While many specialists propose opposed to utilizing tape on the walls, sometimes, there isn’t a better solution. Tape is an obvious selection while putting Christmas ornaments or posters. However, when the time comes to remove it, peeled paint and sticky stains are an entire new headache. So, the question is — what style of tape won’t damage the walls?
Since I’m no stranger to parties, I’ve found out that choosing the right tape and applying it correctly could make a huge difference. Therefore, listed here are some useful pointers from my very own confidential experience.
When to Use Tape on Walls
Special occasions, like parties, always require some decoration to make the atmosphere more festive, especially if you want to deliver your home a complete occasion makeover. Balloons, ornaments, and lanterns are greater than welcome! Another situation that would require taping anything to the wall is while you want to hang a poster. Whilst framing and hanging a poster is always a better idea, sometimes, you wish it there only for one day.
As you can see, in the two cases, the keyword is temporary. You should merely decide upon tape if whatever you are putting will stay there for a brief volume of time. What I’ve realized is that the longer the tape (any tape) remains at the wall, the more likely it’s to go away marks or peel the paint off. At the same time, it is going to harm the poster or the decorations as well. If you imagine that the piece you’ve briefly attached to the wall suits good and would want to hold it there, don’t depart it taped. Make an effort to hold it properly.
Best Tape for Walls to Avoid Damage
If you’re internet hosting an occasion and must decorate, it is important to choose the right kind of tape. I like to recommend identifying one of these options:
- Poster tape
- Painter’s tape
Both are designed to hold lightweight items and reduce the attainable harm to the walls after removal. Please be aware that heavy adorns and decorations aren’t a well idea due to the fact most of the types of tape you could purchase will not help them properly.
Poster Tape
This is an excellent selection for balloons, lightweight decorations, and posters. It has adhesive on both sides, and it’s really easy to use. It sits good on quite a few surfaces, so you can apply it to glass, wood, and painted walls — even on wallpaper.
There are numerous items on the market, yet in my opinion, the best one is Scotch’s Removable Poster Tape. It can carry up to ¼ lb, and if used the right way, it leaves no stains. To examine how one of these tape works, take a look at this video.
Painter’s Tape
Though persons generally associate it with painting, this type of tape does the trick in terms of hanging decorations as well. What I love approximately it’s that it’s designed to guard the walls. It’s easily removed, and also you don’t ought to fear that you’ll harm the paint.
However, you ought to no longer confuse it with masking tape. Besides the fact that children they are similar, there are mild differences that you should watch out for. Masking tape can carry extra weight than painter’s tape, yet its adhesive has a tendency to depart marks or peel the paint when you are not extra careful when eliminating it. Having said that, while using painter’s tape, ensure you don’t cling heavy objects with it. They could end up falling off in the course of your event.
Type of Tape to Restrict on Painted Walls
If you favor your partitions to remain spotless after removing the decorations, don’t just reach out for the tape you’ve sitting on your drawer. Most types of tape are not fabulous for painted walls. So, attempt to avoid any of the following:
- Duct tape
- Flex tape
- Packing tape
- Masking tape
All of them are quite common in each household. However, they aren’t those to use. I’m not announcing that they won’t work. They’ll all carry beautifully! Unfortunately, none of them will be kind on your walls when the time comes to remove them. Even if you use them on other surfaces, the results may be damaging. They will leave sticky marks on glass, wood, and metal, that are very tough to clean. At best, these types of tape should be used on paper and different disposable materials.
Additional Hints for Taping Matters on Walls
The tape you opt for has to last well but still be simple to remove. However, you must take under consideration the floor of the wall as well. After all, you may use the finest tape and nonetheless destroy the wall because the surface is simply not suitable. Also, the technique you apply when placing and removing the decorations could make a huge difference. Taking some precautionary measures is important if you want your walls to remain intact. So, here are some suggestions that could come in useful and ensure you not simply enhance good yet get rid of the tape with out inflicting damage to the walls.
Do a Test First
It’s always higher to be safe than sorry, so performing a small test in your wall may give you a concept of the way it’s going to react to the tape. Choose a part of the wall that’s exposed to direct sunlight. As paint reacts to heat and light, that might in all likelihood be the most touchy area. Place a piece of tape onto the wall, supply it a few minutes, after which remove it. If the paint starts offevolved peeling off, you should probably refrain from putting anything with that company of tape.
It’s probably that the walls have now not been properly painted and will be damaged. You should also participate in a experiment if you have wallpaper in your walls. Over time, the wallpaper can become brittle, so the tape may effortlessly harm it as well. Additionally, you ought to think about other factors, which include humidity and heat. These can also influence the quality of the paint job, and consequently, the level of damage the tape can do on your walls.
How to Follow the Tape
There are about a easy-to-remember
rules for utilising tape that could cut down the chance of damaging the walls:
- You ought to simply follow tape to clean and undamaged surfaces.
- Always use fresh tape recycling historic tape will simply mar the walls.
- Don’t cross overboard with the tape, i.e., use as little as possible.
- Finally, don’t press it too hard opposed to the surface.
Following these instructions is essential because you must maintain the removal in mind. Many people awareness merely on the way to make the decorations last. Unfortunately, the removal can come to be an excellent bigger limitation than the social gathering if you don’t think in advance.
Don’t Leave the Tape on the Wall for Too Lengthy
As I mentioned, it’s a temporary solution. The longer you permit it on, the more likely it is to stain or damage the surface. In case you use it for banners or posters, they can go through damage as well. So, attempt to postpone adorning as much as possible. Of course, you will want to do it within the morning, or even a day before. That makes sense because organizing a social gathering isn’t a simple task, and you do ought to have a bunch of stuff all set earlier than the visitors arrive.
However, repairing broken walls may be a bigger hassle. Therefore, the best factor to do is to decorate an hour earlier than the development to make sure the walls continue to be intact. Keep in mind that the adhesive can react to sunlight, heat, or even paint, so leaving it on the walls for only a short while ought to make sure the paint remains spotless. However, that means you should take the decorations down once possible. As soon as the guests leave, get busy and remove the tape.
Removing Tape from Walls
Besides quickly removing the tape once it’s not necessary anymore, it’s essential to follow the right technique too. What I’ve discovered is that the worst issue to do is to tug the tape straight from the surface. Instead, try rolling it flat back from the wall. Don’t follow too much force due to the fact it’s going to in basic terms do more harm. When removing posters, attempt to slide up and no longer pull away. This should hold the walls and the posters safe. If there is any residue on the surface, the way in which to remove it’s with some warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Don’t use anything abrasive, as you could severely damage the walls.
What Can You Use Instead of Tape?
In case the walls are improperly painted, or the wallpaper is old, I would suggest using wall gum instead of tape. As a question of fact, gum would be a better option for any brittle surface, as it is much gentler. You can follow it easily, and you won’t need to worry the outcome. Genuinely vicinity a piece of gum onto the wall and then stick the ornament to it. In my experience, wall gum is the best choice for posters. It isn’t designed to hold whatever heavy, so ensure you don’t use heavy decorations. I usually modify my decorating thoughts consistent with the world wherein I’m going to use the gum.
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Final Thoughts
If you like adorning for events as much as I do, you’ve might be had to repaint some rooms after a particularly lavish event. Well, I’m hoping a number of my pointers can help you prevent the sort of difficulty within the future. To sum it up, if the tape is the only option, choose wisely and carefully. Don’t deviate from the technique, and don’t cross overboard with decorations. Most importantly, be conscious of how your walls are painted. Only a good paint job will lead them to long lasting and resistant.