Can’t afford a painter and need the quality work your looking for?

Even if you can afford a painter, and want to try it yourself…

Well, I’m here to teach you how you can create those perfect lines between wall color and trim color.

There are several methods to accomplishing the same thing and each method has a different techniques.

Lets start off with the scenario that your trim is painted and caulked to the wall so that there is no gap from the trim to the wall.

Often times a colonial style trim is used and there is a very small edge on the trim to work with, but regardless there is some surface to apply tape.

 

First step is deciding what tape to use:

The best tape to use when you have a smooth (no texture) surface (usually on your trim/wood work) to work with is “Frog Tape”.  It’s green and actually is branded with the name “Frog Tape”.  You can get it at your local Sherwin Williams store or any other paint supplier.  Frog tape has an adhesive that expands at the second moisture is applied to it.  After you apply your tape and then paint against the edge, the edge is sealed immediately and eliminates any paint from bleeding through.  I highly recommend Frog Tape for this process.

Another good tape is #2080- orange core delicate blue painters tape although it does not seal on the edge like Frog Tape, but is the next best option and a bit cheaper in price.  Along with this tape there are others like the 3M #2090 blue painters tape and #2020 brown masking tape (not recommended for this application).

 

Second step is applying the tape:

I find as a right handed person that tacking the tape down with my left hand and pulling the roll of tape with my right is the most comfortable way for application.  Going clockwise around the room seems natural as well.  If your left handed then it may all be the other direction.  Figure out what works for you and go that direction for your tape application.  I’ll simulate in this article from a right handed perspective.  My right hand holds the roll and also is the guide for laying the tape down as straight as possible.  The left hand is merely the one to tack it down when my right hand has got what seems to be the right position for being straight.

Keeping the tape all in one piece from corner to corner of the room is critical in your application.  Never tear your tape in the middle of a wall unless you have run out of tape and even then you may want to remove it and start in the corner with a new roll so that you can get one piece of tape to go the full length of the trim/surface.

When you get to the corner of the room, pull an extra 1-2 inches of tape and break it off.  This will give you something to grab as you use a sharp razor knife of your choice to cut the tape where it is needed in the corner on the trim.

 

Third step is caulking your tape:

This step is critical to the type of tape you choose.

If your using Frog Tape then please skip this third step.

How do we ensure that there will be NO paint bleeding through the tape?  Here is a “painters” trick:  buy the cheapest interior paintable caulk.  Cut the tip of the caulk tube to leave a small hole about 1/8th to 3/16th in diameter.  The smaller the hole the least amount of caulk is wasted, but then you don’t want it to dry to fast before your able to wipe it against the tape’s edge and the more there is the more time you have before it dries.   A 1/8 inch hole is adequate.    Now that you have cut your caulk tube hole to desired size, apply the caulk against the edge of the tape where you will be painting.  After applying the caulk from the tube, use your finger in a damp rag to force it against the tape’s edge (smear it around or simply wipe it off) and wipe it clean.  You should not see any caulk left behind.  Too much caulk left behind will cause the paint to peal off the wall when you remove the tape. Do not worry, there is enough caulk against the tapes edge to keep any paint from traveling under the tape.  Now, let dry for about 15 min.  Do the remainder of the tape in this way until all the tape is sealed along it’s edge with caulk.

Clear Caulk is best for most applications.  If you have white trim, white caulk is acceptable.

Another process if you cannot find or afford caulk is to use the existing paint color of the trim (the surface your applying the tape to).  Sometimes this is in your garage, and if not there, then your home owners manual may have this information.  If you don’t have the paint or a home owners manual  and the home was built within the last 5 years, there is a possibility that the builder can provide you with their paint supplier location and that particular paint supplier can go to their files to find  what product and color the builder used.  Otherwise, go into a closet and pull a piece of trim out and the paint store can do a color match for you.

Using paint instead of caulk is creating the same results.  You want to use the color of your trim paint because it will bleed under the tape onto your trim, it is best to use the same color so you don’t see the bleed through after removing the tape.  Once you have applied enough paint to seal the edge of the tape, then let dry to touch.  In this situation, you do not need to wipe the paint off like you do if you were using caulk, just follow with 2 coats of wall paint and your done.

 

Fourth Step is applying paint:

Whether you cut-in with paint first or roll the walls, really isn’t that critical.  But what you don’t want to do is put too much paint against the tapes edge.  Just enough for good coverage.  If your doing two coats (usually recommended) then go light on both coats.  Too much paint will be susceptible to pealing off the wall when you pull the tape.

 

Fifth and final step is removing the tape:

After the paint has dried to the touch, then gently remove the tape.  I don’t find it necessary to wait for the paint to fully cure.  If it gets too hard (fully cured) then it can bind to the tape and make it hard for removal.  The paint should be fairly soft but not too wet.  Wet paint can potentially drag with the tape if the tape is removed too soon and string paint along your trim that you have so adamantly tried to protect.

 

Now you have perfect straight lines for that nice crisp look between two different colors from wall to trim or on bull nose corners

 

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This blog is highly moderated and any post will be viewed and dealt with accordingly to the discretion of the webmaster.

 

I am open to answering any questions and feel free to leave a comment below…

 

 

Jason