In this episode of “Ask Danny,” Tracey Amadio offers her tips and tricks for painting.
In Episode 3 of “Ask Danny,” painting expert Tracey Amadio shares her tips and tricks for getting the perfect paint job.
Tracey Amadio, a.k.a. the “Queen of Painting Everything” is passionate about painting! (Courtesy Tracey Amadio)
About Tracey Amadio
Tracey Amadio is passionate about painting. She uses expertise from her home improvement career to teach DIY projects, home design, and painting techniques on her website Porchdaydreamer.com.
Tracey’s fans have crowned her the “The Queen of Painting Everything” because there’s nothing she won’t paint!
Her superpower of color memory and long history of color trend analysis is combined to find the perfect paint colors for you.
Her mission is to take the pain out of painting and decorating with her easy-to-understand tutorials.
Tracey was named a 2021 Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker and her work has been featured in HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Apartment Therapy and more.
Color pigments, additives, resins and carriers determine the price of paint. (annastories)
Paint Prices
Why is some paint much more expensive than other brands and types?
Tracey: Price matters… to a point.
Many homeowners only focus on the paint color and don’t think about what’s mixed in with the color pigments. Resins, additives and carriers — like water and oil — are key ingredients that will make paint more expensive.
Higher-quality pigments and resins will make the cost go up, but you’ll have better coverage. The middle price point is the best option to choose.
Remember: Quality perception is dictated by the person who’s using the paint. A professional may want a thinner paint because they’ll be using a sprayer, but a homeowner typically wants a thicker paint because they’ll be covering a wall with another color or painting a piece of furniture.
Spending a little extra on that better paint is going to give you an easier application and fewer brush strokes. Also, the paint will dry to a better, more durable finish.
Picking a paint color can be overwhelming. Find an object to start your color palette and work from there. (Feverpitched, Getty Images)
Picking a Color
Can you offer some guidance on how to choose a paint color?
Tracey: When picking a paint color, start with the color you want to base your palette around. It could be a piece of fabric, a rug, a plate, anything that helps you hone onto the color you want.
Take it to the store with you to choose the right paint. Also base it on the amount of light in the room, if it a darker too choose a lighter paint color and sop forth.
I have a free guide you can download. 6 easy steps to picking a paint color.
Also, consider the lighting in the room you’re painting. If you have a dark room, lighter paint, if you have a light room, you can go with a darker paint color, a mid-value paint is going to be best for most people.
After you have an idea of what color you want, buy a foam board and paint it with samples so you can move it around the room to see if it will work for you.
Take your time deciding before you pick a color. See how the color samples look at different times of the day.
A satin or semi-gloss sheen is best for trim and molding. (JodiJacobson, Getty Images Signature)
Choosing Sheen
What are the different types of sheen, and how should you pick one?
Tracey: I used to work at a paint desk, and I would often see the “deer in headlights” look when I asked what sheen a person wanted.
Sheen matters! It’s actually more important than color.
There are five types of sheen: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. To determine what sheen you need, consider the room or project you’re painting.
If you’re painting a ceiling, you want a low-reflective paint to hide any imperfections, especially where the joints match up. A flat sheen is best for this.
For walls, you want a higher sheen, like eggshell. Cooking splatters and accidental spills happen, so you need a finish that’s cleanable.
When you scrub a flat paint, it burnishes it and makes it shiny. Flat paint is great for touchups but not for high-traffic areas where you need scrutability and durability.
The higher the sheen, the harder the paint will be when it dries. I typically recommended satin, at minimum, or semi-gloss for trim and molding. These sheens are still wipable but they’re more durable, so they’ll stand up to scuffing and jarring.
I don’t recommend a high-gloss paint. The more reflective a paint is, the more flaws it’s going to show. It’s also hard to apply, so I would leave that to a professional.
Exterior and interior paint can’t be interchanged. Always paint the outside of your home with a paint rated for outdoor use. (Susie Hedberg, Getty Images)
Exterior Painting
What temperature is best for painting a home’s exterior?
Tracey: Most of the time, exterior paint can’t be applied in temperatures under 55-50 degrees Fahrenheit. You want to paint outside when there’s low humidity and the temperature is moderate — between 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Paint has a lot of water in it, so the more water in the air, the longer time it will take the paint to dry. Allow yourself three sunny days, if possible, for the paint to dry.
