Using blue painter’s tape can help you achieve a clean, professional look when painting a wall or other surface. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced painter, mastering the use of painter’s tape may improve the quality of your painting projects. Here are a few tips to help you use this tape correctly.
Prepare Your Work Surfaces
Before applying blue painter’s tape, make sure that you prepare all surfaces. Clean and dry the surfaces you want to paint and the surfaces you need to tape off.
When painting walls and ceilings, you can wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and allow them to dry completely. This is especially important if you’ve sanded any rough areas to create a smoother surface before painting.
Apply the Tape Carefully
Start the corners when applying blue painter’s tape. This helps ensure that the edges are well-covered and creates a clean line.
Slowly work your way around the area you want to protect. To achieve straight lines, apply the tape in short sections. Press firmly along the edges as you go to ensure that it adheres well. Use a putty knife or plastic card to press down further, especially along the edges and corners.
Overlap each strip of tape to avoid gaps. This prevents the paint from bleeding through the seams.
Painting Around the Tape
As you paint, use a light touch near the edges of the tape. Heavy application of paint increases the risk of it seeping under the tape. You should also reseal the edges of the tape between coats.
After you finish applying the last coat, remove the tape. Removing the tape while the paint is still wet helps give you a sharper line. Waiting until the paint dries may cause the paint to peel off with the tape.
