For most of us taping is the biggest reason we don’t paint. But, would if I told you there are ways to paint a room and skip the taping? Would if we told you with some patience and a few tools you can paint a room and skip the tapping?
How To Paint Without Painter's Tape
Let me show you the tips, tricks and product picks to painting a room without tape.
Tip 1 – Choose a good quality brush
A good quality brush has good quality bristles. Look at this best quality Ace brush and how the bristles come to sharp tapered point. This is exactly the kind of brush you want to look for when shopping. A cheap brush will have a blunt edge that will make it nearly impossible to cut in around trim and wall edges cleanly. My favorite is the Ace Best 2 ½ angled brush because it’s easier for me to handle but head to your local Ace and hold different size brushes to see which ones feel betters in your handles.
I’ve been painting a long time and when you are painting without tape you want to make sure you hold the brush so you have a steady hand, not like this or this. You want to hold it like a pencil or pen. Place your thumb on this side and then your index finger on the top of the side and use these two fingers to help control it. Have three points of contact gives you the best results and make sure your hand is loose, don’t tighten up.
I also want to share another unique brush that is specific for Trim. This is a Linzer Round Trim Paint Brush and take a look at these bristles and how they come to perfect point. This is perfect for cutting in and they come in 3 different sizes! If you have a lot of trim, this could also be a great brush to pick up.
Tip 2 – Applying the paint to walls
You want to dip half of the bristle into the paint and then off load paint on the side of the can, do this 2 or 3 times so the paint really soaks into those bristle.
When you are ready, start away from the edge and work your way to the edge slowly and use those last few bristle to get close. I kind of twist my brush a little bit as I work my way down the wall. Continue to run the brush steadily against the edge until you start running low on paint. Load up with paint again, overlap where you left off and paint another straight edge. You can always go the other direction to fill in any areas that you might have missed. The best tip is to work in a controlled slow motion and work in little sections at time.
Using the Linzer brush you want to the same thing as the angled brush, just dip the brush into paint and off load some extra on the inside of the paint can. Start away from the wall and move towards the corner in a slow motion. If you can twist this brush also as you work the edge.
Tip 3 – Painting near the ceiling
Now when it comes to applying paint at the ceiling, your best friend will be this, the paint shield. Place the metal end of the shield in the crevice between the wall and the ceiling. Gently brush the paint on this area as you cut in. Move your brush strokes down the wall because the paint roller will help blend in this area.
Tip 4 – Try Using An Edging Tool
Edging Tools are also available at your local Ace like this one from Sur Line. To use this, you will want to cover pad with paint by either dipping it into the paint tray or my brushing on paint.
In a slow controlled motion, you want to drag the edger along the edge of the wall in one direction. It’s important to make sure the wheels on the guard are spinning so you get the closest line possible. Avoid getting paint on the wheels or else you will end up with paint on areas you were trying to avoid.
Lastly, always have a damp rag on hand! Even though you are careful drips or over paint can happen so have a damp cloth ready!
Published on 4/18/2022.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions before using any product.
These “How-To’s” are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Ace Hardware’s “how-to” videos and/or articles is intended to provide general guidelines for projects in and outside of your home. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, local regulations are continually changing. Ace Hardware assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project and the product being used. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project or using materials of said project. If you have any questions, concerns, or doubts regarding any element of what is displayed in the videos and/or articles, contact a licensed professional.
