What type of tape won’t rip the paint off walls? Is there such a thing?

When you are painting or just hanging a sign, you don’t want the tape to rip the paint off your wall.  It’s unsightly and sometimes difficult to repair.  Avoid Duct tape, flex tape, most scotch tapes, and packing tapes.

Masking tape is not the best. It gets old, and the sticky glue can rip paint off a surface too easily, especially if you press it hard and it bonds to the paint.  This doesn’t mean it won’t work, just that it is not “the best”.  You have to use your judgement, and decide what option you are going to go with.

My best experience is with Blue Painters tape and Frog tape (images and links from Amazon:

ProTapes Pro Scenic 714 Crepe Paper 14 Day Easy Release Painters Masking Tape, 60 yds Length x 1″ Width, Blue (Pack of 1): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

And their “Delicate Version”: Shurtape Technologies Frogtape 217143 Multi-Use Delicate Surface Paint Block Tape, 36mm x 55m, 1-1/2-Inch x 60-Yard – Painters Masking Tape – Amazon.com

There are lots of brands that make Painters tape – 3M, Scotch, etc., and most all will work. Try to use fresh tape whenever possible, and don’t leave it on more than a few days at most.  Some tapes advertise that they can be left on for 30 days.

If you need to put up a hook that can come down without marring the wall, you can get these:

Command Hooks, available on Amazon, eBay, or at your local big box or hardware store.  I use them for picture hanging, and keep an organizer box full of them in my van.  Small ones don’t carry a lot of weight, so pay attention to  the weight of what you are hanging.

Here are more tips:

Tips for How to Use Painters Tape – Family Handyman

How-to Use Painter’s Tape for Interior Painting – Behr Paint

Best of luck with all your painting projects!

I hope you found my point of view enlightening and informative. 

What kind of tape/adhesive can I use on walls?

Command Strips are the best. in my opinion.
Command Picture Hanging Strips Value Pack, Medium, White, 12-Pairs (17204-12ES)
Command Strips, available on Amazon
They have adhesive strips, hooks, and velcro. Just make sure you use the right ones for what you are hanging, to ensure they can support the weight. I usually clean the wall first, so there is no grease or anything that will cause the command strip to fail. I buy them on Amazon, but you can get them at Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Ace, and other stores.
Because the command strips are not permanent, you can pull the adhesive off the wall when you move – with no damage.
If the wall is very smooth, you can use suction cup hooks.
double sided tape should be used with care, as it may permanently adhere and cause problems when you try to remove the item (like pulling paint of the wall).

Enjoy decorating, it makes your house a home!