The Idaho Painter, a man on a mission to Educate, Empower, Equip painters worldwide. Chris Berry’s mission is to shatter the barriers of entry into painting and convince people that it can be a lot of fun painting on your own or with a team. As a proud professional painter for over 30 years, Chris Berry has a passion to Educate fellow painters in the trade as well as DIYer’s. Paint Life TV was created to fulfill the first part of his mission to Educate. Paint Life TV is a place where you can find Chris sharing what he has learned as a painter and business owner.
Hey chris… wondering what you would recommend for my lamp posts and mailbox? They need a fresh coat and I’m not sure what would be best. Thank you!
Benjamin Moore Aura
Hi Chris. I have a pine board ceiling that was installed probably in the 80's. The customer would like to make it darker, without painting it. I asked around and I could use a varnish that is a darker colour than the existing one (now it is clear). But I'm being told that I will have a problem with "overlap marks". The ceiling is 13 feet by 25 feet long. I was thinking of doing a few boards at a time, on the entire length, but when I start my new section, chances I will overlap the previously made section. Is there a product that would make it darker (not black) and avoid the overlap marks?
If it was me I would be sanding, staining, and clear coating. An easy way would be to use Behr Stain & Poly in one. Simple product. Just brush it on.
Hi Chris! Recently painted my garage and when I was taking the Frog tape off this happened. How can I fix this? The rest of the garage is fine. This is the only area this happened. Thanks!
Skim it with bondo glazing putty and sand.
Thank you so much
You are welcome.
Have you ever had to us sherwin williams acrolon 218 hs it's more of a industrial style paint I've been struggling using an airless sprayer to spray it but it's kinda been working just wondering if you may have any advice or secrets to spraying this
I have never used it. What are you using it on?
When you are re-painting Stucco that hasn’t been painted since it was originally painted 13 years ago. Do you have to prime or can you just paint? Thanks
Depends on the coating you are using. The exterior paint I used needs no primer.
Hi, I recently purchased a Graco Ultra QuickShot paint sprayer to paint small jobs around my house. One of the things I want to paint is a a wrought iron fence and I want to use Rustoleum paint with a “1” (2 inch spray pattern) fflp tip. They come in an 06 and 08 orifice. Questions: Can I spray Rustoleum with an fflp sprayer like this? Can I use a 106 or 108 and which one should I use? Do I need to thin the paint and how much should I thin it? On a side note, I would like to see you review this machine.
I would only attempt to spray a wrought iron fence with and HVLP sprayer. With an airless the over spray would be astronomical.
I’m painting the 4 rail around our property and pastures. I have an older Wagner 505, that works perfectly well. I’m having a hard time finding the proper tips got the gun. The tips have a narrow barrel. A black 413 had come with the gun and red nozzle. The paint mfg. recommends a 017 or 023. I’m looking for 417, 423, 517, etc. the tips I have procured are,too fat to fit in the nozzle. I would entertain a reasonable newer gun, if the tips I require are not available. Please advise. Best regards.
You need the tip to fit the guard. Get a black Titan guard and Titan tip and it will work.
Chris: I am a cabinet maker primarily, but I am also an inventor. I heard you say in one of your product reviews ( Titan 1100 airless) that you dislike accessories like tool boxes, etc on airless rigs. My question is, have you ever seen a gadget that allows an airless to connect all its lines to a 5 gallon bucket lid?
I have not.
Hi Chris, I'm going to be painting my house and was looking for an insecticide additive for paint. I noticed you made a video 10 yrs ago about bug juice and stating you use it 95% of your jobs. Do you still use it and do you recommend it? Thanks
Love the stuff and still use it.
I recently refinished a cedar deck.
The deck had previously been sealed with a water based clear product. Maybe Behr. I was told that the previous painters had done a poor job and had come back and put a second coat on. Half of the deck and the stairs are uncovered. The previous product was at 90% failure and peeling where ever the deck was uncovered.
For prep, I had lightly pressure washed the deck with a mild detergent. I let the deck dry for a week and then I sanded 40, 60, 80, 100 grit. After sanding (before staining) I noticed that the deck floor was picking up my shoe prints. The day that I stained (Clear Wood Stain and Sealer), I spot sanded where the foot prints were, blew off the deck, and then shop vac’d the deck. I applied the stain with a stain pad and wiped any excess product off. The customer did not step on the deck for 72 hours. Her shoes have been leaving prints. It’s not on every board or on every part of the deck. One thing I noticed that it is most prominent on the steps of the deck. And where the deck is covered. Which doesn’t make sense to me as they receive very different weather conditions as the stairs are getting full sun through out the day.
