Painting clean edges

[hawk1]

Ok... So I'm starting to finish another painting project (ha-ha-ha) and I have a question for the painting Pro's... On a lightly textured wall, what is the BEST WAY to tape so paint doesn't bleed under? I have tried painting the original color of the wall over the tape so IT bleeds under first...still paint gets under...I've tried a thin bead of caulking over the edge of the tape...still paint gets under... I've tried Blue tape and Frog tape and I still get spots where the paint bleeds under. My OCD will not allow me to just look past it and I didn't wanna spend hours with a model car paint brush going over the spots.

So, can anyone help a guy out with some tips?!?

[blacklabel]

I'm interested too. We're about to paint our bedroom and I need all the help I can get.

[KestrelBike]

Best lame advice I can give is leave an unpainted margin to prevent bleed-over, then fill in the gap with a small brush (model car sized if necessary)

[asmo]

I have the ninja skill - but it is an ancient secret.

1) Put up your blue tape.
2) Take the edge of a straight edge and score a VERY light line down the edge.
3) Paint
4) Take the tape up while the paint is actually still a bit wet.

Works every time.

[Jamnanc]

Blue tape with caulking apply the caulk with a tube which you wipe off with a wet finger clean off finger on a wet rag, make sure a little caulking seals the edge of the tape. Don't wait too long after painting to pull the tape, dry to touch.

[Jamnanc]

Oh yeah, when you paint, don't mush it under the tape

[crashdown]

Buy a quality brush and learn how to cut.
Tape does not work on textured walls.
Cutting in is faster and looks cleaner. Might need to water your paint down a bit to do it.
Google up some videos on how to do it, it's really not hard.

[Big Wall]

Blue tape with caulking apply the caulk with a tube which you wipe off with a wet finger clean off finger on a wet rag, make sure a little caulking seals the edge of the tape. Don't wait too long after painting to pull the tape, dry to touch.

This.

My wife and I had a painting business for 9 years. It doesn't take much caulk. Caulk edge of tape. Wipe with finger and then wipe with a wet rag. Then paint. Don't press any harder than you have to and use quality brushes like Purdy. Only do a section as far as you can reach. Then pull the tape almost to where you stopped painting. Then do the next section. Don't use blue tape, it justs costs more and isn't needed unless you are taping a more delicate surface, like paper covered wood molding, or are leaving the tape in place for a few days. You can also paint the original color over the tape, but it is more time consuming. We would only do this when there was not a caulk color that matched the original paint color. If there was a lot of lines like this, there are caulk tubes that you can inject paint into and it mixes with the caulk as you squeeze it out.

I'm just starting my 12 hr shifts for the week. If you would like some help I can stop by and give some advice thurs, fri or sat. Shoot me a pm.

Here is a link to some of the work we did. Scroll down to teh bottom for pics of stripes and diamonds we have done. We aren't painters any more. The economy killed us, so don't think I'm giving you a sales pitch.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspenleafpaintinginc/

[BigNick73]

Buy a quality brush and learn how to cut.
Tape does not work on textured walls.
Cutting in is faster and looks cleaner. Might need to water your paint down a bit to do it.
Google up some videos on how to do it, it's really not hard.

This. It takes practice, and its not something easily explained or shown for that matter but is way faster and you can cut a perfectly straight line with any sized brush once you learn it. Back when I was painting for a living the biggest thing I had to get across the new hires is to only dip the tip of the brush maybe 1/2" in the paint, slap it on the side of the Can a couple times, no scraping on the rim, then knock the initial excess off by doing a couple strokes on the wall before you start trying to draw a line. Ohh and hold the brush like a pencil you're drawing a line not clubbing baby seals.

And for a quality brush try Purdy. I like the blue bristle ones in a 3" not sure the actually name/model but any paint store other than Home Depot type places will know what a "blue bristle" is. Expect to pay $30 or so for a descent brush.

[JlazyH]

Tape it tight with the blue tape. Paint it with a 2 1/2 inch sash brush, don't thin the paint, and Let It Dry Comletely. The blue painters tape won't pull off the paint it's stuck too. That's why it's called "painters tape" You can leave the blue tape on for days and it won't pull the paint. Regular masking tape will. I use 3/4 inch tape and roll right down on it.

[rockhound]

17 years as a remodeler, (in a former life) i have never used a tape line, but if you have to the caulking method is the only way to seal tape on a textured wall

[Mazin]

Purdy brush and at tape line. I was a commercial and residential painter for 7 years and have thrown more paint than I care to remember. If its a rounded corner I will tape and leave a little space for the bleed and then finish the line with a art brush. Don't use crap paint!!! I will only use Benjamin Moore, it's thicker and blends better then any paint on the market.


Sent from my Otterbox Defended Tactical iPhone using High Capacity "Clips".

[trlcavscout]

Blue tape with caulking apply the caulk with a tube which you wipe off with a wet finger clean off finger on a wet rag, make sure a little caulking seals the edge of the tape. Don't wait too long after painting to pull the tape, dry to touch.

This is the correct answer. I even did my house this way with heavy rough texture.

[asmo]

How are you guys getting the caulk off after you pull the tape. When you rub the caulk out (not dirty at all) arent you just going to get the base color showing through. Or are you all happy with a straight caulk in a textured wall (I realize this is very very small - but its still noticeable).

[trlcavscout]

How are you guys getting the caulk off after you pull the tape. When you rub the caulk out (not dirty at all) arent you just going to get the base color showing through. Or are you all happy with a straight caulk in a textured wall (I realize this is very very small - but its still noticeable).

When done correctly you cant tell. You just have to let the caulk dry just enough it doesnt pull up with the tape. I will try to get a picture tomorrow.

[ben4372]

Buy a quality brush and learn how to cut.
Tape does not work on textured walls.
Cutting in is faster and looks cleaner. Might need to water your paint down a bit to do it.
Google up some videos on how to do it, it's really not hard.

Exactly what I would do. A good brush is the secret, a seven dollar brush will just make you mad.

[hawk1]

I tried the caulking and blue tape... Worked great! There were a few spots I let it dry too much and it kinda pulled up with the tape.
One question though, should I be able to see the edge of the tape under the caulking?

Thanks for the advice!

[hollohas]

Buy a quality brush and learn how to cut.


Ditto. I prefer to use a short handled brush with angled filaments when cutting in, gives you more control. Once you get the hang of it you will never go back to tape because this is so much faster. No tape to lay down or pull up.

[Wulf202]

Blue tape with caulking apply the caulk with a tube which you wipe off with a wet finger clean off finger on a wet rag, make sure a little caulking seals the edge of the tape. Don't wait too long after painting to pull the tape, dry to touch.this is the way to do it with perfect edges.
I just paint everything the same color

[sniper7]

Saw you got pretty much all the answers. I use clear caulk. Very thin bead, let it dry. Then tape on top of it. Paint. A tiny thin line of caulk will not be noticeable and if the lines are perfectly straight it won't draw attention like a jagged paint line will.

[10mm-man]

Blue tape with caulking apply the caulk with a tube which you wipe off with a wet finger clean off finger on a wet rag, make sure a little caulking seals the edge of the tape. Don't wait too long after painting to pull the tape, dry to touch.


+1 ^^^^^ This

[lllRorlll]

Buy a quality brush and learn how to cut.
Tape does not work on textured walls.
Cutting in is faster and looks cleaner. Might need to water your paint down a bit to do it.
Google up some videos on how to do it, it's really not hard.
^THIS

[Jer]

Hint, pros don't use tape. They cut an edge with the brush free-hand.

I started doing this and not only is it simple but it saves money and the end result is MUCH cleaner.