PAINTING & DECORATING
ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING
Ready-mixed roller-applied wall and ceiling coverings give merchants a great opportunity to increase sales by adding them to their decorating category.
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epairing existing plasterwork on walls and ceilings has until recently been a labour-intensive task, although recent advances in roller-applied coverings have transformed this process significantly. As a result, these ready-to-use products offer merchants an opportunity to pick up extra sales in their decorating category from customers looking for quick and easy solutions. That’s according to Victoria Bramley, product manager at Okarno, who says that contractors are starting to see the benefits of using roller-applied covering products compared to traditional trowel-applied products, especially for minor repairs on plaster and plasterboard. “Roller application is popular because it is easier and more straightforward to use – all that is needed is a medium to high-pile roller (preferably 9 inches for best results) and roller pole. This approach can deliver time savings of up to 30- 40% compared to conventional methods like trowel-applied,” she says.
Roller-applied coverings perform extremely well at smoothing various surface types, including concrete, plaster, brick and even existing textured finishes. The roller application method ensures consistent coverage, while using a skimming blade delivers a professional, smooth finish.
Bramley says the products are particularly effective at masking minor surface imperfections, such as small cracks or stains, creating an ideal base for decoration without requiring extensive remedial work. “Other common applications include covering nail pops, cracks, or surface irregularities. They can also be combined with scrim or joint tape for enhanced durability. The fast drying times of roller-applied covering provide another benefit for contractors working with tight turnaround times.
“We can see that roller-applied coverings are popular due to their user-friendly nature and
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efficiency. That means they deliver consistent results and require minimal tools, making them accessible to all branch customers. Their pre-mixed formulation adds to the appeal by eliminating preparation errors, allowing customers to use exact quantities while storing the remaining product safely for future use,” she explains.
Each resealable container of Okarno’s Dalapro Roll Nova comes pre-mixed with 12 litres of product, providing coverage of up to 12sq m at 1mm thickness. An intuitive calculation tool to determine precise quantity requirements makes life easier for merchants when advising customers on quantities required. This helpful resource is accessible at
www.dalapro.com/dalapro-calculation-tool. With a drying time of approximately eight hours under standard conditions, the company’s roller-applied coverings are particularly useful for contractors working under strict timelines, Bramley adds. “They could, for example, apply it in the late afternoon and then return to the site the following day, ready to begin the next stages. “With environmental consciousness remaining crucial for merchants, validating new product lines’ sustainability credentials is essential. Our premium roller-applied covering, Dalapro Roll Nova, has Nordic Eco-labelling and is made by a Saint Gobain company that uses
climate-neutral production, whilst the tub itself is manufactured from 75% recycled plastic. “Broader sustainability improvements remain a key focus for us, too, and one of the most impactful initiatives we have implemented is the transition of our distribution core fleet to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This move has achieved up to 90% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional diesel, while improving air quality for colleagues, customers and local communities.”
Another element to make life easier for merchants, Bramley says, is that Okarno’s roller-applied product is available in both full and mixed pallet quantities, which can be ordered alongside other items such as plasters, plasterboards and jointing materials as part of consolidated deliveries.
Right for the job
She says roller-applied coverings aren’t intended to replace traditional plastering methods completely; certain scenarios, particularly major repairs, heritage or listed restoration projects, still require professional plastering expertise. “Traditional plastering and roller-applied coverings serve distinct purposes in wall and ceiling finishing. Branch staff can better assist customers by understanding the optimal application scenarios for each option,” she says. “Expanding a merchant’s decorating category sales involves offering products that enhance your customers’ on-site capabilities, with roller- applied coverings complementing traditional plaster offerings. By recognising and promoting the unique advantages of both solutions, merchants provide their customers with more reasons to choose their branch to do business with.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2025
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