New Rules from the EPA on Lead Paint Dust
New rules from the EPA on lead paint. Finally.
Painting Tips
We are not your normal painting company: we are giving away our secrets. I'm near retirement age, and I like blogging more than painting, so here are some painting tips that your painter won't tell you.
Hi, I am Brad (The Painter!).
I am a professional painter for over 30 years, and I am now passing on tips and trade secrets to you.
Painting Tips
The Most Efficient Way to Paint a Room
Just a few tips on what to do in what sequence. It’s going to make your life easier.
How to Hire a Professional Painter…by a 30-Year Pro
I’m an old pro. Here is what you should talk to your prospective painters about during an estimate, and how to size them up.
Should You Hire a Professional Painter…by a 30-Year Pro
In this third of three articles, I discuss whether or not you should hire a painter at all. In the first of three articles, I tell you how to be wise if you hire a painter. In the second article,
How to Wash Paint Out of Your Hair and Off Your Skin: It’s NOT Complicated
Latex Paints: SKIN: Don’t use soap! (not yet) Soak in water for a long time (a bath might be best) and gently keep rubbing. Let the goo absorb water and it will get very soft. Too much rubbing and you’ll
Getting Rid of Smoke Smell: Time to Paint (#3 of 3)
Finally, time to paint over the smoke smell. This is the last of 3 posts.
Smoke Damage Cleaning Before Painting (#1 of 3)
Cleaning smoke damage is not fun, but it is do-able. Just psych up for the work and the nightmare will be over soon.
Best Air Purifiers for Smoke
Recently we were hit with some wildfire smoke. Simple to wait it out if you have a good air purifier.
Understanding Air Purifiers for Mold, Paint Smell and Dust
Here are machines you need for the toxins in paint and many other pollutants you have to breathe nowadays, not to mention all the wildfire smoke. What is the world coming to?
Replacement Filters for the Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 Air Scrubber
The Dri-Eaz 700 is featured in my full review of the best air purifiers. Here are the filters and below is how to use them best. 8-Pack of the Primary HEPA Filter (2″)(125028) 6-Pack of the 2-in. MERV 8 Pre-Filter
Basics on the Best Air Purifier Filters for Mold
The 2nd chart below says it all. Below that look for details of your concern.
Most Expensive Air Purifier: When Money is No Object
Crazy expensive, but when money is not an object, this is the best on the market. Medical grade.
Filters for the IQAir Health Pro Series
Here are filters (including some 3rd party budget filters) for the IQAir Pro Plus and Compact.
To Spray or Roll: That is the Question
Spraying paint or rolling paint? That is an easy question for a pro painter of over 30 years.
Lead Paint News: 2022 Lawsuits Conclude
News that the makers and insurers were wrong and they must pay into a fund to help remove old lead paint.
Paint-and-Primer In-One: Sometimes Yes
Paint chemistry has improved and the paint and primer in one has come of age.
Quick Primer on Primers for All Situations
This is the shortest possible post you’ll find explaining any primer for every situation.
Key point: don’t buy budget primer (or paint). I like Ben Moore and Sherwin Williams, but BM is better in my opinion.
For all cases, put on your topcoat of paint within a day of priming, or as the window on your primer specifies.
Paint Spills: Act Fast
Act fast: keep it wet. 2 minute read
What Gloss or Sheen Should You Pick?
A guide to choosing sheen…but a warning…not all paints have equal grades of sheen.
How to Master the 5-Minute Paint Touch Up
How to avoid washing walls. The quick way to touch up.
How to Apply Movie Projector Screen Paint
Some important tips, then the list of things to plan for and to shop for, then the complete how-to steps for painting a movie projector screen on any wall. I read other sites on applying this paint. Rookies.
Testing Old Paint: Is It Oil or Latex?
If you paint over old oil-based paint, your new paint will flake off with just a fingernail. Here is the test and what to do if you have old oil.
Movie Screen Paint for Projectors: White? Gray? With Tips from a 30 Year Pro
I’ve read some other websites about how to apply this and they leave out what I put in step 3 below. Here I offer just a few tips that will save you from having to paint your screen twice.
Skim Coating Walls and Ceilings: How Not To Make It A Pain In the Ass
Showing just how easy it is to skim coat a wall. You don’t need much, and you’ll save hundreds. It’s just not hard.
Smoke Damage Painting: Get the Primer We Use (#2 of 3)
How to paint and what to paint over smoke (fire or cigarette) damaged walls.
Old Paints: Careful, Disaster Lurks
How to handle old paints: you can do it just be careful.
Extend the Life of Old Paint
A reader says he has a method of making paint live longer on the shelf. Hmm.
Why Professional Painters Do Not Brush in Corners
This is a key time-saving painting tip. Painters don’t waste time. Always let the paint roller do as much of the work as it can. Only use the brush when you have to.
How to Avoid Brush Marks
If you eliminate or minimize brush strokes or brush marks and roller marks for that matter, your paint job will look much better. It almost looks like you know what you’re doing.
Today’s Best Air Purifiers for Mold, Smoke, Dust, Viruses…Even Paint Smell
The best air purifier is the one I bought for myself. I did not want to spend so much, but now I am glad I did. Others don’t compare. Here are 3 good air purifiers for 3 budgets.
