Masking tape trauma!

Beverly27 · 22 Apr 2019

Our house has been renovated and I really wanted to decorate, so that I can learn a useful skill and save my husband 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. I know I can do this and I want to, I'm just very, very frustrated. Any advice you can give as to what I can do differently to stop this happening would make me very, very happy. Thanks!

Notadecor8ter · 22 Apr 2019

Is that new plaster? Looks like you haven't mist coated enough as yellow frog tape (if that's what it is) shouldn't take paint off that much at worse.

However you have to cut in to ceilings from the wall with a steady brush, you can't do this with masking tape as you'll be asking for trouble.

Beverly27 · 22 Apr 2019

Notadecor8ter said:
Is that new plaster? Looks like you haven't mist coated enough as yellow frog tape (if that's what it is) shouldn't take paint off that much at worse.

However you have to cut in to ceilings from the wall with a steady brush, you can't do this with masking tape as you'll be asking for trouble.

Thanks so much Notadecor, it is new plaster and yellow frog tape. I put on 1 50/50 water/non vinyl matt paint mist coat first. Should I have used more coats or a different ratio for the mist coat, or both? What would you suggest I do now? My heart sinks when I think of having to remove all that paint, but the last thing I want is for the paint to peel off the ceiling.

Beverly27 · 23 Apr 2019

Here's a video of one of the walls I painted 7 days ago, which had the initial 50/50 water/non vinyl matt mist coat. I'm scraping the paint off an area which I'd damaged, so no paint had peeled from here. I wonder whether the experts amongst you, Notadecor, think that this paint has adhered ok, as opposed to being a 'skin' on the new plasterboard. A first timer question I know. My heart's in my mouth.

Notadecor8ter · 23 Apr 2019

Best thing to do here is not panic and get stressed about it, its decorating nothing more!

I have done a couple of mist coasts on new plaster, then watered down the normal paints then go into full paint.

Mr Chibs · 23 Apr 2019

I use frog tape, and now, remove it once I've painted over it... yes whilst the paint is still wet.

I've tried cheapo tape, pro-dec, but frog is still the best for me.

gc1967 · 23 Apr 2019

Ratio for mist coating is usually 70/30 - you didnt mist coat with a vinyl matt did you, just use a contract matt emulsion watered down for a mist coat, also you should go to your local decorating centre and buy some Tesa masking tape, the yellow 1 they do can be left on surfaces for weeks and when removed no paint is pulled off.

Beverly27 · 23 Apr 2019

Notadecor8ter said:
Best thing to do here is not panic and get stressed about it, its decorating nothing more!

I have done a couple of mist coasts on new plaster, then watered down the normal paints then go into full paint.

Great advice, thank you!

Beverly27 · 23 Apr 2019

gc1967 said:
Ratio for mist coating is usually 70/30 - you didnt mist coat with a vinyl matt did you, just use a contract matt emulsion watered down for a mist coat, also you should go to your local decorating centre and buy some Tesa masking tape, the yellow 1 they do can be left on surfaces for weeks and when removed no paint is pulled off.

I didn't use vinyl matt, thanks for the Tesa hint!

wwwebber · 29 Apr 2019

I use a low tack masking tape for such things and take it off straight after painting - normally works out ok.

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Masking tape trauma!

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