# What's the worst part of painting? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984 "2012-01-09T23:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/1 "2012-01-09T23:18:08Z")
The whole process is a pain in the ass, but what part do you hate most? The blue tape? The speckles in your hair from the roller? Drips on the floor from the paintbrush? I’m torn between the taping off, and the removal of the tape. The first one takes forever, especially in the rooms I’m currently working on because of crown molding, a chair rail, built in bookcases… sigh. And the tape never comes off smoothly, tearing lengthwise and leaving thin blue strips that stay stuck at the wall, no matter how slow or fast you pull off the strips. The only bright side is that my home will look a hell of a lot better once it’s done. You can see some before pictures [here](http://antijenicdrift.blogspot.com/2011/04/project-wallpaper-removal.html) - taking down the ugly silvery wallpaper left me with a pink-and-blue living room and dining room. And I’ve lived with that for far too long, because my husband keeps saying he’ll do it but ends up having a million other things come up that are more important. So, as much as it sucks, I’m attacking it and getting it done, but I think next time I need to paint this place, I’m paying someone to tape. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/2 "2012-01-09T23:22:12Z")
I use to think painting was the only job alcoholics could get. Then, after much painting I realized painting turns you into an alcoholic 🙂 As for that blue tape crap…I think you are generally better off just painting carefully near the borders/edges/whatevers rather than using that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/3 "2012-01-09T23:28:26Z")
The worst part is when everything’s done, and you realize you hate the color. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/4 "2012-01-09T23:47:15Z")
Paying $10K for professionals to do it for you. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/5 "2012-01-09T23:51:11Z")
I chose “the mess” and “Other.” I have never painted without getting it all over myself. I chose “other” because you didn’t include “trying to get all the paint out of a really expensive brush, so that you can re-use it.” ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/6 "2012-01-09T23:51:13Z")
Oh gosh, I absolutely hate every single thing about painting. Every step of it is horrible and we are currently painting our new deli and it is awful. I have paint in my hair, the blue tape sucks, the walls need sanding, there are a lot of corners and angles and two moldings and ugh! We already did all the tables and chairs, but there are so many walls. So many… What a timely poll for me, but I really don’t know how to vote. They are all equally awful. Good Painters deserve much respect! ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/7 "2012-01-09T23:58:34Z")
Chose other. I hate the prep work. My place has casement windows, with eight glass panels in each section. I suspect each time the house was repainted (the house is \>50 years old), the new coat was just slapped over the old. So in sanding those windows I can see at least 4 other paint colours before getting down to the bare wood. Plus I hate trying to sand the ceilings :mad: ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/8 "2012-01-09T23:58:50Z")
I _love_ all you people who hate painting! Because I’ve been one of those people y’all pay to do it for the better part of 32 years. 😃 I enjoy almost all of it. The bits I don’t enjoy - well, that’s what helpers are for. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/9 "2012-01-10T00:17:38Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I use to think painting was the only job alcoholics could get. Then, after much painting I realized painting turns you into an alcoholic 🙂 > > As for that blue tape crap…I think you are generally better off just painting carefully near the borders/edges/whatevers rather than using that stuff. Exactly. Cutting in with a brush is much less frustrating than putting up and taking down all that stupid tape. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/10 "2012-01-10T00:23:09Z")
I hate all the prep work - moving furniture, covering flooring, cleaning, sanding, patching, priming, making sure you have everything you need all together before you start. If I could walk into a room that was all prepped so all I had to do was open the paint cans and get started, I’d paint all day. Second to prep work is cleanup. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/11 "2012-01-10T01:31:07Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I hate all the prep work - moving furniture, covering flooring, cleaning, sanding, patching, priming, making sure you have everything you need all together before you start. If I could walk into a room that was all prepped so all I had to do was open the paint cans and get started, I’d paint all day. > > Second to prep work is cleanup. I agree, word for word. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/12 "2012-01-10T01:35:43Z")
Top of wall, thoracic pain. Bottom of wall, lumbar pain. Ceiling, neck pain. Other than that, I really don’t mind painting. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/13 "2012-01-10T14:12:21Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I hate all the prep work - moving furniture, covering flooring, cleaning, sanding, patching, priming, making sure you have everything you need all together before you start. If I could walk into a room that was all prepped so all I had to do was open the paint cans and get started, I’d paint all day. > > Second to prep work is cleanup. Same here. Washing the walls first is a drag. If your spraying, cleaning the gun and hose afterwards is a pain. Takes longer than the actual painting. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/14 "2012-01-10T14:40:39Z")
We just “finished” painting our bedroom…and I put finished in quotes because I don’t think it’s really done or ever will be. There’s always just one more touch-up to do. Did you ever notice that when you do a job yourself the flaws stick out like a sore thumb? I can’t decide right now what I hate most, besides all of it. And my husband wants to go on now and paint the rest of the rooms! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/15 "2012-01-10T17:13:50Z")
Watching it dry. Oh, man, I slay me. Actually, I hate all parts of the process equally. If I thought the Mr. Bean method (dropping a lit M-80 into a can of paint) would work, I’d try it. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/16 "2012-01-10T17:25:19Z")
Prep work is the hardest. I love the painting part. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/17 "2012-01-10T17:33:11Z")
For those of you who recommend cutting in instead of taping, can you really get a straight line? No matter how careful I am, the edge of the paint always looks wavy. This is especially true when I’m painting against molding which has a caulked edge between the wall and molding. Without a crisp edge to work with, my paint line will tend to waver. That’s why I almost always use tape. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/18 "2012-01-10T17:45:07Z")
You need to pull the tape off while the paint is still wet. You don’t need to let the paint dry completely in order to keep your lines. If it dries then you’ve just painted the tape into the wall. I don’t like the prep either. Heck I’m hiring someone to paint the basement for me and he’s going to do a bunch of prep and I STILL have found myself working like a madwoman to get it prepped for his prep. Yech. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/19 "2012-01-10T18:12:06Z")
Other - Sitting in the living room much later and noticing that one spot that I missed now that the paint is gone. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984/20 "2012-01-10T18:17:25Z")
I have hated painting all my life. I tried but couldn’t select any particular aspects of the process- the entire process is “the worst part.” I voted “other”. . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-part-of-painting/608984.md?page=2)