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Original poster

Masking tape terror!

24 replies

bajgal · 22/04/2019 21:44

Our house has been renovated and I really wanted to decorate, so that I can learn a useful skill for the future and also save dh and I some money. Things have been going well, apart from with the masking tape which has consistently pulled the paint from the newly decorated ceilings. I've been using Johnstone's matt emulsion for the ceilings and yellow frog tape and I've tried leaving the ceiling paint to dry for 24 and 48 hours, but the paint still comes off when I pull the tape off. I know I can do this and I want to, I'm just very, very frustrated! I'm hoping some of you lovely people have some advice as to what I can do differently to stop this happening.Thanks!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 22/04/2019 22:40

I just don't use masking tape

Teanocoffeethanks · 22/04/2019 22:41

Following and bumping. Same situation.

GreenTulips · 22/04/2019 22:42

Get those sponge painting things they use instead of a brush
Or use a small makeup brush

BackforGood · 22/04/2019 22:44

That doesn't look like masking tape to me - looks shiney in the photo, more like parcel tape.
The thing with masking tape is it isn't very sticky and therefore comes off easily without removing the paint you've stuck it to.

MoniqueTonique · 22/04/2019 22:52

Ah you meed to master the very tricky skill of cutting in. No masking tape required but a very steady hand and an eye for a straight line. I always have a bowl of soapy water and a cloth nearby to immediately wipe off the inevitable accidental splodge on the ceiling now and then.

christinarossetti19 · 22/04/2019 22:52

It's probably to do with the ceiling surface - it looks a bit shiny meaning that the paint won't adhere as well, so will be more likely to stick to the tape.

When this has happened to me, I've just gone round with a small brush filling in the bits where the paint has come off. Bit of a pita, but still gives a much cleaner edge than not using tape at all.

dementedpixie · 22/04/2019 22:53

A small angled brush can help with cutting in

MoniqueTonique · 22/04/2019 22:54

This guy makes it look easy!

Knittedfairies · 22/04/2019 23:09

Either cut in, or pay more for some decent masking tape

christinarossetti19 · 22/04/2019 23:11

OP has been using yellow Frog tape, it's not that.

Knittedfairies · 22/04/2019 23:11

My apologies - I see you did use better masking tape. I've got nothing...

Badwifey · 22/04/2019 23:14

If the ceiling paint isn't completely dry then it will peel with the tape. Have you allowed it to dry for a couple of days?

Original poster

bajgal · 22/04/2019 23:23

Thank you so much all, cutting in and an edging tool it might be then!

OP posts:

Original poster

bajgal · 22/04/2019 23:54

We did this time, yes, 48 long hours

OP posts:

Frogqueen13 · 23/04/2019 00:09

Noooo you need to remove as soon as you paint whilst still wet!

Only way i have ever found it to have worked

RottnestFerry · 23/04/2019 00:12

I just rub my thumb along the masking tape before applying it. It makes it less sticky so it doesn't pull the paint off.

thenightsky · 23/04/2019 00:15

Frog tape is awful. Everyone I know who has used it has had the same problem.

christinarossetti19 · 23/04/2019 14:03

IMVHE a lot depends on the surface that the paint has been put on. Anything shiny (eg old gloss paint that has seeped over to the edge of the wall and then painted over in emulsion) makes the paint more likely to peel off.

I do agree that taking the masking tape off asap helps then.

MySecondBestBroomstick · 23/04/2019 14:22

What ceiling paint are you using and how many coats?

MySecondBestBroomstick · 23/04/2019 14:56

Ah sorry, missed it in your OP. I haven't used Johnstone's emulsion but the Johnstone's eggshell we used on walls peeled off terribly with masking tape. It was not what I'm used to from years of DIYing with Crown and Dulux emulsion. Have to say I'd put that down to the fact it was eggshell but who knows?

All I can suggest is:

try a different brand of paint and water it down slightly if a bit gloopy.
use 2 coats if you're not already
as PPs have said there may be an underlying reason to do with the layer underneath. Maybe try washing the ceiling edges before painting and/ or sanding very lightly
leave longer between painting a surface and sticking anything to it. Even emulsion that is repaintable in 2 hours takes days, at least, to totally cure.
when you apply masking tape, only apply pressure along the edge you need. Don't press on the middle or the far edge, and you don't need to press that hard on the joining edge.
I like to remove the masking tape when it is still wet from the final coat.

youvegottobekidding · 26/04/2019 22:32

This happened to me once, I realised it was the Frog masking tape, it was too adhesive - so I used switched to Poundlands masking tape, much better. And as others have said, once you have finish the last coat of paint, take the masking tape off whist still wet.

Backseatonthebus · 26/04/2019 22:37

We're decorating a whole house. DH insisted on using masking tape, I never use it and can get a much better edge by eye. Gave in and we used it - it's lifted loads of paint. Never again, I'm going back to relying on having a steady hand. So much easier and a much neater result.

Mokepon · 26/04/2019 22:41

Wow, I decorated recently and used frog tape and it was amazing, perhaps its the paint?
Was always told only to use Dulux or Crown by a professional decorator as others are shit...and that's been my past experience.
Masking tape never worked well for me, paint always bled through.

Thamesis · 27/04/2019 18:06

OP - I saw a video where a decorator just de-tacked the tape slightly by gently pressing it against jeans/overalls and pulling off again before applying it to edge where needed. Used that method ever since and had no problems removing from surfaces. And as pp said, def only apply to very dry paint. Good luck.

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