What went wrong with our paint order in renovating our fixer-upper, resulting in disappointing results and the need for numerous touch-ups?
Asked by Anđela Obradović 
4 weeks ago
Last Updated: October 24, 2024
So we’re in the middle of fixing up our place and the first room we painted was a bit of a mess. We followed this order: took off the floor trim, painted the walls, taped and painted the ceiling, taped and painted the window and door trim, then painted and put back the floor trim. But we had a ton of bleed-through under the tape and no clean lines at all. What went haywire in our painting process?
When painting, it’s best to avoid using Painters tape as the paint can still seep through a bit. If you need to touch up your paint job, try using a Painters blade instead – that’s what I like to call them.
Don’t forget to wipe it off, haha. I never use tape.
You’re right. I personally don’t use them, but my coworker does, haha. I have a steady hand for cutting in.
They like to call me Mr. Shaky!🤪
Do you need tape or should someone else do the cutting while you handle the rolling 🤣
Is feeling hopeful! It’s usually just me☹️
Paint is easy to fix, practice makes perfect. I’ve been remodeling homes for 35 years, so I have some experience under my belt!
I’ve been painting for years now, probably because my grandfather was a house painter and got me started when I was young. I was flipping houses before it became popular – always fixing them up and selling them to move on to the next project. Now, I absolutely despise moving! 😆
I feel the same way! It’s crazy how time flies. I got my first one when I was twenty, now I’m turning 68 in June and feeling tired.
Hey Mike, I feel you man. I’m 57 and started working when I was 15. Injuries definitely don’t heal as quickly anymore, and some days they really bring me down, especially after a long day of work.
I’ve also flipped houses before it was trendy, but it’s been 3 years since I last did one. I’m over it, haha.
When you’re using painter’s tape, try running a thin line of painter’s caulk along the edge of the tape. Then, use your damp finger to wipe away as much excess as you can. This will help seal the tape edge and prevent any bleeding!
Start with painting the ceiling in flat white.
Here are three tips: 1. Spackled areas require two coats of paint due to absorption. 2. Invest in high-quality paint as the real cost is your time, not the paint itself. 3. Use green tape for taping and ensure the roller has enough paint.
I usually start by painting the ceilings, then the doors and trim, and finally the walls. To prevent bleed through when using painter’s tape, crumple up a rag and rub it back and forth over the tape with some pressure to help it stick better. Good luck!
This is important when painting to achieve clean lines and a professional finish.
A good 2″ cut brush that fits nicely in your hand can make a big difference…since there are so many areas that need painting, it’s a good idea to practice your technique in the corners first before moving on to the more important areas where you want clean lines. Arroworthy and Wooster have some great options. I personally use one that fits perfectly in my hand for maximum control and is available in soft, normal, and firm bristles.
If you prefer using the 3M blue tape, consider trying the ‘Sharp Lines’ version for even better results.
Start by painting the ceiling, then move on to the trim and windows. After that, cut in around the ceiling and trim twice before rolling the walls. If you’re using semigloss, make sure to cut in a second time while rolling the walls to blend the finish well.
I always make sure to have my 4″ roller handy, along with my cut in cup, so I can get as close as possible to the ceiling or trim when I’m painting. This helps the texture blend seamlessly when I roll later on.
Start with the ceiling when painting a room. If you’re using tape, apply it along the edge of the ceiling with the ceiling color first, followed by the wall color. Make sure to remove the tape before the paint dries to avoid any bleeding.
To begin with, if you purchased tape for under $5 a roll, it’s likely masking tape, not painter’s tape. Cheaper tapes tend to bleed. Also, smooth surfaces and using a squeegee along the edge of the tape can prevent bleeding. In other words, avoid taping on drywall, tape off the trim after painting it, and then paint the walls with the trim taped off. Personally, I use a shield and a 2″ angled trim brush to cut in the ceiling without needing tape.
: I also tape off the trim before painting, and then lightly paint some of the trim color over the edge of the paint to seal it. After that, I paint the wall color. The trim color underneath doesn’t matter and it seals any gaps where the wall color might seep in. I tried this on my navy dining room with white trim and it worked great, once I had a little breakdown, cried, had some wine, and then figured it out. I was just a bit overtired! 😂
When painting, try starting with the trim first and letting the paint bleed over onto the wall a bit. This way, when you go to cut in the wall color, you won’t have to stress about the tape line. Just cut into the corner where the trim meets the wall, and you’ll be good to go!
