Masking Before Painting

Masking is the act of placing paper or plastic over items you do not want painted. Such items include windows, doors, sliding doors, light fixtures, faucets, gas and electric meters, etc. This is an essential step in the painting process and makes for a professional looking paint job.

                You will need masking tape, a utility blade, and either a masking machine with paper or plastic, or a roll of what is called painters plastic if you do not want to use or buy a masking machine. Masking machines are around $30 at a hardware store. Use 12” paper for small windows, faucets, light fixtures, and gas/electric meters. CAUTION: MAKE SURE THE LIGHT BULBS ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE LIGHT FICTURES BEFORE MASKING IT TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. Use 24” or 48” plastic masking to cover most windows, and doors and sliding doors.

                First make sure the area you are going to mask is dry and clean of debris. When masking the windows, start at one of the corners of the window frame approximately 1/8” away from the corner making sure to cover the complete face of the frame. Run it down to approx. 1/8” of the other corner of the frame. Pull the plastic out to its full length and tack it down with a small piece of masking tape. If the plastic is too long fold it under the plastic and tack the plastic to the other side’s frame. Now where you have tacked the plastic down, run a piece of tape down the full length of the frame and cut it off at the very end of the frame. Now run tape along the rest of the exposed frame. Repeat this method for the rest of the windows. Use common sense when masking the rest of the fore mentioned items. Also, don’t leave the masking on for more than a couple days. Otherwise, the tape can be very difficult if not impossible to remove it.

                I hope this tip was useful and helps you produce a beautiful and professional finish on your home.