Field Notes

Painting education.

Plain painting education from the job, not a paint store brochure.

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  Technique · 4 min

  How to cut in without a mess

  Cut-in is the line where wall meets ceiling and trim. A steady brush beats a roll of tape on most interiors.

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  Cabinets · 5 min

  Paint the cabinets or replace them

  Painting kitchen cabinets is cheaper than a full gut — if the boxes are sound. When replacement is the honest call.

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  Decks · 4 min

  Stain or paint a deck

  Stain shows the grain and needs more upkeep. Paint hides a beat-up surface and peels if the wood isn’t ready. How to choose in Michigan.

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  Exterior · 5 min

  Exterior paint in a Michigan climate

  Freeze-thaw, sun, and wet springs. What actually makes siding paint last here — and what fails by the second winter.

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  Drywall · 4 min

  Patch the drywall before you paint

  Holes, cracks, and water stains will print through a new color. The patch sequence that disappears under paint.

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  Planning · 3 min

  Ceiling, walls, then trim

  The order that keeps splatter off the finish you just did. Why painters don’t start with the baseboards.

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  Kitchens · 4 min

  Painting a kitchen that still gets used

  Grease, steam, and fingerprints. Degrease, satin or enamel, and a plan so you can cook the same week.

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  Bathrooms · 4 min

  Bathroom paint that survives steam

  Moisture is the job. Sheen, primer, and ventilation — what keeps a bathroom from peeling by next winter.

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  Estimating · 4 min

  How much paint for a bedroom

  A typical 12×12 bedroom takes about two gallons of wall paint for two coats. Here’s the square-foot math and what actually changes the number.

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  Sheen · 5 min

  Eggshell or satin on walls

  Eggshell hides flaws. Satin wipes cleaner. How to pick a sheen for bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, and kids’ rooms in a Michigan house.

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  Prep · 5 min

  What prep actually matters

  Caulk, sand, and prime the problems. Skip the theater. The prep steps that make a paint job last in an Otsego house.

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  Paint · 3 min

  Why two coats

  One coat looks painted until the light hits it. Coverage, color, and wear — why two coats is the default, not an upsell.

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  Planning · 4 min

  Can a painter finish a room in a day

  A bedroom with simple walls, yes. Trim-heavy rooms, no. What actually fits in one workday so you know what to book.