Is there a secret to painting without bleeding when using tape?

Tina B
by Tina B
  14 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jun 21, 2012
    Though others will disagree, I say Frog Tape works better for preventing bleeding underneath. Another option is to hold a mudding knife tightly against the edge of your paint line as you paint around those spots.
  • Frog tape as Steve suggests is supposed to be the best out there. There is something in the glue that they use that will gel up when the paint moisture hits the adhesive preventing the paint from seeping underneath. Blue tape also works well, but you need to be sure that you have good contact with the surface and the trick is to paint out from the tape not run the brush towards it. This helps prevent the tape from lifting while you paint. The last trick is not to make the first coat to wet. Once the first coat sort of drys it seals the edge of the tape preventing the additional layers of paint from bleeding under it.
  • Tina B Tina B on Jun 22, 2012
    Thanks guys, I have used the frog tape before so I am going to try it again with the mudding knife.
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Jun 23, 2012
    After placing your tape, run paint along the edge that is the same as your existing wall color. Let that dry, then paint your new color. The first coat "seals" the tape edge, making for a super sharp paint line, even on textured walls.
  • Marg C Marg C on Jun 24, 2012
    I'm using Frog Tape and Blue Tape. So far Frog tape is winning. I'll use your method of painting outward from the tape Woodbridge and I'm also going to use a mudding knife to see if that works even better. thanks for the tips :)
  • I find that Frog tape does not stick as well as the delicate surface blue. It is very frustrating when you have taped around the crown of a ceiling only to look back and see streamers of tape that have let loose. I have also found that it sometimes leaves a gummy residue if it has been on there for a couple of days. So, the delicate surface blue gets my vote!
  • Custom Interiors Custom Interiors on Jun 29, 2012
    I'm with Leslie D. Until my cut in skills improved and I had to tape everything, this by far was the way to go. In a case where the existing paint might not be available I used a light seal with clear Alex plus caulk. Works like a charm.
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Jun 29, 2012
    Everything out West is textured walls...the ugly knock down drywall texture that is impossible to get sharp lines when painting. Pre-sealing the edges of the tape gives a clean, straight edge, even with the texture. Custom Interiors, I'm so jealous....the cut-in skill is something I dream to master because I HATE taping!
  • Custom Interiors Custom Interiors on Jun 29, 2012
    I weighed it out truly with time, which is most important to me. If I can cut in without tape I will. Practice, practice and more practice gave me more confidence. You go Leslie!
  • Mary K Mary K on Jul 08, 2012
    I read a tip once that seemed logical! If you are painting the ceiling, and don't want it to bleed onto the wall, paint a thin coat of the wall paint onto the seam between the tape and the ceiling. Let it dry, the paint the ceiling paint as usual. If any paint seeps under the tape, it will be the wall color and won't show.
  • Becky Greenwald Becky Greenwald on Jan 25, 2015
    We use a little painters caulk (can be diluted and brushed on) to seal the tape on our textured surfaces. Takes a little time but beats dealing with any leaks.
  • Gloria lund Gloria lund on Jan 25, 2015
    I have done a lot of painting and when they came out with Frog Tape I have never found anything better. Anything I used in the past bled but Frog tape holds its own. Love it.
  • Donna Marie Ledington Donna Marie Ledington on Dec 01, 2015
    If you are trying to paint stripes seal your tape with a burnishing tool.. An old credit card does great. Then swipe the edges of the tape with a thin brush of the base coat color. Then paint over that with your stripe color and you'll have a nice clean edge on your stripes.
  • Susan H Susan H on Jan 26, 2016
    Frog tape for sure. blow dryer and burnish.