Photo: Viacheslav Zhedankov (Shutterstock)
If you’re preparing to start a painting project, your future is likely to have a trip to the hardware store. In addition to the brushes, rollers, and the paint itself, you will likely need some tape to keep the paint from getting on moldings, door frames, or other woodwork in the room. But what kind of tape?
The two main options are masking tape and painter’s tape, each with their own purpose. In an article for BobVila.com, Bob Beacham explains the difference between masking tape and painter’s tape – even though you should use any type of masking tape.
The difference between masking tape and painter’s tape
Let’s start with the basics: While both masking tape and painter’s tape are made of crepe paper, masking tape is mostly beige / cream and painter’s tape is blue (or yellow or green). But technically, each band can be any color, and they’re usually right next to each other on the store’s shelf.
The biggest difference between the two types of tape, writes Beacham, is the glue. The masking tape’s adhesive is stronger, which means it won’t peel off as easily on projects like painting – so a special painter’s tape is required.
When to use masking tape
Masking tape might not be ideal for painting, but it comes in handy in many other situations. Beacham explains:
It can be useful for all kinds of household and workshop tasks, such as repairing a torn vacuum bag, creating quick labels, or marking a line on laminate boards so they don’t splinter when you saw them. Gluing a piece of masking tape to the tile not only makes it easy to mark where to drill, but it can also help prevent the tile from breaking.
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Because of its strong adhesive properties and low cost, it is a good idea to have a roll of masking tape at home for a variety of projects.
When should you use painter’s tape?
Designed to be less tacky and easier to remove, painter’s tape is, unsurprisingly, your best bet for painting. Unlike masking tape, it comes off neatly when a painting project is complete. Also, if the masking tape is removed, it can also take some of the new paint (or the wall itself) with it. Not to mention that painter’s tape, while less tacky, forms a tighter seal than masking tape, which means the paint is less likely to bleed through.
