well we are doing some spring projects and some are indoor painting, rooms, walls and such. Does anyone have any nifty tips on how to get clean edges? We have always used the painters tape and no matter what we do it leaks thru and we end up having spend lots of time touching up the edges, corners, ceilings. Someone told me the pros use calk at the edge of the tape, but that it takes skill in order to make it work, they tried it and had no luck....so any "secrets" on painting would be appreciated if you are willing to share. Good luck to all who are doing spring projects this year it is fun and rewarding but loads of work.

> Does anyone have any nifty tips on how to get clean edges? We have always used the painters tape and no matter what we do it leaks thru and we end up having spend lots of time touching up the edges, corners, ceilings.

Tape, drape, paint, and then touch up. There really is no other way.

> Someone told me the pros use calk at the edge of the tape, but that it takes skill in order to make it work, they tried it and had no luck....

The "pros" absolutely 100% do not do that. I can't imagine using caulk to assist in achieving a straight edge.

ok well, guess that's the end of this thread..I shall suffer thru then, we do the prep work and draping, taping and such I was just wondering if anyone knew of anything on the market that helps "seal" the edge of that tape so that the paint doesn't seep thru, our neighbors actually hired someone who did use the caulking method- they actually watched him do it and there wall looks fabulous, however when she tried it, she found it difficult to do.

I think buying a good angle brush is alot of help in getting a good edge. Also taking your time to not do it fast but good is the best way.

Yes, tape, use a high quality brush, and take your time and paint the edge as if there were no tape (i.e. try not to get paint on the tape).

- Dave

JLB - sorry to 'steal' your post, but as long as everyone is willing to offer help...

Our home has wood paneling covered by 20+ year old wall paper. The wall paper has raised textured pink roses (which are NOT at all my taste) that my MIL put up when she lived in the house. My husband doesn't want to strip the wall paper. I know a good coat or two of KILZ will cover the color, but will the raised textured roses show through? If so, how do I effectively cover them? Thanks!

[This message has been edited by Kate (edited 4/21/2008).]

Kate- no problem, it's all about problem solving and finding easy solutions to home improvement projects. About your wallpaper, we had a similar problem in our home, there was plenty of wallpaper and I wasn't so sure if I wanted it to stay. We actually went to Sherwin Williams and they had some sort of a heavy duty primer that can go right over the top of it instead of the tedious (sp) task of scraping and peeling I would check with them. We always found them to be very helpful and the quality of paint was good. Walmart paint works too but it was hard for us to find "knowledgable" expert advice. I think if you were to use a grayish toned product that can go over the top it may help with the problem of your flowers and also when you are done applying that the darker the color on the walls may make a difference I would just stay away from something too light. We never did remove or cover the wallpaper in the house because by the time all my furniture, pictures and nick knacks went up it actually went well with what was there and looked good for the time being..we ended up moving onto other projects in the house. Good luck I actually love doing creative projects, it's a lot of work but when it is done it will look nice. Have fun and don't sweat it. You could always just try one area (wall) and see how well it works. Let us know I am curious.
**** Oh and thanks Dave for the advice... I know there aren't a lot of options here but I may be going about it the wrong way. Sometimes I get a little impatient I will try to slow down and get a better brush.****
[This message has been edited by JLB (edited 4/21/2008).]

[This message has been edited by JLB (edited 4/21/2008).]

I painted my way through college and then some. I still enjoy painting, it's the prep and cleanup that can suck. It's the prep and cleanup that make a job look good or bad, too.

I don't mask edges to create a hard edge unless it's in the middle of a flat wall and has to be perfectly straight. At edges of adjoining materials, where corners meet, on windows and doors, etc. I cut in by hand with a good brush. A high quality angle brush helps as does a very steady hand. I have both and was taught by old timers that chose painting as a vocation and a career. Tape is for putzes and it adds time to a project. It also leaks or weeps too often to rely on.

If you're going to tape plan on pulling the tape as soon as you can- preferably while the paint is still supple, before it's fully cured. Then you shouldn't get runs, tear offs, and smears. Also, buy the good tape with the modern adhesives, not the cheap stuff and not old stuff that's dried out.

Masking is great for spray jobs, but only to protect other surfaces from getting painted. It's still wise to plan on some cutting in.

A trick for windows is cut in by hand and allow your brush to lap onto the glass just slightly- it helps seal the joint, too. Go as soon as the paint is set with a safety razor and scrape the glass- it will leave a flawless straight, smooth edge.

Roller tip #1: Never push on the roller to force paint out. Always dip your roller and keep it full enough that you don't have to press hard. It's easier to do, does not leave streaks, and provide uniform mil thickness.

Roller tip #2: use a heavier nap on the roller than you usually do to get heavier coverage and a slight texture from the paint.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tips!

If you're doing something alongside the trim on a window or door, you can use a paint scraper or a spatula, just hold it along the edge and paint - anywhere you have a corner you can put it into.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (edited 4/21/2008).]

Okay, if you want to know the secret ... here is how the "pros" (at least the ones who painted the homes in the following photos) did it:

http://www.antramhomes.co...?PhotoID=7

http://www.antramhomes.co...PhotoID=61

http://www.antramhomes.co...PhotoID=94

When they tape off the ceiling they take a quarter (yes, a quarter -- a 25 cent piece) and they tape down the thickness of that quarter from the top of the ceiling.

Also, when they do the trim, they do the exact same thing ... they take a quarter and tape above, the thickness of that quarter, exactly above the trim.

This allows for a straight line with less leaking through, and the end result, is essentially indistinguishable to the human eye.

The guys that paint, spray *everything* though ... and are talented enough to know how to do it so it doesn't get under the tape ... they also spend probably about 5X the amount of time (or more) taping than they do painting .. I've seen them do a full solid week of taping and such, for a single day of painting.

You mean like tape over tape until it's as thick as a quarter?

No, something like this ...

ceiling
--------
the thickness of a quarter
--------
line of tape

This assumes you are painting the ceiling.

Just a little trick I learned watching HGTV.....
They make clear glaze. Its like paint. Use your brush and paint it along the tape. After it dries paint over it with paint. The clear glaze seeps through and fills in the cracks and under the tape where the paint would have gone. However it is clear so you won't see it when you peel the tape off and you should have a nice smooth color line where you have painted. Make sense? Ace has the clear glaze I beleive. Let me know how it works if you do it. Worked great for me.

I was taught the trick of leaving a space, as Larry described, from a custom car painter. By leaving the space in areas like the lock, when the tape was removed, it didn't lift. However....there are really no "tricks" that work, well. Buy the tape and go to work. Go to any of the paint stores, {Wally World included} and check out the myriad of tapes available. Pick the one that will fill your needs best, and go to work. Other than that, if you want a great job, empty your wallet, hire a pro, and let them do their job.

Tina,

Now that is a good trick, I can say I actually learned something on MC.com now. That is a tremendous idea for a mid room stripe or a border.

As for the original question, if you have raised roses on the wall paper you will still have raise roses after you paint. Unless there is a reason for the paper (cracked walls or something else) I suggest you remove the paper before you paint. Try a spot like behind something and use some 409 cleaner to loosen the paper, If the walls have been treated right it should come off fairly easy and in big pieces.

I've rented steamers, but for some reason the 409 works better than anything I've tried (it has to be 409 spray cleaner).

good luck