When painting your home’s exterior, only use paint that’s rated for exterior use. Because exterior paint has to deal with temperature changes once it’s dry, it’s fortified with special resins and pigments for special durability. It can expand and contract to a degree that interior paint cannot.
The best paint for exterior use is acrylic latex. I steer clear of oil paints for the exterior. Oil paint isn’t easy to clean, and if you’re using a white oil paint, it will yellow over time because of the oil in it.
Now, there is oil-enriched enamel paint that is water-based, so it’s easy to clean with soap and water like acrylic latex. This paint has oil molecules suspended within it, and as it dries, those molecules activate to act like oil paint. The end result is a surface that’s hard and durable with all the benefits and flexibility of latex paint.
Refresh plastic outdoor furniture with a new coat of paint. (Jonathan Cooper/Pexels)
Painting Plastic
How do you paint plastic outdoor furniture?
Tracey: I take a dual approach to painting plastic furniture. Apply a bonding primer spray first, then cover it with a regular spraypaint.
(travellinglight, Getty Images)
Even Experts Make Mistakes
Tracey: Even though I’m a paint expert, I sometimes go online to see what other people in the painting world are doing.
About a year ago, I decided to paint my stair risers, which were stained and heavily polyurethaned.
One blogger recommended liquid sandpaper, and I thought that could save me a step. I taped off the risers, applied the liquid sandpaper and then painted on top of that.
When the paint was still damp, I pulled the tape off at a 90-degree angle. A full piece of film peeled right off the stair riser, and the entire job was ruined!
I learned a tough lesson: Trust my gut and go with what works. Use a deglosser, then use a bonding primer, then apply the paint.
My paint has stayed put and is vacuum-cleaner proof as well!
Sand away any imperfections before painting wood. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Tracey’s Tips
Never ignore proper surface preparation. If you do, the paint will come off. Get the surface nice and clean and sand any failing areas.
Use stain-blocking bonding primer if painting over a stain. If you don’t, the stain will rise up to the surface and create color inconsistencies.
Pay attention to the re-coat time. A lot of people think dry time and recoat time are the same. Typically, recoat time is longer than dry time. If you don’t wait the proper amount of time recommended by the manufacturer, the paint will stick to itself and never fully dry. You end up with really tacky, sticky paint that’s almost impossible to fix.
This post is sponsored by The Home Depot, and this page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product from these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
The LED lights on the tape strip not only brighten up your space, but they can change colors!
Tune the lights to bright white during the day and soft white in the evenings. Feeling festive? Select from a spectrum of colors and dozens of pre-programmed light settings and modes.
Control the lights with a remote —so there’s no need to hook them up to a wall light switch. Use it to turn the lights off and on and even set them on a timer.
Don’t want to keep up with yet another remote? Get the same remote control from your phone! All you need to do is download The Hubspace app to pair the lights to Amazon Alexa, an Apple Smart Home device or Google Assistant.
You can link up to two 16-foot kits for a 32-foot run with no additional accessories needed.
The EcoSmart LED Tape Light includes everything you need to install — an adapter, controller with cable, 24-key remote control, 12 mounting clips and 24 screws.
Watch the video to learn all about this Best New Product!
Think outside the box and use Quikrete concrete products for more than just sidewalks. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Concrete products have evolved over the years and now you can use them for more than just driveways and patios.
In this special-edition Today’s Homeowner Podcast, Danny speaks with Allison Hunt, social media director and marketing project manager for the Quikrete Companies, the event’s sponsor.
Once you learn about Quikrete’s innovative products, you’ll rethink how you can use concrete.
This product provides a new, durable and wear-resistant surface over worn or scaled concrete. Because it has such great bonding strength, it will hold together even if the concrete under it fails.
Concrete countertops can be used in more settings than outdoor kitchens. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Concrete Countertops
Want a one-of-a-kind countertop surface? Use concrete!
Quikrete Countertop Mix, specially made for casting concrete countertops, requires only a do-it-yourself attitude and the addition of water.
This concrete product, available in classic gray and a tint-based white for a monochromatic look, suits any style.
Concrete countertops aren’t just for the outdoors. Install one in your kitchen or use concrete in your office for desk space! It’s as simple as buying two file cabinets (to support the slab) and adding the slab on top.
