If you know that your project will last for a week or more, it is always a good best practice to use a tape that is designed to remove cleanly for the duration of your job. Pro Tip: Use a putty knife to apply even pressure to the tape line. Painters Tape / Masking Tape; Masking Tape. A typical 50 metre roll of 25 mm masking tape costs about £1.50-2.00, and the equivalent painter's tape will cost around £5.00 for the same size. Masking tape provides good adhesion to most surfaces and is easily removed without any adhesive residue. Use this kind of tape to obtain extremely precise and sharp, straight lines. Let’s see here the differences between painter’s tape and masking tape. Available in a range of widths, lengths and colours to suit your needs. Most painter’s tapes are packaged in some kind of label with a clean removal claim that lets users know how long the tape can be left up and still remove cleanly. Kelly is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Whether you’re painting walls, woodwork, or the garden fence, painters tape can keep your work looking sharp and professional. What question would you like answered? | Privacy Policy | Code of Conduct. It is thicker and works best for spray applications of … Or for something else (masking tape gets used for many “general purpose” reasons too)? The following are some common types: Painter’s tape: Explicitly designed to help painters with paint application, the tape helps prevent paint from getting coated in multiple coloured spots to produce a contrast. Painter's tape is typically clearly labeled so you know how long you can safely leave the tape on the wall and expect clean removal. Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. Scotch Masking Tape, . To a non-expert eye, painter’s tape and masking tape might look just the same. Protect areas that do not require painting such as glass windows, carpets, light fittings and already painted walls with one of the full range of masking tapes. It's been around for decades. Perhaps the most significant difference between masking and painter’s tapes is that painter’s tapes remove cleanly after the job is done – up to a certain amount of time – while masking tapes tend to leave residue behind if left up for the duration of a paint project. Better in what respect? Painter’s tapes are specifically designed to be used for painting preparations. Painter's tape (blue and now, green) was developed because masking tape tended to let thin paints bleed through, creating rough edges. We’re committed to building the best learning experience by providing the tape industry’s most comprehensive place to learn about the past, present and future trends. For painting and eventual removal? Masking tape is cheaper than painters tape, making it a great alternative. Masking tape is an older type of tape. To rejuvenate the adhesive on old rolls of masking tape, put the roll of tape on a paper towel in a microwave oven and turn the microwave on for 10 seconds or so. While this might not seem like a big deal to some, having to clean up residue after an interior paint job can be a major setback that costs valuable time and money. From: £0.95 (inc VAT) multiple sizes. It is used mainly in painting, to mask off areas that should not be painted. They are not the same. Masking and painter’s tapes are often confused, because they look and feel similar. The quick answer is that painters tape is generally more expensive and leaves less residue. Contrary to common belief, painter’s tape is not another name for masking tape, but a variant of it. To find a painter’s or masking tape for your next job, visit Shurtape.com. A low tack flat tape works the same way as regular flat tape except it is safe to use on more delicate surfaces. You can use masking tape for painting but it can be unreliable at giving clean paint lines, by puckering up when wet and allowing paint to bleed underneath. Tape University™ is a leading online learning resource for all things tape. Some general-purpose masking tapes can pucker or wrinkle when they come in contact with latex paints, which can allow paint to seep under the tape. What Are Three Hot Topics in Packaging and How Can You Address Them? The amount of clean removal time can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks – depending on the tape’s quality and construction. Painters tape aka masking tape is a must-have item whenever you’re painting any surface. It leaves clean lines and is easy to find at a wide variety of stores. Painting Trim, Baseboards, and Wainscoting, 10 Tools You Need to Paint Your Home's Exterior, Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. For crisp edges whilst decorating walls and other surfaces, invest in some masking tape. In most cases, painter's tape is effective for longer than masking tape, so you can leave it up for the duration of most paint jobs. In summary, painter's tape is about 2-3 times more expensive than ordinary masking tape but it does do a better job. NO, IF YOU USE MASKING TAPE, THE PAINT WILL RUN UNDER THE TAPE. Artist tape is meant for this type of work, so it has properties that keep paint from bleeding into areas that have been masked off. A putty knife seals the tape, preventing paint bleeds. Another distinction between masking and painter’s tape is that painter’s tapes are designed to be used with paint – and to prevent paint from bleeding into masked off areas. Many masking and painter’s tapes are made with a crepe paper backing, which makes them easy to tear by hand and able to be written on for labeling purposes. Click Here, If you would like to learn more about contributing content to Tape University™, Click Here. Ciret Professional Masking Tape. How to Preserve Paint Brushes Between Coats. However, when you are doing a professional paint job – or any project that requires precision – using a tape that is designed for painting makes all the difference between getting the job done right the first time and having to touch up or repair damaged surfaces. Masking tape has a different adhesive and can cause damages that the painters tape cannot cause. The other advantage of painter's tape is that the adhesive isn't as tacky, so it will be less likely to lift the finish underneath. FrogTape Green Multi Surface Painters Masking Tape. Being ideal for getting straight corners and sides, these tapes are available in multiple sizes giving you ease of precision by suiting the tape to what you need. The adhesive used in these tapes is formulated to maintain an adequate hold but not necessarily remove cleanly when left adhered for a prolonged period of time. Showing 1 - 3 of 3 . Overall Painters Tape Conclusion. When painting or