On a job where painting is done by roller before the finish floor is installed, save the expense of disposable roller-tray inserts or the hassle of cleaning the tray itself. Instead, cut a 3-ft. square piece of 6-mil polyethylene and spread it out in the middle of the room. You can pour almost half a gallon of good-quality latex paint on the plastic, and fill your roller from this central well. When you are finished for the day, cut the plastic in half and wrap it around the roller to keep the roller fresh for the next day — no need to rinse out the paint-laden roller. Use a fresh square of poly every day, or you will have flakes of dried paint marring the work.
Rick Lazarus, Spencer, NY
