How to Tape a Room for Painting

Getting Ready to Paint Tips 

Introduction:

Not all painters need to apply masking tape before painting; it depends on how steady their hand is and the complexity of the job. Installing masking tape is necessary if there are a lot of hardware items to protect and different color surfaces next to the surfaces you intend to paint. Most homeowners find that using masking tape is helpful for keeping a crisp edge between two paint colors or around edging.

Whether you are using a paint roller or paint brush against the tape always use tape that has good adhesion qualities rather than general purpose tape. This will prevent paint from seeping through or underneath the tape.

Use a low-tack tape (often called painter’s tape) that will adhere to delicate surfaces without causing damage or leaving a mark when it is pulled away.

Here are some tips on how to tape a room for painting and getting ready to paint.

Before starting to paint gather the following items:

·       Painters drop cloth

·       Drywall joint compound

·       Painters tape

·       Plastic sheeting

·       Sandpaper

·       Ladder 

·       Screwdriver set

1. Put garbage bags over hanging fixtures, and fasten the bags to the fixtures’ cords with masking tape. Place furniture in the center of the room and drape it. 

2. To protect the floor run of masking tape along the floor’s edge, and then secure a drop cloth to the band of tape.   

3. To mask adjacent surfaces install masking tape along the edges of the surface that will not be painted. Lay the tape along the upper edge of baseboard to protect the wall or baseboard from paint. Some trim items will need covering with masking tape or a drop cloth.  Use plastic sheeting for larger wall surfaces such as wainscoting. 

4. Cover hard to remove hardware with masking tape. Take off easily removed hardware. Put each item and its screws in a separate plastic bag so they don’t become lost.

5. Fill any nail holes with drywall joint compound and sand the finish smooth.

6. Mask window glass by pressing masking tape in place with a putty knife to seal the edges. Remove the tape about a half hour after you have completed the paint while the paint is still tacky.

7. When the painting is complete remove all drop cloths, masking tape, plastic sheeting and bags.

8. Install all the hardware items.