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Painting Baseboard at Carpet ?

2604 Views 13 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  cairnstone, 
W
Any good tips on painting baseboard (repaint) where carpet runs into it ?
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Yes, don't get any on the carpet...:whistling:laughing::laughing:

I've slipped a 12" taping knife under the baseboard. Works for me the few times I have had to do it.

BUT I AM NOT A PAINTER....

and do not want to do it ever again....:thumbsup::laughing:
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S
Or use a putty knife to work some tape in under the baseboard.
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Use 2" or 3" tape. Use non blue tape, it sticks better. Pull out 2 or 3 feet of tape and set it next to the trim and up on it about 1/8" or so. Using the first 2 or 3 fingers on each hand, press the leading tape edge that's next to the trim against it firmly and down into the carpet keeping that 1/8" leading tape edge pressed firmly against the trim with your finger knuckles. Overlap the next piece a bit.

Tips: Tape your finger knuckles at the first joint with 1" tape to keep the skin from becoming raw (from constant tucking of tape). Remove the tape before paint is fully dry. Dried paint on trim and on tape has a tendency to pull the paint film off the trim as you pull off the tape.
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I use a 16" knife in a pinch but I have 6"x24" rips of 1/16" plexi that I keep for this purpose to move things along. I put a coat of wax on the plexi to make it easier to wipe off the excess paint.

Cut pile carpet is a PITA if it's deep and pressed against the baseboard. I usually tape the edge with 1" masking tape to keep the stray fibers together and then use the guard as mentioned above.
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thanks a lot for the responses.

I'll give some green tape and a shield or dw knife a try.
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EthanB said:
I use a 16" knife in a pinch but I have 6"x24" rips of 1/16" plexi that I keep for this purpose to move things along. I put a coat of wax on the plexi to make it easier to wipe off the excess paint.

Cut pile carpet is a PITA if it's deep and pressed against the baseboard. I usually tape the edge with 1" masking tape to keep the stray fibers together and then use the guard as mentioned above.
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I prefer taping off expensive carpets with my fingers more than any other method. I tried the knife way and it took me longer. What's a real pain in the ass is taping off commercial carpet, that stuff has hardly any pile to push the tape down on. :blink:

I've never ever ever had luck doing trim painting next to carpeting using a paint edging tool. Paint invariably finds its way to the clean side of the edge. I find that method messy and aggravating.

If tape must have multiple coats and has to dry, take the tape off afterwards by pressing directly down on the tape perpendicular to the trim , don't just pull up long strips, that's fail. My taping method may require you go back and re-tape a few insignificantly small areas where the trim meets the carpet and needs a touch-up repaint , but thats not a big deal to me, really.
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A single verticle blind slipped under the baseboard
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pinwheel said:
A single verticle blind slipped under the baseboard
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Good one!
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6" wide pieces of aluminum with a 15º bend along one edge. I made them 4' long. Same idea as the single blind vane, just made my own.

Tom
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I am with Caslon using the tape. Once you get the hang of it a room can be taped off quickly. I always put two coats of paint on the trim so that means the tape has to stay down for it to dry against the first coat.

I have found that if the tape is pulled up when the paint is wet then carpet fuzzies and bits of junk fling up on to the wet paint. I always let the baseboard dry before pulling tape. Just go around the room and push down on the tape to break it free before pulling up. Quickest and cleanest method I have found.
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I usually take a wet rag and wash off the fluff it balls up when wet, then I cut in nicely, if by chance I tag a chunk I tuck in in under the baseboard, If I actually do hit the carpet well ,then I use the wet rag, but I can't conceivably use tape, but for a carpet baseboard . Tape on a paper taping machine is a great solution if there is some serious plastering to sand. I found using a guide is more risk than it's worth, I think fear is making more work than is really there.
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Thanks for the responses.

I used green tape (SW) and tucked it in pretty tight but couldn't get it under the bb even with a dw knife.

I had a vert. blind with me if needed and taped off my 14" dw knife. I would have used the dw knife. Was able to cut in - (fortunately same color beige) no problems. Carpet was off white.
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pinwheel said:
A single verticle blind slipped under the baseboard
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aluminium mini blinds from old units are always saved They get rolled up and put away. I will do a whole room with them. I overlap the joints a couple of inches. The few minutes that it takes saves in the end
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