The Idaho Painter

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Paint Life® is not just a brand, it is a mantra and a way of life

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.

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TriTech T3 Airless Sprayer Starter Kit

Socket Blockers. Perfect masking tool for switches and outlets.

Door Deckers provides a door painting system, enabling painting both sides and edges of a door at the same time.

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Revolutionary Tool from The PaintLine: Spray Full-Size Interior Doors Standing Up in a Spray Booth!

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Painters Helping Painters

Created by The Idaho Painter, this private group is for members of the Paint Life community dedicated to educating, empowering, and equipping painters worldwide.

Paint Life Academy

Exterior Course

This course will focus on Exterior Painting and Processes. We’ll cover everything from the variety of ways to market yourself and your business, creating bid packages, the painting process from start to finish, plus a whole lot of tips and tricks along the way.

Cabinet Course

Are you interested in learning more about the cabinet painting process? Then this online course is for you! We’ll help you with everything from marketing you and your business, creating bid packages, to the best ways to sand and spray cabinet doors. This is designed to be a self-paced comprehensive course with over 40 lessons and 9 quizzes, including a final exam.

Masking Course

Want to learn how to become a faster and more effective masker? Then this online course is for you! Masking is an essential skill, but is not always the easiest process. If you can nail down efficient systems and processes, the painting process will be more enjoyable

Caulking Course

In this caulking course we start from the beginning with the tools you will need, the sealants for every situation, and get into advances caulking methods and techniques.

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The good and bad about this product. It’s tough and durable but not absorbent. A little slick. Going back to X-Board. #paintbooth #ramboard #flooring #painter #paintlife #ecofriendly

let’s strip a dining room table full of paste wax! A treasure lies below! #discover #hidden #uncover

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Putting SW Latitude to the test at 36 degrees. Have you tried it? #chili #coldweather #painter

This product makes fence restoration a breeze. A self leveling, penetrating oil requiring 0 back brushing! #restore #fencecolors #fences

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Working with the grownups! #kidspainting #apprentice #painter

New construction painting has many twists and turns! #housecolors #colordesign #sherwinwilliams

Revolutionary Tool from The PaintLine: Spray Full-Size Interior Doors Standing Up in a Spray Booth!

Teach the young ones to paint with some Latitude. Paintings not rocket science! #painter #apprentice

  

Ask Your Questions Here!

Chris Berry

Chris BerrySep 22

Ask Your Questions Here!
AJ

AJ  Oct 22

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!!!

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

Not sure how it could be to smooth using 120


Thursday, November 7, 2024


Bret

Bret  Nov 7

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!

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

I use Renner 648


Monday, November 11, 2024


Don sincennes

Don sincennes  Nov 11

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!

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

Don, I did not make a mistake in my review. You may disagree but I have my own opinion like it or not.

Don sincennes

Don sincennes  Nov 11

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

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

I respectfully disagree

Don sincennes

Don sincennes  Nov 11

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?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

OK

Don sincennes

Don sincennes  Nov 11

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

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

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.

Don sincennes

Don sincennes  Nov 11

Actually, I would prefer to speak to you on the phone! Don

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 15

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.


Tuesday, November 12, 2024


peter karys

peter karys  Nov 12

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peter karys

peter karys  Nov 12

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.

Chris Berry  Nov 15

About the most difficult thing to paint.

Chris Berry

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.

peter karys  Nov 12

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peter karys
IMG_3801.png

Saturday, November 16, 2024


Denise

Denise   Nov 16

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!

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 20

On repaints we roll walls and spray trim. Rolling give a better finish.

peter karys

peter karys  Nov 16

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

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 20

If it is already painted it does not need a primer

peter karys

peter karys  Nov 16

HEA 619 I have a 500 sq ft ceiling. Thanks for all your help

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 20

A always sprayer ceilings with a 619 HEA tip


Tuesday, November 19, 2024


Frf

Frf  Nov 19

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

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Nov 20

Renner 851 catalyzed.


Monday, December 2, 2024


caroline

caroline  Dec 2

Hi I took a painting cabinet job and I’m going to do it for the first time starting today. Do you have any videos teaching how to do it using your technique? Best spray machine for painting cabinets and any other info on the job? Thank you so much God bless! 🙏🏼

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 3

https://paintlifesupply.com/collections/courses/products/cabinet-academy

Cabinet Painting Course | Paint Life Supply Co.

https://paintlifesupply.com/products/cabinet-academy

Cabinet Painting Course | Paint Life Supply Co.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024


Erik L

Erik L  Dec 3

Hey Chris,
I'm planning on painting the exterior of my home which is stucco, the previous owners painted it, less than 5 years ago and I don't see any cracks or peeling. It is kind of an orange color. Would you recommend priming (after cleaning and prepping) it before we spray? We are looking at going with a light grey color

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 3

No need to prime. Use BM Aura flat.

Erik L

Erik L  Dec 3

Great! I will check out the paint. would sherwin williams duration work as well? my wifes company gets a discount from them.

