Should I use painter’s tape?
To tape or not to tape? That is the question. This debate has been back and forth among painters for as long as tape has existed. The answer really can’t be answered with a “yes” or “no”, because it’s all dependent on the situation. In general…
Pros:
You’re able to be (a bit) sloppy with your brush cutting and have some forgiveness if you’re unable to hold a steady line.
Helps you to cut into tight areas where you may not be able to fit your brush (ie, the base of railing spindles).
Cons:
When peeling away the tape, you may accidentally peel away some of the fresh paint on the wall.
A paint residue line may form.
Takes time to lay out tape and peel it off.
I don’t recommend using tape on drywall edges between walls/ceilings. Rather, take the time to work on your steady hand and let the bristles do the work while cutting into the corners. However, using tape in tight areas that are less noticeable is fine, and may save you some clean-up work.
My favourite product of painter’s tape is Frog Tape. To start out, yes, it is more expensive than other brains of painter’s tape ($8.47 per roll of 1 inch tape). I’ve found that frog tape leaves very minimal residue and does not peel off paint as you tear away the tape – leaving you with a smooth edge.
Frog tape is on sale on Amazon.com, see link below.
