There are a lot of tape options out there. As a consumer, it's hard to know what you're getting and what you're paying for. You might be wondering why a roll of tape can range from $1.25 to as much as $10 or more. You might also be wondering why some tape is blue and some is tan and others are green or orange. Is it really worth the extra few dollars to get blue "painter's tape" just because you're painting?
At JS Painting Company we had to ask ourselves those same questions, and we're happy to share what we've come up with:
If you're thinking about doing a pretty straight forward painting project at home, tan masking tape is probably all you need. That said, you should know that no tape is a substitute for care and precision. When using any tape, you should remove it soon after you finish painting. Sometimes paint will dry and adhere to the tape so that when you peel it away, you peel your paint away (or at least your straight line). Also, ALL TAPE BLEEDS! If you're using tape to make a straight edge, you may be left with a bumpy or spotty line when you look up close. That is just a fact of life. You can improve this situation by thoroughly pressing down along the edges of the tape – to make the most even seal. You can also better your chances by NOT applying copious amounts of paint at that edge. Often times brushing a taped edge forces paint under the tape – try using a roller along the edge for better results.
Now if you're doing something where you've got several colors involved and they share edges, you'll want to use some blue painter's tape. The advantage of using blue tape is that you can use it on paint that hasn't fully cured yet. That means a lot logistically, especially for an intricate or complicated job. Some of the tapes out there allow you to use them the same day that something is painted (there are a lot of variables that determine this, but it's possible). To be safe, I would wait a day before even using blue tape. At any rate, if you don't want to mess up what you've already painted, or you're concerned about putting an adhesive on a surface, blue tape might be just the thing you need.
Now for brands and prices -
Frogtape
Frogtape is a pretty good tape that came about in the last few years. It is comparable to the 3M with "Edge Lock" and carries a slightly more affordable price tag, although only slightly. It is just like your standard blue tape but it is marketed with "Paint Block" technology. In my experience, there might be a slight improvement in paint bleed but it's not too significant. Frogtape is better than most generic brands overall. They also make a yellow Frogtape that is supposed to be for more delicate surfaces or very recently painted surfaces. As far as price point goes, you're probably looking at $5+ a roll for a 1 inch width. Thicker sizes can run as much as $10 a roll. Now that Frogtape is in the big box hardware stores, you often see sales that put it as cheap or cheaper than comparable Scotch Blue lines.
MasterCHOICE Blue
MasterCHOICE blue is okay and it's cheap. I've had some issues with removal especially when the tape is left on for slightly longer. You give up a little bit of flexibility with this stuff because it may require more attention than other brands but if you're worried about cost or if it's a simple job, this will do just fine and save you a dollar or so a roll. I think I get it starting at around $3-$4 for the thinner sizes.
3M Scotch Blue Painter's Tape
Scotch Blue is the gold standard. If you want a blue painter's tape you don't have to think about this is the one. It comes with a price tag but it gets the job done. If you're a homeowner doing a small job, and you won't need much blue tape, the extra dollar or two wouldn't be the end of the world. The release and the block is just about as good as any, making it pretty easy to work with. In terms of price, you're looking at around $4 a roll for a 1 inch width. However, that's only if you go to a big box store. Scotch has distribution deals with Home Depot and the like which will get you savings. If you're working with a smaller retailer, you're probably looking at something around $5 for a 1 inch width. Scotch Blue also has a couple other lines. One has "Edge Lock" which is basically supposed to be a competing line for Frogtape, but it's more expensive than Frogtape. They also have a Scotch Blue "delicate" which is for particularly delicate surfaces and is also more expensive.
HGTV Painter's Tape
HGTV Painter's Tape is the Sherwin Williams painter's tape. It's cheaper and does an alright job. It's comparable to MasterCHOICE Blue but slightly more expensive as far as I've seen. You'll save a dollar or so a roll but it's not my favorite tape. As with MC it will do fine on a basic job but might require a little quicker and more careful removal.
ipg BLOC-it
I'm a fan of ipg tapes. They're pretty darn good. I would take it over most Scotch tapes but the problem is that it isn't as widely distributed. I think you'll find retail prices to be more variable with ipg products. Sometimes it's going to be more expensive than Scotch and other times less expensive. If you can find somewhere that you get good prices then I would go for it.
Shurtape ShurRELEASE Blue
I haven't had any problems with ShurRelease but I haven't used it too extensively. It seems to be perfectly fine. It's not the cheapest but when I've purchased it, it doesn't seem to be overpriced. It performs like the other premium blues but I just haven't used it in as many different situations as the others. More updates to come on this product.
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