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 4

Yes that is a good product


Monday, December 9, 2024


jordan henry

jordan henry  Dec 9

CABINET ORANGE PEEL HELP. I am painting my kitchen cabinets. (First time using a sprayer) I am using a graco 360 variable speed. I have orange peel on my test cabinet. I used the narrow tip at lowest speed. Spraying SW extreme bond primer. Any tips on fixing it before spraying my 2 coats of emerald urethane?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 16

There are many things that could cause this. Extreme bond primer is not a good product to be using for this.

jordan henry

jordan henry  Dec 9

Also thank in advance!


Sunday, December 15, 2024


ryan

ryan  Dec 15

Hey Chris. My Florida house flooded out in Hurricane Helene. All new drywall is hung and I’m going to spray the primer with Graco X17. Looking for a primer recommendation. Mildew resistant and good from a sprayer. Ps I stayed up way too late last night watching your channel

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 16

New drywall requires PVA


Monday, December 16, 2024


Newell Barrett

Newell Barrett  Dec 16

Dear Chris, I hope you are well. Thank you for your past videos and instruction, which were very helpful re. doing my wall painting and semi gloss oil trim/ doors etc. I am about to continue with some more, but have a question for you on another topic. Can you recommend or suggest a Youtube instructor for the laying of stone floor tiles? Regards Newell

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 16

Unfortunately i do not

jordan henry

jordan henry  Dec 16

Interesting, what would you suggest as a primer? That’s what everyone else has suggested to including SW.

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 17

I would never trust what SW says.

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Dec 17

They will not suggest what is good cause they don't sell it. Zinsser BIN Shellac primer. The person suggesting EBP, ask them how many cabinets they have painted?


Tuesday, January 14, 2025


Brock

Brock  Jan 14

Hi Chris, is it best to paint the walls first or do the trimmings/skirting boards?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

I always start with trim. Have a video on that.


Tuesday, January 21, 2025


Jay Lee

Jay Lee  Jan 21

Hi Chris. I'm loving your Online Epoxy (garage floor) Course. I'm a multiple home-owner, but not in the paint/construction business (I work in healthcare IT). For consumers like me, can you please recommend consumer-equivalent products to the Rust-o-leum products that you mentioned in your course and use for your garage floors? I'm having trouble finding the pro products you mentioned:
- Epoxy-shell 500 (550?) (Primer)

- Epoxy-Shell 1000 (1st coat)

- Poly-shell 8000 2nd Coat (clear poly-aspartic)
Or if you could point me to a rep, that would be great. Thanks! -Jay.

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

Where do you live?


Wednesday, January 29, 2025


mark

mark   Jan 29

I love using your caulking trick to paint a straight line, but if you have to do two coats, do you just retape again or can you leave the tape on long enough for the wall to dry then add the second coat and remove the tape question

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

If two coats I stay away from the tape on the first coat.


Monday, February 3, 2025


peter karys

peter karys  Feb 3

I’m looking to have my ceiling painted sprayed I’m think about using Benjamin Moore Waterbourne 508 have you used this product if so what do you think. I’m looking for a dead flat can you recommend a product. Thanks

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

Love BM products but I have not used that one.


Tuesday, February 4, 2025


TH

TH  Feb 4

Hey Chris—-

Do people apply German shemear to Ext stone in Idaho?

Can you achieve a good look by Whitewashing or Staining faux stone?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

I have but not sure if others have.


Tuesday, February 11, 2025


Camille G

Camille G  Feb 11

Love your Chanel. Chris we have recently purchaed a home with a red metal roof. Finding colors to paint the house has been excruciating . Pulling my hair out trying to decide. Do you have any suggestions before I am completely BALD?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

Paint the roof.


Saturday, February 15, 2025


Chase

Chase  Feb 15

Good morning! My wife wants to paint the interior of the garage door since we turned our garage into a playroom for the kids. How do I paint it all black without ruining the functionality of the door?

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 15

Mask off what needs to be masked then spray it.


Sunday, February 16, 2025


Will

Will  Feb 16

Hi Chris! Asking you as a pro that uses the Control Max…I have the small Control Max 1650 backpack sprayers. Would you recommend/use the Wagner HEA inline filter on the Control Max spray gun? I see from your videos you have your hose or whip directly connected to the HEA spray gun without any filter attachment.

Chris Berry

Chris Berry  Feb 16

I would not attach a filter


Wednesday, February 26, 2025


Jobee

Jobee  Feb 26

Hi Chris, thanks for all you do for the painting world. Do you have a step-by-step process for starting your own painting company?


Monday, March 10, 2025


Jae Hampton

Jae Hampton  Mar 10

With the Premier brush, do I need to pre-wet it before painting?

Also, this is my first time painting a door. Do you have any tips or tricks for painting a door with window panes? I’ll be using both a brush and a roller.


