how to keep paint off grout?

[mark-yo]

hi folks. i plan to paint our bathroom walls. the walls abut tiling in some areas. if i want to avoid getting paint on the grout and tiles, could i just mask off (w/ painter's tape) the edge where the wall meets the grout or will re-grouting be necessary? does grout absorb paint? the grout is about 2 years old. thx for any info you can share. hope you're having a nice holiday season. m.

[JR]

Mark, I'd just mask it off, as you mentioned. The idea is to get a nice straight paint line. The eye of the observer will not pick up on whether the paint is on the grout edge as readily as it will any variation in the line.

Just mask it, paint it and like it.

JMHO.

JR

[scorrpio]

I recently did just that, and I did not mask anything. With a good brush(I use Purdy) and some practice, you can learn to cut a clean line. Even if you do get some paint where it is not supposed to go, a moist paper towel will remove it just like that.

[beetee3]

Me and painters (masking) tape do not agree. No matter how careful I try to be in smooshing down the tape, I always end up with areas where the paint bleeds under the tape. So now I just cut in freehand with a good quality 2" sash brush and keep a rag at hand to clean up any drips or sags as I go.

[Luckbox]

I agree. The painter’s tape seems to give a false sense of security. Everything well look great and it seems like you can paint allot faster but when the tape is removed paint has always bleeds under. Get a good 1.5 or 2 inch angle brush, rest your hand against the wall to steady it and have a clean moist rag to wipe up any errors.

[Tom Slick]

what abbout carefully applying wax to the grout, then the paint won't stick.

[DaveS]

Here's another vote for just using a good brush. You need to get a "cut in" brush (I'm not sure what it is really called, but an old painter called it that, so that's what I call it). It is the brush with the angled edge. Spend at least $10 on it, $15 would be better. Clean it as soon as you are done. In between coats, or if you take a break, wrap the bristles in plastic wrap.

I like to do the edges first, then use the roller to do the big parts. I find that when I do it the other way, it is too tempting to get the roller all the way up to the edge (and occasionally getting too close).

However, I still use masking tape (the blue kind) and plastic sheeting to protect against drips and splatters.

[WayneJ]

Body shops use a special brush called a striping brush. The old timers used it to do pin striping on cars. Its about three inches long and the bristles are about 1 1/2 ins,and maybe 1/2 in wide. Should work out well for this,and fairly cheap. Might be worth a try.
Wayne

[Hellrazor]

Other quick trick I use around woodwork..

Buy a pack of larger index cards and hold them against what you don't want paint on.

[chief]

I use a good Purdy 3 1/2 angled or sash brush for cutting in, it will handle most of my painting needs.....Mike