How to Strip and Repaint a Previously Painted Concrete Floor
A previously painted concrete floor that is peeling, flaking, or debonding cannot simply be repainted over — the old failed coating will take the…
Project Category
Painting
Browse all our Painting guides and step-by-step tutorials. Each project includes a full shopping list, tools needed, and realistic cost and time estimates.
How to Paint a Two-Tone Room with an Accent Wall
A two-tone paint scheme — one color on three walls with a contrasting accent on the fourth — is one of the most popular…
How to Choose Exterior Paint — Sheen, Color, and Brand
Choosing exterior paint is more consequential than choosing interior paint — a bad interior choice can be repainted in a weekend, but exterior paint…
How to Paint Over Dark Colors Without 5 Coats
Painting over a dark wall color with a light color is one of the most frustrating painting experiences. You roll on white paint over…
How to Avoid Lap Marks When Rolling Paint
Lap marks — those streaky, slightly darker bands of paint that appear when you roll over an already-drying section — are the most common…
How to Cut In Without Tape Like a Professional
Cutting in — painting a clean edge along ceilings, corners, and trim without taping — is the technique that separates professional painters from amateurs.…
How to Prep Walls for Paint — Fill, Sand, Prime Like a Pro
The difference between a paint job that looks amateur and one that looks professional is almost entirely in the prep work done before the…
How to Paint a Staircase Railing Without Getting Stuck
Painting a staircase railing is one of those projects that sounds simple but contains traps for the unprepared: awkward spindle shapes that catch brush…
How to Strip Paint from Wood – Chemical, Heat, Mechanical
Stripping paint from wood is sometimes the only right move – when there are so many layers that new paint won’t stick, when the…
How to Paint Metal – Doors, Railings, Appliances
Painting metal surfaces – doors, railings, pipes, appliances – fails more often than almost any other paint project because metal presents unique adhesion challenges.…
How to Touch Up Old Paint – Match Color and Blend Sheen
You repainted a room two years ago. Now there’s a scuff from moving furniture, a small patch where a picture hook left a mark,…
How to Choose the Right Paint Finish for Every Room
Paint finish selection is one of the most misunderstood decisions in home improvement. Walk into a paint department and you’re confronted with flat, matte,…