In my experience, trim is usually semi-gloss, which is why tape adheres and peels off nicely.
Others have mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again for emphasis…
1. Start with the ceilings (flat sheens reflect light and attract attention), painted in your chosen color. While white is a popular choice, some people paint the entire room (ceiling, walls, trim) the same color.
2. Personally, I tackle the trim next (I find it easier to cut walls than trim, and tape on trim is less likely to peel off paint compared to tape on walls). If you prefer to do walls second, apply just one coat, then tape and paint the trim (the first coat won’t peel off the wall like a second coat would), followed by a second coat on the walls. I usually overlap slightly onto the wall (about ⅛-¼”) with my trim paint to ensure complete coverage of the old colors.
3. Finally, I paint the walls. I am able to cut without tape, so I’m not concerned about peeling (although I usually lay a line of tape on top of my baseboard for any potential splatter while rolling). You can cut in-roll-cut in-roll. You can cut in-cut in-roll-roll. You can roll-cut in-cut in-roll. Just make sure to roll last…
If you want a crisp line, use tape. When applying tape to an old surface that doesn’t require painting, firmly press down only on the edge of the tape – not the entire width. If the surface has been recently painted, do not press down – instead, apply a small amount of caulk or the same color paint you’re taping over along the edge of the tape and wipe off any excess (caulk or matching paint will fill any gaps where paint might bleed through). Immediately after painting along the tape, remove it. If you’re leaving the tape in place for a second coat, lightly score the edge of the tape with a utility or EXACTO knife to prevent it from pulling the fresh paint.
This is how I do it as well! Start with the ceiling, move on to the trim, and finish with the walls.
Agreed!
I personally find it easier to work on trimming last, especially when it comes to cutting the narrow edges like casing and base. It’s a personal preference really.
Do you have any pictures? What is currently on the surface you’re painting over? Have you used proper paint and primers for the job? Remember to remove the painter’s tape a couple of hours after painting.
Make sure to remove the tape right after you finish painting. If it dries first, it might peel off the surface you painted (unless you gently run a utility or EXACTO knife along the edge of the tape…).
It seems like you haven’t cleaned the walls thoroughly. Use TSP for a really good clean. Paint won’t adhere well to dirt!
Consider ditching the tape and trying freehand painting. You might surprise yourself! But if you still prefer taping, invest in high-quality painting tape.
One last tip for you – Allow the paint to fully dry between each coat.
Also, check out these helpful tips:
https://www..com/share/p/pbC6Gdh6YYo2W4CB/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Use top-notch tape. Make sure to press it down firmly. Avoid using an overly wet brush when cutting edges.
With the green tape!
Try to polish just the edge, not the entire width of the tape…
Opt for flat paint instead!
If you have children or pets at home, it’s not a good idea…
It’s not always the case with flat paint. I have kids and a dog, both of whom touch, lean, and lay on the walls. Personally, I prefer flat paint as it cleans up well and doesn’t show marks as much, if not less than other types of paint. Maybe it’s because I invest in high-quality paint, who knows? 🤷🏽♀️
I see where you’re coming from. When using higher sheen paint, it’s crucial to work in a methodical manner and maintain a wet edge to avoid any uneven finish.
It’s always a good idea to maintain a wet edge, especially with higher sheens. If you need to pause in the middle of a wall, just feather the edge. And remember, when you resume painting, feather it once more…
When rolling, make sure to go from top to bottom – avoid doing the top half first and then the bottom half separately. I usually use the widest roller available for a project (unless it’s just one wall – no need to clean up a large roller for that).
It’s good to learn how to cut in more and rely less on tape. There’s a time and place for everything, but many people tend to use tape excessively when they could just be cutting in. Start with the ceiling. Cut in the walls against the ceilings, then move on to the window/door trim before painting the walls and cutting them in against the trim. Paint the baseboards and then reinstall them, of course.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with homeowners using tape. Cutting in is a skill that takes practice (unless you’re a natural artist, like my wife – unlike me… it took me a LOT of practice), and most non-professionals just don’t do it frequently enough. I believe it’s better to teach homeowners the correct way to use tape…
Oh yeah, but tape isn’t as foolproof as many believe and it seems to fail more than succeed. Developing a steady hand/technique can be as simple as mastering the art of applying tape correctly. DIY involves a lot of painting, so it’s worth learning the skill of cutting in … in my opinion. You pay your $ and make your choice.
