Small Company.
Big Innovation.
An Ohio inventor, a familiar painting mistake, and the small company that built a practical solution.
See how we work ↓A problem worth solving.
In northern Ohio, some home builders leave the textured ceilings in new homes unpainted. More than once, I watched a helper bump one of those ceilings with a paint-loaded wall roller—and then try to wipe away the mark with a wet rag. The paint was bad enough. The damaged, unpainted ceiling texture was worse.
For years, I wondered whether there was a practical way to prevent that mistake.
Then my daughter took on a larger, multi-room painting job with a grid-style drop ceiling. She was concerned about accidentally touching the ceiling with her roller. With that many rooms, the odds of a mishap weren't exactly comforting.
I wanted to help her. That old problem came back to mind, and I began working on a simple mechanical answer: a guide that stops the roller before it travels too far.
That idea became TopStop®.
“Actually, the helper said ‘oops.’ I said something else.” — Larry Kane, creator of TopStop
Details matter.
A useful product has to do more than look clever. It must fit, move, stop, and hold up to the work it was designed for.
Our process involves prototyping, refining parts, assembling hardware, and checking the finished guide. The goal is a compact, straightforward tool that earns a place in the painter’s kit.
We don't need to be a giant company to care about getting the details right.
Ohio roots. Practical thinking.
TopStop is an American-owned company based in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Our roller guides are made in the USA.
A mechanical solution to an everyday painting mistake.
Homegrown development and hands-on fabrication.
Solar power supports our fabrication and office operations.
A little know-how goes a long way.
Practical painting notes you can use—without a separate blog or another subscription.
Start with a clean, sound surface
Remove loose material, clean away dust and grease, and repair imperfections before painting. Good preparation matters more than an extra coat applied over a poor surface.
Brush the edge, then roll toward it
Brush a narrow cut-in along the ceiling line first. Then roll the wall up into the brushed area. TopStop helps limit the roller’s upward travel; it does not replace the brushwork.
Keep a wet edge
Work in manageable sections and avoid rolling back over paint that has already begun to dry. Follow the paint maker's guidance for temperature, drying and recoating.
See the idea in action.
Watch the guide stop the roller before it reaches the ceiling.