varnishing around the home, the use of masking tape will help speed up your painting and prevent paint going where it shouldn’t! Despite being one of the dullest items in a painter’s kit, a solid painter’s tape is a lifesaver. by Kelly Patrick | Apr 16, 2018 | Paint, Best Practices. As a senior product marketing manager at Shurtape Technologies, LLC, Kelly Patrick is responsible for leading product development and marketing support for the Building, Construction, and OEM category for the Industrial, Engineered Solutions, and Consumer and Craftsman businesses. Some general-purpose masking tapes can pucker or wrinkle when they come in contact with latex paints, which can allow paint to seep under the tape. Our range – which is suitable for both interior and exterior use - will help prevent paint bleed on any decorating tasks so you can rest easy that you’ll get a precise edge. Similarly, does Target sell masking tape? On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are some painter’s tapes that go through an extra step in the manufacturing process which treats the edges with an absorbent polymer that acts as a barrier to keep paint out. Masking tape is cheaper but can leave a bit of stickiness behind. Aside from the painter's tape name easily giving away its specialty, both masking tape and painter's tape are made with a crepe paper backing, have similar weights and, in a pinch, can be used for the same jobs. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. How does weather impact HVAC tape performance? Easy-to-tear means you can tear and apply as needed, masking off areas that you do not want painted. Not all masking tapes are the same! PAINTER'S TAPE IS SPECIFICALLY MADE TO SEPARATE COLORS. It is available in a variety of widths. Masking and painter’s tapes are two of the most commonly confused types of tape because they are similar in look and feel. Does it matter whether you use painter's tape or masking tape for your DIY project? You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. © Shurtape Technologiess, LLC. DIY Stores Masking Tape Conundrum Ultimately, all painter’s tapes are masking tapes, but not all masking tapes are painter’s tapes. Another distinction between masking and painter’s tape is that painter’s tapes are designed to be used with paint – and to prevent paint from bleeding into masked off areas. How to Preserve Roller Covers Between Coats. They both have a crepe paper backing, that’s true; but they have a few characteristics that make them consistently different from one another. Masking tapes, on the other hand, may not be designed to remove cleanly. Many professional painters sometimes are not 100% sure about which kind of tape is the best for their job. Painters tape can also be left in place for longer periods of time and will still come off the surface freely. We could say that they’re part of the same family: both masking tape and painter’s tape are made with a crepe paper backing and have similar weights. Some painter’s tapes are made with a slightly more robust backing than general purpose masking tapes to prevent splintering and to make it easier to remove the tape in a single strip after painting. Length: 36 metres. Masking tape is essential to help you perfect a sharp and professional finish on all paint jobs. Well, that depends on what your project involves. Painters tape is designed not to bleed with water based lucite house paints. It also tends to leave a nasty residue that will need to be cleaned off. In fact, they're technically from the same family — all painter's tapes are masking tapes. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. If you need to apply tape to wallpaper or recently painted walls, low tack flat tape is your best option. If you have ever used colored masking tape to label something and tried to remove it after it has been sitting for a long period of time, chances are that you had to clean up some adhesive that was left behind. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP 2 COLORS SEPARATED,BUY PAINTER'S TAPE. It makes sure that your paint stays on the area you’re painting and doesn’t stray off course. Width: 41 millimetres. Thin masking tape For perfect razor sharp paint edges, the best choice is Q1® Precision Line masking tape: an ultra-thin painters tape that stick perfectly and assures a perfect adhesion. Professional painters should also use a tape that is made specifically with painting in mind, while a general-purpose masking tape may be sufficient for some hobbyists and DIYers doing smaller projects. All types of artist tape are masking tapes, but not all masking tapes are meant for those applications. Their adhesion is medium and just … Given the comparison above, we suggest that in terms of painting, it is always better to make use of painter’s tape as opposed to masking tape. Decorators tape is perfect for masking off surfaces or achieving straight lines when painting and decorating. All painter's tape is classified as masking tape, but not all masking tape or white tape is high quality enough to be categorized as painter's tape. Give your next paint job the best finish by starting with good preparation. Painters tape aka masking tape is a must-have item whenever you’re painting any surface. These tapes deliver extra sharp paint lines and are particularly useful for painting stripes, shapes, or decorative patterns on walls or other surfaces. Masking tape is a good, general-purpose tape. Blue painters tape is better than masking tape if you are taping off an area that you are painting. It makes sure that your paint stays on the area you’re painting and doesn’t stray off course. It is also good for painting on canvas. While all masking tape is made with crepe-paper backing, painter's tape is made with a more durable backing. Whether you’re painting walls, woodwork, or the garden fence, painters tape can keep your work looking sharp and professional. Masking Paper Tape. Once removed, it leaves no residues. The adhesive on old rolls of masking tape can dry out over time, making the tape stick together and hard to unwind. This durable backing prevents the wrinkling, residue, and tearing that commonly occurs with general-purpose masking tape. It is a great option for painting window frames as it comes off of glass cleanly. … Kelly is a member of the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC), is currently serving on PSTC’s Marketing Committee, and has completed the PSTC training program including Tape University™ Fundamentals, Manufacturing and Testing of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes, and Tape University™ Advanced. 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