Painting question - taping crown molding

[Chester11]

I'm painting some crown molding a different color, and need to prime it. My plan is to run tape on the ceiling for the primer. For the color coat, I will probably tape both the wall and ceiling. Crown will be white (it's now a puke brown), wall will be a darker color.

Question is how do I do this? Do I prime, pull the tape before it dries, and then retape for paint?

I know everyone says just cut a line, but if I free hand it, I guarantee I will screw it up.

Thanks.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Why not just prime it while it’s taped at the ceiling, then add a piece of tape at the wall when it’s time to paint?

 

[burbguy82]

I'm painting some crown molding a different color, and need to prime it. My plan is to run tape on the ceiling for the primer. For the color coat, I will probably tape both the wall and ceiling. Crown will be white (it's now a puke brown), wall will be a darker color.

Question is how do I do this? Do I prime, pull the tape before it dries, and then retape for paint?

I know everyone says just cut a line, but if I free hand it, I guarantee I will screw it up.

Thanks.

Sand some just to make it rough......
Tape well......use a credit card to apply
caulk your joints well before paint if need be
use a premium paint (sherwin williams emerald comes to mind or Behr)...... that is paint and primer in one

also brush choice is key.......fine bristle, angled, Purdy brand.........dont use a cheap brush.

 

[burbguy82]

Why not just prime it while it’s taped at the ceiling, then add a piece of tape at the wall when it’s time to paint?

because dried paint will come off with the tape......wait too long to remove the tape, and there is your issue.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Score the tape with a knife? I’d take my chances at some touch ups to avoid re-taping stuff over my head.

 

[ecotourist]

Yellow or orange frog tape comes off relatively well. You can probably get away with leaving yellow tape on for a couple of days. But it's probably better to remove the tape while the paint is wet. Be sure to press the edge of the tape down really well and not overlap because a brown strip between a white ceiling and a white or light coloured crown molding will look awful. Our ceiling and crown molding are essentially the same colour and that helps too. (The reason I say essentially is because there is some variation in the ceiling texture.)

Be sure to wipe off any drips on the walls. A drip or run that is left may be raised enough to show through the final wall finish.

One trick we learned from a professional painter is that there is no reason to worry about rolling the walls before the cut-in dries. You can even let it dry.

We always use a separate primer and paint. If you're doing a colour you can have the primer tinted too. Use good paint. Your time is worth something.

 

[spasm3]

@demarpaint

 

[demarpaint]

If you're not painting the walls or ceiling. I'm assuming then there is no caulking needed where the molding meets the ceiling or wall, otherwise touch up to those areas or repainting will be required. Having said that if only the molding is being done, tape it first with a high quality painters tape and make certain it is close to the molding and tight to the wall and ceiling. Carefully prep making certain you don't tear or damage the tape. Once the prep is done, prime and paint it, and when dry remove the tape pulling it at an angle away from the trim, not toward it.

 

[RooflessVW]

Cut the ceiling edge, don't worry about the wall edge since you're painting the wall.

Then cut the wall edge to the trim when you paint the wall.

 

[Chester11]

Thanks all - appreciate the help.