Buzz
Whether you're embarking on a major renovation or a minor touch-up, painting corners is an inevitable part of most painting projects. While initially challenging, with proper taping and precise brushwork, even the most hard-to-reach corners can be painted to perfection. With a dash of patience, you'll achieve professionally finished edges and corners.
Key Steps
Preparing for Corner Painting
Position a step stool next to your painting area. Before diving into painting, ensure easy access to the spot you intend to paint. If necessary, set up a sturdy step stool or ladder to reach the painting area comfortably. Being closer to the corner enables steadier, more controlled brushwork, resulting in a polished paint job.
- If using a ladder, always have a spotter nearby to ensure safety.
Prepping the Corner Baseboard
Remove dust from the corner baseboard using a damp cloth. Before applying painter’s tape, ensure the area is dust-free to prevent paint from dripping into unwanted areas. Allow the surface to dry completely before proceeding.
- Painter's tape adheres better to clean surfaces.
- If the wall or corner appears greasy, use a phosphate-free detergent found at hardware stores.
- For ceiling areas, wipe down the intended tape placement areas as well.
Cut a strip of painter's tape to length. Choose a starting point along the floor baseboard and place the tape, ensuring it reaches the corner. Make the tape longer than necessary to fully cover the corner's edges.
- Medium adhesion painter’s tape is suitable for painted walls and minimizes wall damage during removal.
- Consider using a painter's tape applicator for efficient taping.
- For ceiling corners, secure the tape along the wall-ceiling edge.
Secure painter's tape with a putty knife. Press the tape firmly to the wall using a putty knife, then trim any excess with a utility knife.
- A 1.5-inch putty knife is ideal for most painting projects.
Painting Techniques for Corners
Start applying paint to the corner. Use a 2.5-inch brush and dip it generously into the paint. Begin by painting from the innermost part of the corner, making it easier to paint the surrounding areas.
- Protect the floor with drop cloths or plastic sheeting if you're painting near a baseboard.
- Consider using a square paint edger if you prefer using a roller, ensuring you reach the inner corners. An extension pole can be helpful.
Apply paint in outward strokes. Keep your brushstrokes short to evenly spread the paint over a small area. Aim for at least five short strokes from where you initially applied the paint.
- Edge rollers can also provide consistent paint coverage along straight lines.
Switch to a roller for uniform paint coverage. While a roller may not reach into the corner's crevices, it can flatten and level out the paint applied with a brush. Using a roller also ensures a smooth finish without brush strokes.
Remove the painter's tape. Once the paint is dry, press down on the tape with a putty knife's thin edge. Pull the tape off steadily in a clean motion, ideally forming a 45-degree angle as you remove it from the wall.
Materials Needed
- Moist towelettes
- Painter's tape
- Paintbrush
- Paint roller
- Paint roller extension pole (optional)
- Square paint edger
- Putty knife
- Utility knife
- Paint
- Disposable gloves (optional)
- Drop cloths (optional)
- Plastic sheeting (optional)
- Step stool (optional)
Helpful Tips
Precautions
- Consider wearing a mask if you anticipate painting for an extended period.
