To Tape or Not to Tape

Should you bother taping off a room before priming and painting?

There are a lot of people who think this step is pointless.  Some of these people may even claim that they have painted dozens of rooms without taping anything off with beautiful results.

How often is this true, though?  (Think about how big you said that fish was, and how big it actually was.  Stories have a way of exaggerating themselves.)

For pristine paint results, tape off the edges of the room and along all moldings, trims, and casings.  This prevents paint from getting on to wood, as well as getting on to other painted surfaces.  I have seen what a mess this can make, so be sure to do it right the first time.  Burnish down edges to prevent paint from bleeding under edges, and be sure to choose the right tack. 

For example, there are low tack tapes available when you are painting multiple colors on to one surface.  This low tack tape will prevent the color beneath the tape from peeling up when the tape is removed.  If you are unsure what type of tape to choose, ask a customer service representative at your local home improvement center or hardware store.