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Genius Painter’s Tape Tips You Need To Know

For any major paint project, painter’s tape is an absolute must! It makes a huge difference in end result and is such a simple solution that will save you a lot of time a heartache while painting. For the best painting job, make sure you follow these painter's tape tips for sharp lines and crisp, clean edges every time!

Sometimes, the simplest things can make DIY projects so much easier. For us, the painter’s tape wins every time! I wouldn’t recommend starting a paint project without it.

There’s a lot to learn about painting rooms in general (things like what paint sheen to use and what order to paint a room), but one of the secret to a beautifully finished job is the tape! Just like with other projects, it’s important you choose the right option for your project. 

This painter’s tape tips article contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

Types of Painter’s Tape

There are a few different painter’s tape options to choose from:

  • Original Blue Painter’s Tape is the most common painter’s tape. We use it for simple things like protecting the carpet or flooring when painting baseboards or for marking the nail holes when hanging a picture on the wall. This is usually the Scotch brand. We buy it in bulk and tend to go through a lot of it around here!
  • FrogTape Painter’s Tape is in a league of its own entirely! Anytime I really care about getting a nice crisp paint line, I will use this brand, which I feel like works better. With multi-surface and delicate-surface options, this tape is created with a special paint block-prevention technology that is activated by the latex in paint. You can use this on trim, baseboards, accent walls, carpet, glass, and more. Because it is a little more expensive, we tend to use it only when we’re really concerned about nice crisp paint lines, like when I was painting abstract shapes on this giant pegboard wall.
  • Delicate Surfaces Tape is great for fresh paint, wood floors, wallpaper, veneer, and cabinets. We use this when the paint under the tape is new (anything under a week or two is considered “new”), like when we painted these two tone walls in our master bedroom.
  • Exterior Surfaces Tape is weather-proof and good for use on metal vinyl, painted wood, and outdoor glass.

Each of these options comes in a variety of widths so you can use it in small and large spaces.

Painter’s Tape vs Masking Tape

Even though tape for painting and regular masking tape look alike, they are not interchangeable. While painters’ tapes are more durable, masking tape is more prone to tearing, damaging the underneath surface when removed and allowing the paint to seep through. 

You may be tempted to tape off all of your trim, baseboards, ceilings and more when painting a room. But we would argue that it is better to learn how to cut in with a steady hand and paint brush. We think it’s best to avoid using painter’s tape for those tasks because it’s so time consuming. We have a whole tutorial all about how to cut in paint coming soon, so stay tuned!

Woman holding a green FrogTape painter's tape with text overlay that says painter's tape tips

5 Genius Painter’s Tape Tips

Woman behind the a man wearing gray shirt sticking blue painter's tape on the white wall

#1: Work with a clean and dry surface

As with everything, preparation is key, so make sure that you have a clean and dry surface. This will help the tape adhere better and avoid any gaps, which will cause an uneven line when painting. 

If you are working with a wood surface that was recently sanded, be sure to remove any sanding dust before taping.

Also, if the surface that you are putting the tape on is freshly painted, be sure that the paint is dry and cured (check your can of paint for the recommended curing time). Otherwise, you risk ruining the finish. I’ve made this mistake before and it ruined my whole accent wall, so it definitely pays to be patient.

Hand of a woman with a ring holding a card swiping over the green painter's tape on the gray wall

#2: Seal the tape well

After you place the tape on the surface, run a credit card, putty knife (or something hard) along the edge of the tape that you’ll be painting against. You want to do this before painting to smooth out air bubbles and gaps. This process is called “burnishing” the tape edge.

If you are taping over fresh paint, be sure the paint is fully cured. Otherwise, use delicate surface tape like we did when we painted two-toned walls in our bedroom.

Hand of a woman holding a paintbrush covering the yellow painter's tape horizontally taped on the white wall to seal the tape edge and prevent bleeding or seeping under the tape

#3: Prevent paint bleeds

To avoid paint bleeding or seeping under the tape, brush the paint over the edge of the seal (towards the area that you are painting), but away from the tape. This prevents the paint from being brushed into the tape and drying in globs underneath.

Another way to prevent paint bleeds under the tape is to brush on the underneath paint color on the edge of the tape to seal the edge. That way any paint that does bleed under the edge of the tape is the same color so you can’t see it! Then, once that paint is dry you can follow up with your 2nd paint color on top! We explained that process more in detail here.

hand of a woman peeling off the green painter's tape with nice crisp paint edge from the wall between the white and gray painted wall

#4: Remove the tape ASAP

Generally speaking, painter’s tape isn’t supposed to leave any residue behind or ruin surfaces. But you should remove the tape as soon as it’s no longer needed for a smooth straight line (even when the paint is still wet!)

Otherwise, the paint will dry underneath the tape, resulting in a jagged, uneven line. Plus, if the tape is left behind too long, a sticky residue could remain on walls or trim and ruin delicate surfaces.

The packaging will note a “clean removal” timeframe, which means the tape will not leave sticky residue behind before that time is up; however, you risk “pulling up” paint if you allow the paint to dry completely before removing the tape. 

If you happen to let the paint dry before removing the tape, loosen the paint from the tape by running a razor or utility knife along the edge of the tape before removing it. 

Always remove the tape by pulling it away from the surface at a 45-degree angle.

Painter's tape all over the edges of the bathtub before getting caulked and white subway bathroom tiles up to the bathroom floor

#5: Use for straight caulk lines

Another great use for painters’ tape is caulking, which will give you a straight line and improve the final appearance on caulking projects – like your backsplash or bathtub

As with painting, the tape should be removed quickly, while the caulk is still wet and fresh.

How and when to use painter’s tape doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By using these simple painter’s tape tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to creating beautiful spaces in your home. You can also be confident with the products and techniques that you’re using.

Which of these painter’s tape tips is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below!

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