Paint Edger: A Pro’s Review of Accubrush and Shur-Line (and more)
The salespeople in TV commercials make paint edgers look great, but are they worth the money? I’ve been at this well over 30 years: here is the good and bad of the two top paint edgers, (with a look at how they stack up against a quality paintbrush).
Painting Concrete Floor? The Complete Guide
The biggest cause of painting concrete failure (not bonding, delamination, bubbling, etc.), is poor prep. We will explained how to paint concrete floors step by step. With links to the all-important concrete prep (testing, to etch or now, cleaning, rinsing, etc).
Concrete Paint – Top Picks and 5 Key Planning Points
What concrete paint to put on your floor depends on your comfort with the look and lifespan. Some customers of ours are very picky and want a perfect high-gloss epoxy and others just want a budget facelift. We also link you to every topic you need to consider: from cleaning to cleanup.
Concrete Etching: Acid Wash or Grinding in Prep for Painting and Staining
Concrete that has either been sealed or trowled to a very smooth profile is not paintable without etching. Concrete etching is done either mechanically with a grinder (several options this way) or chemically with an acid wash (two options this way).
Concrete Testing: Moisture Tests & Alkalinity Test
Here are the main methods for concrete testing: several for moisture and one for alkalinity. If you have any doubt, do these tests before painting concrete. Most of these you can do yourself, but what you need a professional for is discussed as well.
Painting Stained Trim: Modern Look Sells Homes Quicker
Painting stained trim and painting varnished wood trim is very do-able, but the sequence is a bit time-consuming. The one “must” is deglossing, and using a quality primer. Doing it yourself will likely save you many hundreds of clams.
Painting Trim (Wood Trim, MDF, etc.) with a Trick
Thinking of painting your trim with a brush? Sit down, my friend. Let me show you the way of the Force. We FLY when we’re painting wood trim, or when we’re painting trim of any kind.
Painting Plywood: Supplies, and How-To in 5 Steps
Whether you’re painting plywood walls, shelves, a shed, etc, you do have some good choices when it comes to plywood paint. Prep is key.
How to Touch Up Paint in 4 Steps
Learning how to touch up paint takes experience. But don’t worry, we’ll hold your hand through these steps. In decades of painting, we’ve done it a few times.
Mold Resistant Paint (with 6 Easy Steps to Paint Over Mold)
Mold resistant paint does not kill mold! But you can relax, the process of stopping mold is very do-able. A little elbow grease, a little mold killing primer (the good stuff) and you are ready to paint. Whew. I’m glad I stopped you from just painting over that mold!
Best Drywall Primer & 4 Simple Steps for Priming
Here is my research and a few tips from my experience with newly constructed walls. The best drywall primer is not necessarily the most expensive primer. For new walls (with no stains or imperfections etc) you do not need a stain-blocker or a hole-filler. Here is my recommendation for the best primers for new drywall, and my steps of application.
How to Paint Behind a Toilet in 5 min (and the Bathroom in 3 Hours)
Yes, we know how to paint behind a toilet! Here the professional painters’ secret.
Best Basement Floor Paint & Painting Floor in 5 Steps
Let’s knock this puppy O-U-T. The short list of what you need: First, choices for the best basement floor paints around, then how to paint a basement floor made easy.
Painting Plaster Walls in 5 Easy Steps
Painting plaster walls is not at all difficult. If your house is old, it will have plaster, sometimes called ‘horsehair plaster’ on the walls. The old workers used the tail hair from horses to mix in with the plaster to give it strength.
Painting Drywall in 6 Proven Steps (Will Look As Good As Any Pro Job)
We’ll list the steps you will need to know how to prepare for painting drywall.
We’ll explain each step from the start of a brand new wall up to the finished product.
We will start by how to prep drywall for paint.
Preparing Walls for Painting Efficiently
For re-painting walls, below you’ll find all the steps you need for preparing walls for painting, from before you start up to the finished product. We will review all the potential problems you might encounter.
Room Painting Tips by a Professional: Faster, Better, Cheaper
We are not your normal painting company: we are giving away our secrets. I’m near retirement age, and I like blogging more than painting, so here are some room painting tips that your painter won’t tell you.
Paint Walls or Trim First? 3 Amazing Tips
You paint the trim first, but not using a brush! Here are 3 steps and 1 awesome secret (some pros don’t even know) on how to make this quick and easy (video included).
How to Paint a Wall? Big Tip: Skip the Tape, You Will Thank Me!
How to Paint a Wall? Let me count the ways. Ok, here is the short version: you will see all over the internet all these people telling you how to use tape, and how to clean the walls, brush first, etc etc. Well, they clearly read the manual written by someone who read a manual, but in practice, you just jump in. It’s just not brain surgery.
For Canadian Painters Only
My time living and working in Canada has always been great. One problem for a painter though: painters in the US mostly use a 5-gallon bucket, a screen, and a 9-inch roller frame/cage. Why is that? It’s fast man. Nobody ever stepped in a big bucket! Well, not as far as you know.
