Painting tips?

Question

I'm painting most of the rooms in my house and I'm having problems with getting paint on the ceiling and trim. I am using the blue painters tape but when I remove it, the paint has seeped through or the tape pulls at the paint. Any suggestions?

I am also painting the trim and finding it very tedious. I have a drop cloth over my carpet, but it not adequate. Is there an easier way to paint it?

Any and all painting tips are appreciated!

Answer 1

painting trim just sucks and is slow going....are you doing the painting in the right order....ceiling first then trim(two coats) and last are walls. i use a roller on the ceiling, 2 in angled trim brush and paint pads for walls. you shouldn't be dripping a lot of paint unless you are putting too much on pad/brush when you load it. as far as cutting in(trim work) the angled brush is the key and use your left hand to steady(underneath) the right hand as you paint. never use blue tape unless i'm doing stripes and it's all about painting from the top and drawing down if the tape is at the top of the wall or reverse if the tape is at bottom of wall so that you are not shoving paint up under the tape. remove tape while paint is still wet. painting just takes practice which you should have plenty of by the time you finish the house. best of luck...keep at it. I allow one day per room to finish ceiling and four walls always painting two coats each place.

Answer 2

The only thing I have found that is effective for painting trim or wherever two surface colors meet is to have a steady hand and a small brush. If you use a 3/4-inch to 1-inch brush, you should be able to paint a straight enough line (unless you have Parkinson's or something).

Just go slow and steady, about 6 inches to a foot at a time, to do the edges. Then come back later with a larger brush or roller and do the rest. I found that I could do about 3 to 5 feet per minute and get a very straight line, vertically or horizontally.

Answer 3

For me, blue tape works better than an edger. Just make sure that the tape is firmly secured to the ceiling, which should eliminate bleed-through. When you're done, remove the tape before the paint dries. That way, it won't peel the new paint.
As for the trim, it is tedious. I don't think there's any way around it. Keep using the drop cloth, put your head down, and get after it!

Answer 4

I do all my painting freehand. The trick is to have a steady hand and use an angled sash brush. Load brush with paint and start a 1/2 inch below the trim and slowly come up to the trim. You will see a small bead of paint form bring this to the edge and slowly draw the brush as if drawing a line. When you load the brush don't scrape on side clean on the side of the can but slap the brush gently against the can on both side so that the paint is on both sides of the brush.

Answer 5

the blue tape has an wax on the back. when rubbed makes it stick a little better. removing it when its wet helps. always will have to touch up. for the trim & the carpets...their is a long metal or plastic "wedge" that you use to protect the carpet while painting. or anything you may have at home will work. needs to be firm enough to push the carpet down a bit. paint the trim then wipe off excess.
gl

Answer 6

I have never had good luck using tape. The best thing I've found is to use about a 3 in. brush. Put the brush up about an inch from the other surface, then angle the brush enough so that just one end of the brush is doing the cutting in while the other end is supplying the paint. The easiest option though is to hire it done if you have money.

Answer 7

well, oil paints in my opinion are the most attractive. I paint with both but have always enjoyed painting in oil. Acrylic would be a good way to start because they are less expensive and have a faster drying time. As a beginner you are going to make mistakes and they can be corrected more easily with acrylic. Water colors could also be another way to go but if you are painting on canvas you are not going to get good results. you may want to buy a watercolor sketch book? tempera, stay away from. those are used for craft projects or painting on walls and stuff. they are cheap and not very attractive. You may want to try buying a book like the oil painters bible. maybe there is an acrylic painters bible. it will teach you how to mix color, prep your canvas and other tips to help you along your painting journey.

Answer 8

Throw away the tape. Professionals don't use this stuff. Just use a small brush to cut into edges.
Painting is tedious sometimes. Get a plastic sheet for the carpet

Answer 9

Use masking tape instead and put more thinners or turps if its a paint which you can use it on because it will make the paint dry faster but be careful it will run more easily If its a PVA paint use less on the brush or roller.

Answer 10

you can go to lowes and get a paint edger,if you get any on it have a wet cloth to wipe it off,it elinimates blue tape.