Cover-ups Can be a Good Thing!

Covering up the right way can take planning and time, but the benefits of fresh paint can be greatly diminished if some of it goes where it isn't supposed to, so don't overlook this important step.

Cover-ups Can be a Good Thing!

There's no doubt about it, painting and staining can be messy, and how well the areas around the work are covered and protected has a big impact on the quality of the final result. We've all seen the spots of paint on brick and cement and paint spatters on windows. Sometimes they can be removed, but they can also be permanent reminders of carelessness and sloppy workmanship, so whether you're planning to do the work yourself or you're hiring a painting contractor, make sure preparation includes protection of all the surrounding areas. This phase can take time, but it's time well spent.

Exterior Work

Plants: 
Outside projects often are done adjacent to expensive landscaping that can be expensive or impossible to replace. Protect plants by watering them well, then covering them for short periods of time with light weight painter's drops. Don't cover plants when they're in full sun for extended periods and don't use plastic.

Light Fixtures, Hardware, Accessories:
The ideal approach is to remove all these items, paint behind them and re-install. If this isn't possible, apply blue painter's tape around the perimeter, then cover them with masking paper or plastic film. You can buy a hand held device called a masking machine that affixes tape to various widths of masking paper, and this will make the job easier.  The same machine also works with plastic film. Note that most types of blue tape need to be removed within fourteen days, so read the label and be sure to remove the coverings as soon as possible. Don't turn lights on while they're covered as the paper or plastic could cause a fire.

Doors, Windows and other Openings:
Mask off the perimeter with painter's tape and cover the area with plastic film. Paper or newspaper is less than ideal because it becomes saturated with paint and can leak.

Horizontal Surfaces (Driveways, Decks, Paths, Porches)
Heavy duty painter's drops work well to protect these surfaces. Never use plastic because it becomes very slippery when wet with stain or paint and it will become a safety hazard. Large pieces of cardboard can also be used in certain areas.

Interior Work

A great deal of training and experience is needed to do professional quality interior painting, and one of the ways to identify the experts is how they plan to protect your belongings and the areas adjacent to those that will be painted.

Window Treatments, Furniture, Hardware and Accessories
Window treatments and their hardware should be completely removed, if possible. If it isn't possible, they should be covered with plastic. All hardware and decorative items should be removed, stored and replaced when the work is done. The best way to protect furniture is to remove it from the work area, but if that isn't feasible, it should be covered with at least one, ideally two, layers of plastic. Note that when the plastic is removed, it should be rolled carefully to the center so that no wet paint that may be left on the plastic gets on the things that were being protected.

Built-in Cabinets
Apply blue painter's tape to the perimeter of cabinets, which then should be completely covered with masking paper or plastic film. It's crucial to use the right type of tape for the finish so the cabinets aren't damaged and to be sure the taping is done with precision.

Light Fixtures
Remove all light fixtures if possible. If it isn't, at least drop the ceiling plate and cover the fixture with plastic film and tape. Never turn on lights when they're covered with plastic or paper as this is a serious fire hazard. Use a professional grade work light on a stand instead.

Appliances
Appliances present special problems. Some like refrigerators can be damaged when they're moved, or they can damage floors. If it's necessary to move a refrigerator, disconnect the water line. Make sure that you properly protect the floor so that the refrigerator doesn't scratch, grouge or scrape it. Carpet remnants turned upside down with the pile facing the floor are useful, so are special heavy appliance dollies. Try not to disconnect the refrigerator if it's full of food. Gas stoves have pilot lights that can cause a fire if covered with paper or plastic. Washers have water lines that must be turned off and disconnected and dryers have vents and/or gas lines to deal with. Many appliances have finishes that can easily be scratched, so be aware of this when you cover them. Each situation must be examined carefully to determine the best approach, and it's always best to err on the side of caution.

Carpets, Floors and Stairs
Heavy duty painter's drops usually offer the best protection, but some types of construction paper also work well and are especially useful for painting around stairs where drops can create a tripping hazard. When painting baseboards it's always a good idea to mask off the floor or carpet with blue tape and masking paper. When you're setting up a shop area, put plastic under the drop and a large piece of cardboard on top of it to ensure that no paint or solvent leaks through to the floor.

A Few Words About Tape
Most brands of blue painter's tape are high tack. 3M does make a special blue tape for delicate surfaces that has a slightly lower tack level and will be less likely to pull off paint and polyurethane finishes. Nothing is guaranteed, so you need to proceed with caution, especially when applying tape to delicate or recently painted surfaces. Test the tape in an inconspicuous area before you proceed. Other product lines to be aware of are blue tape hinge covers that are sized to cover several standard door hinges, covers for stained wood doors and shoe covers to prevent tracking mud throughout a construction product.

Covering up the right way can take planning and time, but the benefits of fresh paint can be greatly diminished if some of it goes where it isn't supposed to, so don't overlook this important step.