How-to

Choose brushes and roller covers for wall paint, enamels, primers, and stains using my field selections. Includes shared nap tables for drywall, cedar, stucco, and smooth finishes, plus frame choices, mini rollers, water-based cleanup, storage, and replacement checks.

Preparing and Repainting Cedar Siding

An inspection-led guide to cedar siding and shakes: diagnosing peeling, agreeing repairs, cleaning and removing failed coating, confirming dryness, priming, spraying an exterior acrylic finish, and inspecting the result.

Preparing and Painting New Drywall

A good new-drywall paint job begins before the primer goes on. Identify the finish, inspect the entire job, and resolve the preparation work. Then keep inspecting as each stage is completed.

Repainting Previously Painted Interior Walls

An interior repaint starts with the condition of the existing room: investigate damage, remove what is failing, repair and clean the surface, spot-prime where needed, and apply two finish coats. Sound existing paint does not automatically require a full coat of primer.

Interior Painting Techniques and Guidelines for a Paint Crew

The method I teach my crew: protect the room, establish a station, work from the top down, keep tools loaded, paint into the wet, and inspect throughout. Includes the second-coat caulk seal on the tape edge and how it differs from manufacturer directions.

Airless Spraying: Setup, Tip Selection, Application, and Cleanup

Good spraying begins before paint reaches the gun. An organized station, protected surroundings, checked equipment, and a consistent application sequence let a crew work efficiently and correct problems while they are still manageable.

Preparing and Repainting Rusted Steel and Iron

Rust treatment begins with the condition of the metal, not the choice of paint. Establish that the component can remain in service, remove failed material, and build a compatible coating system on a properly prepared surface. Inspection at each stage prevents roughness, missed areas, and poor coverage from carrying through to the finished work.

Preparing and Painting Exterior Aluminum

A smooth aluminum finish begins with removing corrosion products, preparing the remaining coating, and choosing a compatible primer and finish. This entry records my workflow for exterior aluminum and keeps it distinct from the rust-conversion methods used on steel and iron.

Refinishing Cabinets with Painted Finishes

A practical painted-cabinet workflow covering cleaning, repairs, grain filling, coating-system choices, spraying, finaling, handling, and touch-ups. Field methods are distinguished from product instructions, with spray-area planning based on cited official requirements and manufacturer directions.

Refinishing Cabinets with Stain and Clear Finishes

A cabinet-refinishing guide to stripping and restaining, darkening a sound finish, matching repair color and grain, applying compatible clear coats, and checking the installed result. Includes first-person field practice and separate manufacturer directions.

Removing Wallpaper and Preparing the Wall for Paint

A steam-first wallpaper-removal process covering test areas, scoring, adhesive cleanup, drying, damaged drywall facing, patching, full-wall priming, and the final repaint. Includes the limited paint-over exception and separately sourced manufacturer directions.

Preparing and Painting Interior Doors and Trim

An interior door and trim repainting guide covering existing-finish assessment, hardware protection, cleaning, feathering, filling, spot-priming, applicator selection, two finish coats, run correction, and careful reassembly. Includes product-specific drying times and the distinction between dry-to-touch and resistance to sticking.

Preparing and Painting Exterior Wood Trim and Fascia

An exterior wood trim and fascia guide covering firmness checks, repair or replacement, mildew cleaning, failed-paint removal, localized filler repairs, wood primer, caulking, and two satin acrylic finish coats. Final inspection emphasizes seams, edges, and complete coverage of exposed wood.