The wall looked smooth straight after painting, but when sunlight enters from the side I can see broad roller bands. From the doorway they're nearly invisible. I used the same paint throughout, so I suspect uneven pressure, overlapping while parts were drying or inconsistent surface preparation. Would you lightly sand and apply another full coat with a better wet edge, or do side-lit walls simply reveal imperfections that ordinary lighting hides?
Figuring out why a newly painted wall shows roller marks only in side light
- home-improvement
- figuring
- newly
- painted
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5 replies
It’s usually the light, but the paint job can make it worse. Side light exposes lap marks, roller texture, and anything left uneven undernea...
It’s usually the light, but the paint job can make it worse. Side light exposes lap marks, roller texture, and anything left uneven underneath.
I’d do another coat before sanding too aggressively. Light sanding can help, but if the surface has patchy sheen from the first pass, a fresh even coat is what usually hides it.
And keep a wet edge if you can. That’s often where those broad bands come from, especially on bigger walls.
Side-lit walls are rude like that. They reveal every little thing that looked perfect under normal room light.