Painting skirting boards in room with fitted carpet

CelticStar

I really want to brighten up our sitting room as we need new sofas and curtains anyway and I don't like the dark stained wooden skirting boards and picture rail - I would prefer to paint them cream.

Am I kidding myself by thinking there is any way to go about this other than taking up the carpet? And if I do take up the current carpet (which is in excellent condition and is an expensive carpet) will I be able to put it back again?

Thanks for any advice.

maninthestreet

Stick parcel tape along the edge of the carpet where it meets the skirting board.

prowla

Masking tape.
And watch out for splashes.

SplanK

the only way i could see doing mine was to lift the carpet and pop it back down.... this was ok in one of the bedrooms, however the landing and stairs - we decided it was time to replace the carpet anyway so lifted the !!!!!! up...

what ever you do - give the carpet next to the skirting, or the floorboards a hover next to the skirting to try and minimise dust getting onto the paint!

The_Plush_Doormat

I have used a similar product to this one. It's a carpet shield. Obviously, you have to keep moving it along as you paint a section, but it's no harder than putting tape down.
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9254621&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3c%7b9372013%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372030%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b9372121%7d%2fspecificationsProductType%3dprotection&fh_refview=lister&ts=1240380196657&isSearch=false

SplanK

the only problem with those is when you have to shuffle along to the next bit, the carpet springs back up and may touch the skirting??

shirlls

The cheap brown parcel tape is the best way to do it. It takes a while to put it down properly. I do it in 6" to 8" sections and use a paper scraper to make sure it's tucked right down between the carpet and skirting board then you can ensure all the skirting is painted without fear of any getting on the carpet. When it's all dry it only takes a few minutes to pull up the parcel tape and there isn't a spot of paint on your carpet!

securityman

I say for the best job pull the edge of the carpet up and tuck under it's self.
Only about 12in all around the edge. Pull it up with some pliers off the carpet gripper and fold it under it's self. Do this all around the edge. So it looks like the carpet is 12in to small around the edge. Dust sheet over the lot and away you go.
When finish(about 24hr for gloss) unfold the carpet, pull it with your hands to the gripper rod(tug, tug) and push the carpet back in with a clean bolster.
If you are not sure, you could just pull up one side/wall, paint that and refit(If you have the time for this)
If your not sure about pulling the edge of your carpet up, try in a bedroom where it cannot be seen(behind bed cupboard)
It goes back easy with a flat bolster.
It will look bad/cheap if you get paint on the edge of your carpet. I have seen it in other peoples house,s up the stairs.
Whats the worst that can happen(you have to pay £10-£20 ish for someone to put the edge down. Better than a fooked carpet.
Good luck
long post now i have rattled on.lol

27col

I have used the carpet shield, which seems to work all right. The answer to the problem of the carpet springing back when the shield is removed is quite simple. You buy more than you think that you need and leave it in place until the paint has dried. Most paints seem to dry to the touch quite quickly. Incidentally, I would always use a sheet on the floor as well, as the shield strip is not very wide.

Steve_xx

shirlls wrote: »

The cheap brown parcel tape is the best way to do it. It takes a while to put it down properly. I do it in 6" to 8" sections and use a paper scraper to make sure it's tucked right down between the carpet and skirting board then you can ensure all the skirting is painted without fear of any getting on the carpet. When it's all dry it only takes a few minutes to pull up the parcel tape and there isn't a spot of paint on your carpet!

Brown parcel tape - you need to be careful with it. Sometimes it transfers the brown colour onto whatever it is attached to and it's a real problem to remove the brown deposit.

ormus

only use tape etc if painting the same color, you dont need to paint right to the very edge of the carpet. thats the way the pros do it.

if a color change is required, lift the carpet. any other method for a DIYer will lead to a disaster.