Jan 21, 2022 | 3 comments

About the Author

About the Author

Mike Gregory is a Professional Painter and Decorator who works in the Northwest of England. He mainly sub-contracts for large decorating firms and works on a wide variety of projects.

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3 Comments

  1. John

    Where do you buy these rollers. I cant find rota finish rollers anywhere

    Reply
  2. andy bunston

    Where do you buy these roller sleeves

    Reply

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