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How to prep for painting with perfect definition

By Bunnings magazine/ Summer 2022

Header image for the scotch paint brand article
Get set for a smooth project. We’re sharing tips on how to prep for a superb paint job.

Live on the edge

Whether you’re an experienced tradesperson or a D.I.Y. enthusiast, give paint prep the priority it deserves. The first step to a superb paint job is safety. Make sure you’re wearing a respirator to stay safe from sanding particles, fumes and paint droplets. You can wear the 3M™ Pro Paint Project Respirator With Quick Latch comfortably all day. Its one-flick latch seals the mask snugly to your face while in use, and releases it in a single action to swing down and out of the way when you don’t need it.

The second step to prepping for the perfect paint job is ensuring you have Scotch® Painter’s Tape.

A tape for every task

ScotchBlue™ Original Painter’s Tape is a great all-rounder. It can stay in place for up to 14 days after application without leaving residue. For projects that need impeccable definition, ScotchBlue™ Sharp Lines Painter’s Tape is amazing at sealing out paint thanks to Edge-Lock™ Technology. Scotch® Exterior Surface Painter’s Tape is a unique outdoor poly-tape product that can withstand rain and direct sunlight. And if you’re painting on an uneven masonry or timber surface, the extra-strong adhesive of Scotch® Rough Surface Painter’s Tape delivers unmatched performance.

Here’s how to get the best from your Scotch® Painter’s Tape.

1. Make the surface spotless

Clean and dry the surface thoroughly before applying tape, ensuring it is free of dust, dirt, oil and moisture.

A hand wiping the top of a skirting board with a dry cloth

2. Roll out the tape

Unroll a length of tape and press it into position, taking care not to stretch the tape so that it does not tear or lift away.

A hand applying blue Scotch tape along the top edge of a skirting board

3. Stick it down

Use a smooth-edged object such as a scraper, putty knife or credit card to stick the tape firmly down.

A hand using a narrow scraper to press blue Scotch tape to the top edge of a skirting board

4. Leave the tape to set

Allow approximately 30 to 60 minutes for the tape’s adhesive to take hold before starting to paint.

Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

A light blue wall with blue Scotch tape attached to the top edge of a skirting board

For more paint preparation...

Check out the rest of our Scotch range.

 

Photo Credit: Scotch

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.