Obviously this is not a product issue as it was happening before any stain had been applied.
I am just looking for any advice or insight as to what could be causing this as I have never encountered it before and have not been able to find any answers online. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
I think the deck needs a stripper and oxalic acid take to it. Expert Stains step 1 and step 2.
I'm painting with roller and brush on Hardi that was new and painted 6 to 8 years ago. I'm using Behr Dynasty and am doing 2 coats. Doing a Raven black on top of yellow. I'm done with 1st coat and realize the Hardi butt joints are not caulked. What caulk would work best to do just one final coat over? Or should I double coat the newly caulked joints anyways? Thank you.
Big Stretch is what Hardi requires. One coat is fine.
Looking at painting a home with smooth synthetic stucco. Does it require primer or would two coats of acrylic work best? Also, does it need to be backrolled?
BM Aura would be great. No primer needed.
Hi Chris, been watching your videos for a few months now. I've been painting for almost 24 years and have learned a few things from you. Just made my first order from your store. Excited to try out your whips. Thanks.
Thanks for your support Darren
Chris, when prepping the wall to be painted do you feel that it should be dry wiped down and then a damp wipe down? Also I wanted to thank you for your content and the scripture verses that you have on your videos! Praise the Lord!
I would never wipe them down unless there was some reason to. If they are clean, no reason. Glad to help.
What is the best way to solve this checking in my cabinet paint?
Will have to be sanded off. Use an Ekasand 3x4 sander and Ekastorm abrasive.
Hi Chris, I just purchased your cabinet training videos, i am very interested in opening my own buissness but just to be a cabinet professional. I am new to all this and my first project will be my own kitchen cabinets . I just need some advice as to how to start i have purchase graco sprayer gun festool sander most of the stuff to get started just need some advice on how to launch a buissness and eventually leave my 9-5 job.
That could not be answered in a short paragraph. I could give you advice on something more specific. Launching a business is very different depending on where you live.
So I painted a playground slide (green) to pink. I pressure washed, sanded, washed down with acetone. Used our sprayer and painted it pink with a waterproof exterior paint and sealed it. We didn’t even hang it back up and it’s already chipping. What can I do differently because I’m thinking of pressure washing it right off and re doing it to last longer. I saw the pool slide and was wondering if I should do that?
My husband wants to kill me bc he said it was a bad idea in the first place 🥴
Not a bad idea just probably the wrong product. That is something that takes a special coating.
What product do you recommend ? I have another slide to so I can try it out
Depends on what it’s currently coated with
Hello, i'm a fairly new painter and i've only done interiors so far with good success. But now i've got a job painting 8 FRP columns on exterior. I was wondering the best paint brand and sheen and your fav white column color that you would use. Also what size nap roller sleeve should i use ? Thank you in advance for the advice....
I use BM Aura
Hello, we purchased a home that had a fireplace on a large brick wall. It has already been painted, only on the brick not on the grout. (it's rather hideous). I'm guessing we cannot stain it now. We have already purchased the paint via a friends advice. Now we are trying to decide if we want to brush and roll the paint. (We have large nap roller), but we also have access to our friends paint sprayer.
Spray and back brush it with a solid color stain.
Hi Chris, I’m starting some on-site kitchen spray finishing in the future. I’ll be using a make-shift spray booth from paint line/zip wall to spray the cabinet doors. Just wondering, which explosion-proof exhaust fan would you suggest? Thanks for all that you do!
I could not give a recommendation cause we only work with non-flammable products.
I use Renner wood coatings, which is water based. Does that still require an explosion proof fan?
Not it does not
"I need to prep my metal encased front door,and some of the old paint tore off from decorative seasonal decorations. How do I prep that small area where sthe top coat of paint tore off. It’s not a dent but a thin layer of paint that tore off/
Bondo Glazing Putty
Hey chris have a question on armorseal rexthane...and the application I'm trying out with it is out of the ordinary. But if you have time to talk would be great won't take long but just wanted to get your thoughts. Great videos and educational videos on everything by the way!
We do not offer phone support at this time
Hey Chris, big fan. I see your truck running around valley county and wish I would have reached out earlier. Hoping you might be able to help? Hired a contractor to paint the exterior of a house off of W. Mountain in Donnelly that I put my heart and soul into building. To say the job was an absolute disaster is an understatement. Curious if you happen to know any contractors in the area that you’d trust to fix the job? Appreciate it!
I would need to see what needs to be fixed, the scope of work.
Hey Chris Mike here from vivid painting. I’m new to the painting industry as a business owner, but I painted for multiple companies. Any advice for someone starting new as a business owner in this industry
I have a handful of videos on the business of painting. Also look at my online course catalog. Great resource and very inexpensive.
