How to Use Painting Tape

One of the easiest makeovers for a room is a new coat of paint. And one of the greatest friends invented for painters is painting tape, which is much easier to work with than masking tape. It pulls off easily and doesn't take a layer of paint or varnish with it, as masking tape can do. Here's how to use painting tape.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Painting tape
• Paint
• Roller
• Brush

1. Prepare the room before tackling the brush or roller by applying the painting tape to ceiling moldings, door frames, window frames, chair moldings and the floor.

2. Press the tape firmly into place, particularly if you have molding with curves and angles. You want to prevent the paint from seeping underneath the tape.

3. Apply Steps 1 and 2 in a different configuration, depending on what you're painting. Tape off the walls if you're painting the door frames, window frames, molding or baseboard.

4. Use a roller to apply paint to the walls or ceiling, stopping about one-quarter of an inch from the painting tape.

5. Finish that quarter-inch strip with a brush. Use smooth, easy strokes. The brush is unlike the roller, which can leave globs of paint if it goes over the edge of the painting tape.

6. Peel off the painting tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow yourself time to put the painting tape in place. Though it takes time during preparation, the tape saves you time in cleaning the multiple smudges that result when you try to freehand a smooth line.
• If the wall surface and the molding are the same color, you don't have to use painting tape unless you're a really sloppy painter. If you are, and you plan to paint one with gloss and one with flat paint, you might consider using tape. Definitely use it if the two surfaces contrast sharply, such as brown and yellow.
• Pay attention to the gap mentioned in Step 4. If you paint over the edge of the tape with a roller, you will leave a glob of paint that continues from the wall onto the taped molding. When you try to remove the tape, instead of coming away in a clean line, the tape will take some of the paint off the wall and you'll have to redo the job.