Masking tape wont stick

[hpb37]

I'm trying to mask off the skirting board but there is mastic sealant / caulk at the top of the skirting between wall and skirting board. I can't get the masking tape to stick. Is it the mastic or something else. The tape is quite old but still feels tacky and wanted to check before I buy more of the same tape if I needed something different due to the mastic.
Thanks

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

What masking tape is it? Quite old - how old? Is it FrogTape? If not go and buy some.

 

[Deluks]

20 seconds in the microwave might revive it.

 

[robinbanks]

Is the mastic/sealant/caulk you refer to actually silicone rather than decorators caulk?

Masking doesn't have to be done with tape. You can get long, washable, blades that you hold against the painted surface with one hand while you paint the other, then move along when you're done:

When using one, recommend not to overload your brush with paint, and when lifting it away from the work to move to the next spot, do so without sliding it across either surface (if any paint has pooled up on the edge it will drag it across the surface)
Keep the edge clean as you go

 

[hpb37]

Thank you
The masking tape was a bog standard wide cream coloured tape. I don't know how long ago it was bought but I didn't want to buy more of the same if I needed a special type for this scenario.
I'm afraid I don't know what type of sealant / caulk was used but it feels quite smooth and plastic.
The wall has been plastered and was going to do a mist cost using a spray gun so don't know how well the suggested paint guard will work.

 

[aveatry]

Thank you
The masking tape was a bog standard wide cream coloured tape. I don't know how long ago it was bought but I didn't want to buy more of the same if I needed a special type for this scenario.
I'm afraid I don't know what type of sealant / caulk was used but it feels quite smooth and plastic.
The wall has been plastered and was going to do a mist cost using a spray gun so don't know how well the suggested paint guard will work.

Too late now but it would of been much easier to paint first then add the skirt then caulk. Sounds like it could be silicone why it wont stick.

 

[hpb37]

The skirting board is Victorian and there has been some repairs done which led to the filling. Now painting.

 

[aveatry]

The wall has been plastered and was going to do a mist cost using a spray gun so don't know how well the suggested paint guard will work.

It sounded like the whole wall has been re plastered, so its just small sections than.

 

[hpb37]

No the whole wall has been skimmed or more substantial repairs in parts.
I was trying to find out if there was a more suitable product to mask off the area.

 

[robinbanks]

Given that you probably wouldn't do a skirting board with a spray gun, how about spraying the whole wall, not worrying about the skirting, then use a masking blade for when you paint the skirting with a brush, painting over then overspray?

All that said, I use a paint guard blade when I'm painting with a sprayer (Wagner airless). It's a custom thing I fashioned myself out of an aluminium underfloor heating tray about a metre long, but it could easily be smaller and still usable; the sprayer is pretty direct