How to Use Painter's Tape

Painter’s tape makes it easy to achieve clean, straight lines while painting. And, it’s specially formulated with an adhesive that doesn’t leave residue behind.

Using painter’s tape is incredibly helpful, almost imperative, for painting around ceilings and trim as it protects them from unwanted paint drops and strokes.

Painter’s tape saves time and energy. Instead of having to paint slowly around trim, you can simply tape the area to avoid misplacing paint.

• Use a damp rag to dust the area you’re going to tape. This will make the tape more adhesive. Allow the area to dry fully before applying.
• When placing tape, be sure to secure it into place with a fingernail or tool, such as a putty knife.
• After the tape is in place, run a damp rag over it to secure it into place. This will create a locked edge to keep paint from bleeding under the tape’s edge.
• Do not leave painter’s tape in place longer than the intended time frame. Some painter’s tapes can be safely left on surfaces for 30 days while others are designed for 14-day adhesion or less. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before use. Failing to do so may result in left-behind residue or paint peeling.
• Assess the area you’re painting before applying painter’s tape and use the correct type. Choose from multi-surface, delicate-surface, and pro-grade tapes, depending on the surface you’re working with.
• After the paint job is complete, make sure to slowly and carefully pull the tape from the surface to avoid pulling paint from the wall.

Wondering how to apply painter’s tape on different surfaces? Painter's tape varies slightly by type and brand. Also, there are a few types of painter's tape including multi-surface painter's tape, delicate-surface painter's tape, and pro-grade painter's tape.

• Multi-surface: Can be used on multiple surface types including tile, glass, smooth or textured walls, baseboards and trim.
• Delicate-surface: Designed with a gentle adhesive and ideal for use on delicate surfaces such as freshly painted walls, wallpaper, cabinets, and wood floors.
• Pro-grade: Offers higher adhesion that works on various surfaces, including those in hot, humid environments.

Not all painter's tape comes in the same size. Tape rolls range in width and are available in a few popular sizes including 0.94-in., 1.41-in., and 1.88-in. Smaller-width tapes are ideal for detailed areas, like trim, that have sharp angles. Thinner tapes are easier to apply for detailed jobs. You can then layer a wider tape on top so you have more surface area protected by tape.

In addition to the traditional application for painter's tape, you can use it to create designs on walls, furniture, canvasses and more. We’ve got the basic steps for creating a design with two colors below, but you can adapt them to your project to create intricate patterns and add more colors.

1. Protect the surrounding area with drop cloths.
2. Apply your first color and allow it to dry completely according to the paint instructions. Depending on the color, you may need multiple coats.
3. Lightly draw your pattern or shapes on the surface with a pencil. Use a straight edge as necessary. An accurate, well-planned design will give you the most professional results. For complex designs you may want to lightly write the paint color for each section on the design.
4. Apply the painter's tape to your design. If you’re working with a freshly painted surface, delicate-surface tape will work best. It’s a good idea to enlist a helper for this step so you can apply the tape accurately. To ensure you have a clean, sharp design, make sure you seal the tape edges to the surface. Pay particular attention to any areas where strips of tape overlap.
5. Apply the second color and any additional colors necessary for your design. Allow the paint to dry fully.
6. Use a utility knife to lightly cut down the length of the tape and carefully pull it away.