DIY Paint Techniques

If you've ever tried repainting the textured walls in your home, you know the headaches of trying to use painter's tape to make your seams look nice. The paint always seems to seep under the tape no matter how hard you press. The next time you are painting interior textured walls, consider using some plain white caulk to make your seams look like you hired a professional for the job.

Materials and Preparation

The tools you will need to make your seams on interior textured walls look professional: paint, medium paint brush, sponge roller, painting tape and regular white caulk. Wipe down all the walls to remove dust and dirt. Remove floor molding, receptacle and switch covers. Lay down plastic or other protective material so that the floor is protected.

Tape and Caulk

A good painting job comes down mostly to good preparation. You can ensure your painting efforts look professional if you take extra time to properly prepare the area for the new color or colors you have chosen. Start by carefully placing a line of tape along the inside corners and along the ceiling line--be sure the tape covers the areas you don't want to paint. If you are using thin painting tape, consider placing another line of tape next to the first line you have placed along the seam as to give you more room for slop with your paint brush. Once your taping is complete, place the white caulk in a caulking gun and clip the end of the caulk tube so just a small bead will be expelled. Run a thin bead right along the edge of the tape on the side you will be painting. Go back and use your finger to press the caulk into the tape and textured area. The idea is to have the caulk fill in all the little gaps between the tape and the textured walls. Wipe off the excess caulk and allow about an hour to dry.

Paint and Remove Tape

Use the medium paint brush to apply your new paint along the seam. When done, immediately remove the tape along the seam. Remove it slowly and deliberately and you should see a straight line of paint up to where the tape began. The caulk kept the paint from bleeding under the taped area. If you wait until the paint is dry to remove the tape, the paint may peel off the areas you wished it to remain. For best results, remove the tape immediately after painting the seams. Use your sponge roller to fill in the large areas of the walls you are painting/ Once the paint has dried overnight, use the painting tape to tape the other side of the seam and repeat with caulk and paint. You should see a straight and professional looking edge to your painting project.

References

• Painting tips, DIY Painting techniques and guides
• Interior House Painting