Hi Chris. I’ve got white vinyl windows that I want to paint. I will be getting white siding so I wanted to paint the windows black. Well, I spoke to my local SW store and they said I can NOT paint black as it will warp. What is the closest (vinyl safe) color to black that I can use that won’t warp my windows?
I would paint them with PPG Breakthrough. You would need to check PPG's vinyl safe color palette.
Taking a shot here you might have a suggestion. I just built some cabinets/bookshelves. I spray primed them to prep for spraying the finish paint.
While I was spraying one side, I got air in the line and it shot the paint out in a big streak. I waited till it was dry and used my orbital and sanded it all smooth with 120. The streak is unrecognizable and blended in with the rest of the primer.
My issue is the primer on that side that i sanded is super smooth now. Almost glass like. I think the orbital sanded it and almost buffed it with the dust on there.
I’m worried it’s too smooth for my topcoat now. I think I should just scratch sand it by hand with a 120 grit sponge or something.
What do you think? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!
Not sure how it could be to smooth using 120
Hi Chris - I am painting a fireplace surround/mantel that is made of raw MDF material. What type of primer you would recommend for a latex topcoat? Thank you for your time!
I use Renner 648
Chris, hope all is well. I have been supporting you for years, and still do. Hopefully, you review the NEW Gooseneck brushes for your approval to a 5 Star. You gave the Gooseneck in the past a 4?, because of the metal ferrule? We as professional painters don't look at this. We look at the filaments. I think you made a mistake. We all do Would you agree as you are a professional. Your reviews show 4.8 all 5 stars? so, I think in all fairness you shoul give the Goosenecks a 5 Star. It is a win, win situation for everyone. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at 1-613-294-9933 Don Sincennes Thank you for your time. Cheers! The Gooseneck Guy!
Don, I did not make a mistake in my review. You may disagree but I have my own opinion like it or not.
Chris, their has not been one negative comment of the metal ferrule Goosenecks since it's existence. I have always supported you! I wait to see your decision, Thank you! Amazon has it 4.8 and will reach a 5 soon! One review is being questioned. Go see Gooseneck 80832. Don Sincennes
I respectfully disagree
Chris, you mentioned this on your video, metal ferrule with over 80,000 views. Comments were all positive and NO ONE mentioned anything about the metal ferrule?
OK
Look at all Gooseneck reviews on your site! All thumbs up! There must be in total 100 comments. All positive! I will wait patently for your approval Goosenecks 5 Stars!. Kind regards! Don Sincennes
I will give it a 5 star when they take my opinion into consideration and make a change. Have them contact me and we can discuss.
Actually, I would prefer to speak to you on the phone! Don
We do not currently offer phone support. Have Richards contact me if they want to discuss what can be improved on with the tool. Great brush, has value, gets you out of pickle every now and then, is it a high quality product? Not really but I love mine and it hangs in my trailer. Improve on the ferrule and put a Dupont filament blend in it, WhaLa. 5 Stars.
My question is I just had the popcorn removed and had the entire ceiling skimmed and sanded and there’s 2 coats of primer/surfacer there are a lot of shadows when the lights aren’t on if I have a true level 4 ceiling if I spray USG Tuff Hide primer/ceiling would this level out the ceiling ? how do I remedy this. When the lights are on the ceiling looks great.
About the most difficult thing to paint.
There are only a few good ceiling paints. The only tip you will have success with is an HEA tip. You have to spray the right direction and saturate it keeping a soaking wet edge.
Hi Chris! We just bought a new home, abt 3k sq feet. The entire thing needs to be painted. We are going to do it ourselves and wondering if you thought spraying the whole thing or part of it would be superior in finish and save time vs rolling/brushing? We will be doing it ourselves. Thx!
On repaints we roll walls and spray trim. Rolling give a better finish.
So do recommend me using the USG Sheetrock Tuff Hide primer/surfacer ? Your should Cross Hatch Benjamin Moore Waterbourne ceiling paint 508 ? Do you think it would be overkill if I used the USG Tuff Hide first and then top coated it with the Benjamin Moore Waterborne ? When I pull the blinds in my condo I have water views from the lake so there’s lots of natural light so I get that Glancing effect at certain times of day. The shadows are driving me nuts
If it is already painted it does not need a primer
HEA 619 I have a 500 sq ft ceiling. Thanks for all your help
A always sprayer ceilings with a 619 HEA tip
Could you please advise the best primer and pint to paint Formica cabinets . My GFs dad was a cabinet maker and he made them from Formica
Renner 851 catalyzed.