by J. W. Nusz

Created on: May 26, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

This article takes a cost-effective approach to masking a room before painting.

Messy painters mask their room. That is the entire basis of the masking tape, drop cloth, tarp and sheet plastic industry. The messier the painter, the more masking is required.

How do you determine how much masking is necessary? That depends on how familiar you are with painting tools and materials. Painters who have been using the same roller covers and frames, brushes, and paint formulas for years can normally paint with minimal preparation work (prep). But if you have never painted before, or worse, painted with different materials, you need to prep adequately.

Before you jump into buying whatever a paint store employee is trying to sell, consider your painting style. If you are brushing the entire project (e.g. changing trim color) drips will be vertical from the bristles to the floor. Mask the area directly below the painter and surface to be painted. If you are rolling paint, drips will be vertical and horizontal as paint splatters off the roller from centrifugal force. Mask the area below the painter and surface as well as the surrounding area. If you are spraying, mask the entire room as well as possible. Spraying is intentionally messy to reduce paint application time.

Most new painters do not realize that different masking tapes serve different purposes (no, blue painter's tape is not a catch-all solution). Each masking tape has a predetermined number of days before the mastic (sticky part) is transferred from the tape to the surface. Also, each tape has a different level of mastic from delicate surfaces (low mastic) to hard-to-stick surfaces (high mastic). Finally, masking tape has the possibility of bleed-under when paint seeps under the tape. Tapes handle that situation in different ways as will be explained.

Standard grade masking tape (normally white) has a 1-2 day working period before mastic is transferred. It is medium mastic, and unless you plan to prep your walls and avoid painting for more than two days, it is the tape of choice. It is normally sticky enough to stop heavy bleed under on textured walls (which can be difficult to stick), and it is gentle enough to leave well-adhered paint on the wall. It is the cheapest tape available, and is commonly called contractor grade.

Blue painter's tape (all brands) normally has a 14 day working period. It is medium-high mastic and will do well on texture and smooth walls. Bleed under, in my experience, is similar

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>