How do you paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet?

I can't take the carpet up it's securely pinned down. I tried a piece of board or masking tape and the paint still gets underneath. It's a fluffy/bouncy carpet.





Help!How do you paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet?
There is a knack to putting masking tape down. As you present the tape to the carpet, over step the mark so the tape looks like it is going to extend onto the boards by a quarter inch or so, then, pull the tape on the carpet back, pulling the fibres and tape away from the board and press them down. You should have tape that arcs downwards towards the floor. Sorry, couldn't explain that any better.How do you paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet?
Dont go nailing anything to your floor!


Using a board for a straight edge will work but will make even more mess if you get it wrong.


It's a tricky one to do,


first step, use a brush no bigger than 1.5';, DONT USE TOO MUCH PAINT, hold the brush like a pencil and hold it horizontaly, flat edge even with the floor. start at the top, bit next to the wall, then the centre of the skirting (not the middle of the wall, the middle of the skirting) to get a layer of paint on which will make the brush flow easier, go slow and spread the paint down to the bottom, this will help stop the runs onto the carpet.


like i said it's a tricky one, it's hard to describe, but easy to show. look on youtube for any videos, there must be some?


happy painting!
Your carpet would be din place with gripper board, lift a corner with a screwdriver then roll it back this may be difficult to do but once you start tit will become easier, place something on it (not to crease it but on the rolled back edge so it doesn't flop back whist you paint, roll back into position when the paint has dried. do try to take off the gripper board as it will probably break but you can if you feel confident. good luck
go to the local dollar store and buy bristol board. it is stiffer than paper but thin enough to fit in between carpet and base board, then you have to leave it under until it hardens usually acrylic 15 mins and oil 45 to 1 hr...... and if you want a really great trick an old widow blind also does a good job
Get some plastic, something like 4 or 6 mil. Place the plastic along the seam between the board and the carpet. Using a plastic putty knife, press the plastic between the board and the carpet.
I use a decorators plastic sheet and I tape it to the skirting. Looks funny but it has always worked for me, I do the same when decorating over any floor just tape the plastic to the skirting.
get some thin laths and nail them to the floor(not tight) butt them up against the skirt and leave until paint is dry.
put masking tape around the carpet edges
put dust sheets down.
a stiff paint shield.......something like a 12'; drywall knife will do.























Kp