Ryan Cunningham - 20+ Year Professional Painter

Staining a deck is one of the most satisfying DIY projects, and it’s not hard to do if you’re willing to put in the time. The key is picking the right product – because there are many types of stains out there! Behr Semi Transparent Deck Stain has been around for decades and homeowners love …

INSL-X Stix Primer is a primer made by INSL-X and owned by Benjamin Moore. INSL-X has been around for over 70 years and has become increasingly popular since being purchased by Benjamin Moore in 2008. INSL-X has two main products that many DIY Painters ask me about; those are its Stix Primer and its Cabinet …

Painting aluminum siding isn’t as uncommon as you may think. Many people know that their aluminum siding is good, but they are just tired of the color, or it may have become faded and chalky over time. As a painting contractor for over 20 years, I’ve been asked many times if you can paint aluminum …

Want to get an idea of what your exterior painting project will cost you before you start collecting bids or buying paint? In this post, I will break down all of the costs involved in exterior house painting and help you get an idea of what you should expect to pay a painting contractor and …

Painting vinyl siding is a topic that comes up quite often here in DIY Painting Tips, mostly as a question of “Can you paint vinyl siding?”. Lots of homeowners have vinyl siding that is faded or is an old color that they are just tired of. Other than the look of the siding, it is …

Removing wallpaper can be an absolute nightmare. It comes off slow, damages your walls, and creates an uneven painting surface for your painting project. Nobody likes peeling off wallpaper, and most professionals dread this task. How To Remove Wallpaper: The Right and Easy Way But, removing wallpaper doesn’t have to be complicated. I have a …

This is my review and complete tutorial on the Wagner Flexio 2000.  I’m Ryan Cunningham and I have been painting for 20+ years. I have used the Wagner Flexio as well as many other HVLP sprayers for all types of projects. I have spent thousands of hours spraying and know these sprayers inside and out.  …

This is a review of Zinsser Mold Killing Primer, what it does, where you should use it, and how I use it. I have been painting for roughly 20 years now. I’ve done everything from kitchen cabinet painting to exterior painting and restoration work. You can purchase Zinsser Mold Killing Primer here. I actually come …

In this post, I am going to be addressing how to make paint dry faster. I am not going to be giving any absurd ideas here, just real-world examples and ideas that I have actually used myself in my 20 years of painting. I decided to write this post on making paint dry faster for …

More specifically, can painting over oil based paint with latex paint be done? Yes, and I’ll show you exactly how. A common question I get from clients and here on DIY Painting Tips is “Can I paint latex over oil paint on my cabinets?”. It turns out that there is a lot of confusion on …

To get the best paint job possible, you usually need to primer your surfaces before applying the topcoat. In fact, the right primer will usually make or break a difficult painting job. This Is A Review of Kilz 2 All Purpose Primer Kilz 2 All Purpose Primer is a great general purpose and low-cost primer. …

Peeling exterior paint can be an absolute nightmare. If you paint over it, your new paint will be peeling within a year and if you remove it, plan on sanding and scraping for weeks. This was always the dilemma for exterior painting. How do you go about properly fixing peeling paint in an efficient manner …

Primers are easily the most essential, and often most over-looked step in painting. Get the primer wrong and you may have a disaster on your hands as your paint begins peeling, allowing bleed through, or easily chipping off. Get your primer right, and you’ll have a great looking and long lasting paint job for years …

Who doesn`t want to feel like they`re living on the ocean? Even if you`re in the hottest deserts, coastal paint colors can make it feel like the water is only a few steps away. But, sometimes, choosing the right coastal paint colors can feel nearly impossible with how many options there are. Don`t worry! If …

When it comes to contemporary paint colors for your home, a lot of homeowners think of muted, neutral tones. While these shades are certainly a big part of “contemporary” colors as a whole, surprisingly enough, there`s a lot of other vibrant colors that could also fit your modern and updated interior as well. With this …

Sometimes, every home needs a new pop of color. Whether you’re hoping to paint your walls or decorate a piece of furniture, modern paint colors are some of the best ways to give your house a whole new look. These colors aren’t too flashy but aren’t too simple, either: they’re perfect for your home.  Below, …

Right now is the perfect time to switch it up. While this might mean dyeing your hair for some, we love the idea of giving your home a new splash of color with some shabby chic paint.  Shabby chic is one of the most popular color pallets in the home decor world right now, so …

With fields of blooming sunflowers, groves of olive trees, and an awe-inspiring sea, Tuscany reflects centuries of Italian tradition and culture in a way that is simply breathtaking. Tuscany`s rustic essence is one of warmth and elegance, and this is most aptly reflected by the beautiful color palette the region has inspired.  The combination of …

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your garage or the best paint for garage walls. We get it; your garage isn’t at the forefront of your priorities for remodeling. You park your car, store old exercise gear, maybe even half-full cans of paint in there. You think about cleaning it but …

Whether it`s by the sea or tucked deep within the woods, there`s nothing quite like the laid back, comfortable charm of a well decorated cottage.  Compared to more traditional homes, cottages tend to employ a more casual and rustic style that`s usually reflected by the colors adorning the walls. With so many color options available, …