Definitely, there are good and not-so-good ways to use tape…
Here’s another tip for you: when starting your brush or roller stroke on the tape and rolling away from it, you can prevent paint bleed. Paint bleed happens when you apply paint towards the edge of the tape.
Forget about using tape! Begin by painting the ceilings, then move on to the window and door trim. After that, cut in the walls at the ceiling and trim. Tape only wastes time!
Using tape for painting is totally fine for homeowners. Not everyone is a natural at cutting in perfectly, like my wife who is a talented artist. It took me a lot of practice to get it right. I believe it’s important to show homeowners the right way to use tape.
Opt for a quality oval brush that’s 2.5-3″ in size for cutting in. To prevent bleeding, try using white Silicone before taping and cutting to avoid any unwanted bleed. My contractor often employs this method, especially when dealing with uneven ceiling lines.
Tape never seems to work well for me. I prefer using inexpensive kids’ paint brushes for a flawless finish.
When I start cutting in, whether with a small roller or a brush, I make sure not to overload the roller or brush. I begin with a light touch. I have plenty of white crown moulding and when I paint the ceiling white, the crown moulding blends into the ceiling. That’s why I decided to go with a Laura Ashley color called Alpaca – a very light beige-sand shade. It’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but it really makes the crown moulding pop.
Personally, I avoid using tape altogether as I dislike it. Instead, opt for a high-quality angled paint brush for better results.
Start by painting the ceiling with flat ceiling paint. Then, paint the trim with semi gloss if you’re not installing new. Begin with a first coat by cutting in at the ceiling and then around the trim using a high-quality, comfortable, angled brush in the wall color. Proceed to paint the walls twice, followed by a second coat on the edges. Allow everything to dry overnight before applying a final touch up.
If you decide to use tape, make sure to also apply caulking for a clean line.
Get rid of that tape. It’s actually easier to achieve clean lines with a quality brush and a steady hand.
If you really have to rely on tape, opt for frog tape instead of the blue one.
You went ahead and used some tape.
I start by painting the ceiling, then move on to the trim and walls. I skip the tape and instead use a high-quality brush to carefully cut in. I make sure to paint into the walls with the same color as the ceiling and trim.
Using tape can be a bit tricky. It tends to bleed, but there are ways to prevent that. You can use the color underneath the tape to seal it before painting the second color. For example, if you paint the ceiling first, let it dry and then tape the ceiling line. Seal the tape with the same ceiling paint before painting the wall color to prevent bleeding. Another option is to use clear paintable caulk to seal the tape. Or, you can wet the edge of the tape to activate blocking technology (this works with frog tape). Typically, the order of painting is ceilings, trim, and then walls. Most painters only use tape to cover the base molding to protect it from splatter. If you struggle with cutting in by hand, following these tips should help when using tape.
I recently worked on a project in one of the bedrooms at home. We started by painting the ceilings, followed by the trim and baseboards. After letting it cure for a couple of days, we carefully taped off the trim and painted the walls. I used an angled brush to cut in the ceiling myself.
In my experience, all tape is not very reliable. That’s why I’ve learned how to cut in without it.
I avoid using tape and prefer to cut in by hand for all my painting projects. Different types of tape always seem to bleed through in the end. While there are some interesting gadgets for cutting in, I’m not sure how effective they are. If you struggle with cutting in, they might be worth a try. I always start with painting the ceilings first and then move on to the trim before the walls, allowing it to dry properly before taping it off. Investing in a high-quality brush like Purdy and Wooster ensures beautiful cut-ins.
I really don’t like painter’s tape. I’ve never been able to prevent it from bleeding. If you’re not confident in your hand-cutting skills, use a straight edge. Painter’s tape can make you less careful because it gives a false sense of security and always disappoints.
I wouldn’t recommend using tape, but if you must: Paint your ceilings and allow them to dry. Then, tape off your ceilings and paint the tape where it meets the wall with ceiling paint. Yes, paint the wall with your ceiling paint. Once that’s dry, go ahead and paint your walls. The dried ceiling paint will fill the tape, and when you remove it, you’ll have the cleanest line possible with tape.
You’re spot on, ! That’s the best way to make use of tape. If not done this way, it’s better to avoid using it altogether.
I like to use painter’s tape, but I always make sure to seal the edge with acrylic medium. You can grab it at Hobby Lobby or Michaels in the acrylic paint section. This is a trick I picked up from watching HGTV. It always does the trick. Also, remember to remove the tape when the paint is still wet after applying the final coat.
Learn how to paint without using tape.
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