Masking tape disaster

Mumstheword

I've just 'satined' the skirtings in the hallway, using masking tape. I was careful to press it down and make sure it was stuck. But what a disaster! The paint has still leaked underneath. Not very badly, but enough to see it's an uneven edge with some on the laminate. And to make it worse, the paint has stuck the masking tape to the skirting so it's not even coming off properly in some places!

I've read on here that frog tape is the way to go.

Re my splodges.... I presume I'll have to get a sharp scraper to go all the way around and scrape off the excess paint from the laminate. Unless anyone has other ideas?

Thanks!

spadoosh

Yeh scraper the way to go. If you can afford frog tape its supposed to be quite good at £7.99 a roll though i just use a steady hand and a wet cloth. Also i gloss fist so if it goes on the walls you can paint over it so its not as obvious, just make sure you wipe the skirts after painting (obv making sure gloss/satin is dry)

Mumstheword

I wish I'd used the old fashioned proper non drip gloss, the one thats almost solid consistency rather than a liquid. I didnt have these problems....but I cant stand the smell, it makes me ill and gives me headaches. I used Johnstones satin instead, as recommended.

bobthedambuilder

I find that if you're over-enthusiastic with the brush, the bristles will tend to lift the edge of masking tape, with the result you've experienced. So I tend to paint very gently close to the tape, starting with the brush on the tape and drawing it away from the tape.

If your flooring continues under the skirting like mine does , rather than tape, I've found it easier to try to push a sheet of newspaper partway under the skirting, and then there's no chance of getting paint on the floor. There's usually a small gap under the skirting that would allow you to slip a thin piece of paper under.

If you can't get the paint off the floor, you could fit a quadrant trim strip to the bottom of the skirting board, to match the laminate. That should cover any paint runs.

spadoosh

I always use non-drip, think the main problem with that is that it always seems to yellow or at least the crown stuff does. You considered a mask, i here of lots of people not coping well with the smells of gloss, i kinda like it, doesnt bother me at all... weird. Saying that the amount i smoke probably means the voc's are more healthy than what i normally breath in.

(dont smoke in the house so the yellowing isnt from that)

LSfan

Hi

We used frog tape the other week - and to be honest it was just as bad as masking tape - paint leaking through, tape lifting and then when we tried to take it off it bought the paint off - total waste of money

Get a good quality brush and just take your time and do it free hand

JeffersR

LSfan wrote: »

Hi

We used frog tape the other week - and to be honest it was just as bad as masking tape - paint leaking through, tape lifting and then when we tried to take it off it bought the paint off - total waste of money

Get a good quality brush and just take your time and do it free hand

Just to say I've had the complete opposite experience with frog tape. Used it to mask skirtings, adjacent (matt painted) walls and ceiling to paint a feature wall. Was sceptical about how well it'd do, put 3 coats on the feature wall over a couple of days, frog tape was in place throughout. Peeled the frog tape back immediately after last coat was on and was pleasantly surprised to see a dead straight edge line created between my feature wall, other walls, skirtings & ceilings and it didn't take any of the matt paint (only a couple of days dry) off the adjacent walls.

Would totally recommend the stuff, way better than standard masking tape.

billywhizz

LSfan wrote: »

Hi

We used frog tape the other week - and to be honest it was just as bad as masking tape - paint leaking through, tape lifting and then when we tried to take it off it bought the paint off - total waste of money

Get a good quality brush and just take your time and do it free hand

Yep seconded, exactly the same problem with Frog Tape. TBH I'm not a decorator but the only way to do this is freehand and slowly, if you rely on tape to give you a good edge, you'll probably end up with a problem.

olly300

billywhizz wrote: »

Yep seconded, exactly the same problem with Frog Tape. TBH I'm not a decorator but the only way to do this is freehand and slowly, if you rely on tape to give you a good edge, you'll probably end up with a problem.

Agreed.

You are better taking your time to do it freehand and getting a good quality small brush for the edges rather then using tape.

keystone

THis problem always occurs because people put the paint on far too thick - so it runs. The clue is in the name its masking tape not "do me a nice straight edge" tape or "I'll lay the paint on nice and thick over the edge of the tape cos it'll catch all the drips and bobs your uncle" tape

The way to use maskers (sorry it doesn't help you now OP) is use a low tack tape, nice thin coat of paint - just enough to cover - and whip the tape off as soon as you've before it dries. even when painting skirtings adjacent to the carpet.

Cheers

Mumstheword

I followed the advice on the tine to load the brush well rather than a thin coat. I'm changing back to freehand for the remainder of it!

I'm also going back to B&Q with the first pot of gloss I bought from them which was truly pants!