Monday, April 7, 2025


john

john   Apr 7

Hey Chris, So we just put in new drywall and texture in a vacation house the floors are in already. I know I have to use a PVA primer on the raw rock and mud. I’m going to be taping off the top and bottom and draping plastic on the floors and ceilings I have no trim in yet (base boards or crown) can I leave the tape in place after the PVA and then shoot my color coat (2 coats) then pull the tape. I haven’t found a video of yours where it’s raw rock and mud and floors and ceilings can’t be touched. I will be shooting it with a 510 tip, with a Wagner 2800 2 gallon hopper. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time for the PVA to cure before shooting my color coat? Thanks keep up the good work

john

john   Apr 7

Edit 517 tip


Sunday, April 27, 2025


dy

dy  Apr 27

What brand of deck stain or what deck stain characteristics would you recommend on 6 month old, never stained, treated wood swimming pool deck. It is in full sun all day.


Wednesday, May 7, 2025


Steven Rosburg

Steven Rosburg  May 7

Hi Chris! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! All of the videos I've seen where you're spraying trim have hard floors, do you have any videos where the floor has carpet? If so, have you had any issues with paint bridging to the tape (since you can't risk getting paint on the carpet, but carpet tends to press against the baseboard)?


Wednesday, May 28, 2025


Lee

Lee  May 28

I’m not a painter, I am a pool & hot tub service guy. I’ve volunteered to resurface my churches Baptismal after another volunteer painted it with regular household paint, unfortunately I don’t know what was used. I know it needs cleaned before new paint but have no idea how or what to use. Where do I start!?


Friday, May 30, 2025


Tommy C

Tommy C  May 30

Chris thanks to your videos I am taking on my home exterior paint project. Wanted to ask if you have suggestion on sanding / smoothing out caulk which I used to fill some gaps within my old wooden garage door.


Wednesday, June 11, 2025


Austin Brueckner

Austin Brueckner  Jun 11

Can i use PNTR on my shirt? I really like it but wanted to check first


Monday, June 30, 2025


Erin W

Erin W  Jun 30

Hi Chris, love your channel and have been watching your content for years. I recently primed (2 coats) and painted new drywall in a bathroom and the paint is peeling off in big pieces. Outside of spending hours and hours scraping off the paint, do you have any recommendations on how to fix the issue and repaint?


Wednesday, July 2, 2025


Jason

Jason  Jul 2

Hi Chris! You have created some amazing content and it is very much appreciated. I'm wondering what is the best way to go about painting the exterior wall of a 2-story house that sits above the garage? I put the picture as my profile picture and the red arrow points to the wall I'm talking about. The roof is not that steep and if I were to stand up at the peak, I'm still going to be short a few feet. What ladder setup would you recommend? Maybe you have a video out there somewhere that has this type of setup but I have not found it yet.


Saturday, July 5, 2025


Bucky

Bucky  Jul 5

Yes, sir, Brad. I was curious if your seals would fit the blue Greco housing.. Thanks for your time, and I've learned so much from you. Thanks again.


Tuesday, July 15, 2025


Scott Bjurstrom

Scott Bjurstrom  Jul 15

Hello,

I’m getting ready to paint the interior side of our stained wood Pella casement windows, and I want to make sure I do it right, especially when it comes to prep, product selection, and maintaining the functionality of the windows.

Do you happen to have a video tutorial or step-by-step guide that walks through this specific process? I’d love to see how a pro tackles it before I dive in. Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated as well!

Thanks in advance.


Wednesday, August 6, 2025


chris

chris  Aug 6

How long to wait for second coat


Sunday, August 17, 2025


LESLIE

LESLIE  Aug 17

Hi Chris, should I wash interior walls that have been painted in a satin paint? Assuming I should use a product like Krud cutter to degloss the surface.

Scott  Aug 17

Hello Chris;

Scott

Hello ChrisGood Morning;

I am a general contractor in Mesa AZ.   I have a couple of questions for you on new construction.

 After sanding of texture do you always dust mop the walls and ceiling to get rid of the excess dust that may ball up during priming and or finish coat?

 In the hallway, I always see tell tale lines where the sprayer leaves or roller, is there a way of not seeing those lines in the natural light that shines in from the living room

Do you have any videos I could watch to see what you suggest?

Thank you for your time;

Scott Waldron

General Contractor

License Number:  294698

Grand AZ. Realty

Scott

Scott  Aug 17

Trying to ask a question


Tuesday, August 19, 2025


Maureen

Maureen  Aug 19

Just watched your video on gel-staining fiberglass doors from years ago - great tips! We are considering refinishing our gel-stained wood-grain fiberglass front door. Is sanding sufficient to prep or would we need to strip it down to bare door? Would you advise against attempting to refinish a dark gel stained door in a lighter gel stain? Currently our door is in dark walnut gel stain with water based poly clear coat, done in 2012. Finish is still in great shape, poly has been redone at least a few times over the years. Reason for refinishing is just that we would prefer a lighter colour – Minwax gel stain in aged oak .