How to Prevent Bleeding Through Painter's Tape?

goddess girl · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 29

I'm very anal when it comes to painting Embarassed

...so I was wondering if anyone knows any tricks when it comes to preventing paint from bleeding through masking tape?

Usually, I just use a steady hand, but some applications need to be taped off. Anyone have any tips?

handnhammer · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

In order to get a really good clean line you can use the following technique, because painters tape (of any brand) is bound to bleed through. Especially if you have any texture on the walls.

Paint one side color to the point where you want to transition to the other color, and paint a little farther to overlap some.
Let that color fully dry!
Lay down a plumb/straight strip of low adhesive painters tape where you would normally to divide the two colors. Laying it over the newly painted color.
Using the same color you just used, brush a thin coat of paint on the edge of the painters tape that will face the new color your going to paint next. What this does is seal the edge of the painter's tape so there is no bleed through with the next color.
Let this tape "sealing" fully dry.
Paint the other room up to the tape, and let the paint dry

When all the paint is dry, remove the tape and you'll have a nice straight line with a nice clean/sharp edge!

goddess girl · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 29

I know it's been a year since your post, but I want to let you know that your technique worked well...though it was a little time consuming.

I did try another technique I read about. It was just to use your brush or roller in strokes away from the tape edge, instead of towards. This keeps paint from being forced under the tape.

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