Learning Center
Answers to the questions most contractors dodge
22 guides on what things cost, what goes wrong, and how the options really compare. We write these because if you are asking, someone else asked yesterday and nobody answered them straight.
The Big 5
Start with the category that matches your question
Cost, problems, comparisons, reviews and best-of. Those five cover nearly everything homeowners actually search for.
On camera
Video library
David answering the same questions on video, so you can hear the answer instead of reading it.
Newest first
Recently published
Best Of
Best exterior paint for Illinois freeze thaw
Elastomeric versus 100 percent acrylic exterior paint, and how we prep for Illinois freeze thaw swings.
7 min read
Cost & Pricing
What our project minimum is for, and why we have one
Our project minimum is $450. Setup, travel, and cleanup cost the same on a small job as they do on a larger one.
5 min read
Reviews
The primers that actually cover old wallpaper adhesive
A review of which primers actually seal old wallpaper paste residue, and why standard latex primer often fails on that job.
6 min read
Problems
What Goes Wrong on Our Own Jobs, and What We Do About It
We are not perfect. Here is what actually goes wrong on our jobs sometimes, and how we make it right.
6 min read
Comparisons
DIY vs. hiring a painter
Honest breakdown of when DIY painting makes sense and when hiring a pro is worth it, covering ladders, ceilings, cabinets and resale.
6 min read
Cost & Pricing
Why a cheap painting quote is usually cheap for a reason
A low bid can be the right call sometimes, but usually it means thin coats, skipped prep, or no insurance behind the work.
6 min read
Before you hire anyone
Three pages worth reading, even if you hire somebody else
Who we are not right for
Six situations where you should not hire us, and who to call instead.
Read it straightBefore your estimate
What happens at the walkthrough, what we ask, and what to decide first.
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