01
Walls & ceilings
Clean first, repair defects, dull glossy paint, spot-prime patches, cut in, then roll while maintaining a wet edge.
How-to & advice
Paint with confidence.
Understand the surface, choose the right system, and solve common failures before they cost another weekend.
Application guides
Start with the surface.
Good paint cannot compensate for dirt, moisture, failed coating, or the wrong primer.
02
Cabinets & trim
Degrease carefully, scuff-sand the existing finish, remove dust, use a bonding primer where needed, and choose a leveling enamel.
03
Bathrooms & kitchens
Remove mildew at its source, allow surfaces to dry, use a moisture-resistant coating, and respect the full cure time before scrubbing.
04
Exterior siding & trim
Repair moisture entry, remove failed coating and chalk, prime bare areas, and paint only within the product’s temperature and weather limits.
05
Floors, porches & patios
Confirm the substrate is sound and dry, remove sealers and contamination, etch or abrade when required, then observe return-to-service time.
06
Fresh drywall & repairs
Remove sanding dust, seal porous joint compound uniformly, and use raking light to find ridges or pinholes before the finish coats.
Painting problems
Diagnose before repainting.
Failures usually begin below the finish coat. Fix the cause first, then rebuild the coating system.
Mildew
Dark spotting in damp areasCorrect ventilation or moisture first. Clean the growth safely, rinse and dry fully, then use the recommended mildew-resistant system.
Lap marks
Darker bands where wet and dry paint overlapWork in manageable sections, keep a wet edge, maintain consistent pressure and do not overwork paint as it begins to set.
Surfactant leaching
Glossy or brownish streaks in humid roomsDo not repaint immediately. Allow the coating to cure, wash residue away, and improve ventilation and drying conditions.
Cracking & flaking
Paint splits, curls or releasesFind the cause—poor adhesion, excess film build or moisture—then remove unsound paint, feather edges, prime and recoat correctly.
Peeling
Paint separates from the substrateStop moisture intrusion, remove loose material to a firm edge, clean and dry the surface, then use the substrate-specific primer.
Poor hide
Old color or patches show throughUse the correct tint base, spread at the listed coverage rate, apply a uniform primer when needed and allow full recoat time.
Blocking
Painted doors or shelves stick togetherUse a block-resistant enamel, avoid heavy films, allow adequate drying, and wait for cure before closing or stacking painted surfaces.
Picture framing
Cut-in areas look different from rolled areasUse the same paint batch and film thickness, cut in one wall at a time, and roll into the still-wet border.
Before opening the can
A five-minute project check.
- Identify the substrate and existing coating.
- Check for water, mildew, grease, chalk and loose paint.
- Choose the primer for the problem—not merely the room.
- Confirm coverage, temperature, dry time and recoat time.
- Test color and sheen in the actual light.