Feeling inspired to create with concrete, but don’t know where to start? Quikrete has quantity calculators and how-to videos to help you with your concrete project, so you’ll be confident every step of the way.
Free bench plans are now available for Tips for Today’s Homeowner newsletter subscribers.
This two-in-one seating option offers space for guests AND plants! No green thumb? No problem. Use the plant shelf as a countertop — it’s the perfect height to pull up a chair and set your drink down.
Subscribe to the Tips for Today’s Homeowner newsletter for the full plans.
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In Hour 1 of the Today’s Homeowner Radio Podcast, we’re giving warning signs of a home improvement scam. Plus, we’re tackling some common home projects, solving a garage door mystery and more!
Listen to Hour 2 to learn how to install tile without mortar, clean soot from a fireplace and more.
Hour 1
BOLO for These Home Improvement Scams
Home improvement scammers are active during the summer season. (Graphic using photos by welcomia and Gwengoat, Getty Images Signature)
That number is far lower than the actual number of scams that happen every year. Many more go unreported because some people are too embarrassed to report them or they feel like doing so won’t do any good.
Home improvement scammers are usually out during the summer. Many people are outside and already working on their homes, so it’s an opportunity for them to approach you.
Here are a few red flags to look out for:
Door-to-door sales: Don’t be trusting of someone who knocks on your door to offer you a service. Check their credentials and be sure they work for a reputable company.
The contractor wants the project paid up front: If you pay all at once at the beginning, the contractor could drag out the project, or worse, take the money and run.
“Special deals” with an expiration date that rapidly approaching: Thoroughly research the person and company offering you this deal and make sure they’re legitimate. Trust your instinct: if something doesn’t feel right, walk away. If you ask to take time to think about it, you’ll probably never see that person again.
Driveway sealing scam: A scammer will approach you about sealing your asphalt driveway on the spot. Often coating it down with a watered-down sealant or, even worse, motor oil! The next time it rains, the sealing with wash away.
Advice on Common Projects
Decks and bathrooms top the list of popular home improvement projects. (Photos by Ann Peterson)
Ann Peterson, of Poland, Ohio, is seeking advice on these common home improvement projects:
Refinishing a tub: There are three options — install a shell over the existing tub, have a professional refinish it or refinish it yourself — here’s how.
Repairing bathroom tile: If the tile is coming loose, laying new tile over it won’t solve the problem. Because it’s such a small room, go ahead and take out the tile.
The issue could be with the subflooring. Often, water seeps through and damages it, so you need to replace it before installing new tile.
Adding tile on top of the old tile, even if it’s a sound surface, will create height problems.
Repainting a deck: We don’t recommend painting decks, but since this deck is already painted, here’s what you need to do: Use a chemical stripper or a citrus-based stripper to remove the existing paint. Scrape it off with a putty knife, then lightly sand the deck. Instead of adding another coat of paint, seal it with a tinted stain. To save time, hire a professional painter to do this.
Garage Door Mystery Solved
If the light beam on your garage door’s safety device is broken, the door reverses. (BanksPhotos, Getty Images Signature)
Craig Walker from Illinois says, “Our two garage doors face the east. In the past year or so, they have become very touchy and won’t go down if it’s sunny or bright outside. We have to get out of the car and manually release the doors and then go out another door. If we come into the house we can get them to close by holding down the door opener button located on the wall.”
This is a phenomenon caused by infrared light. Garage door sensors use infrared light. This safety device beams light across the opening, and if the light is broken the door reverses.
Sunlight has a certain amount of infrared light. If the sensor is exposed to a lot of sunlight, it can break the beam.
Manufacturers make a device called a sunshield that covers part of the sensor but doesn’t block the electric eye.
You can also use a paper towel or toilet paper roll to block the sunlight from striking the sensor. Cut it down to two to four inches so the roll doesn’t block the electric eye.
Hour 2
In Hour 2 of the Today’s Homeowner Radio Podcast, learn how to install tile without mortar, clean soot from a fireplace and more.
Installing Tile Without Mortar
You CAN install a tile backsplash without using mortar. (Maria Konosky, Getty Images)
A listener wants to know: Instead of mortar, can you use glue to install tile around the edge of a countertop?
If you’re not using mortar, you need a strong construction adhesive like Titebond.
Anything installed on a vertical surface has a tendency to slide down, so to keep the tile in place, position a strip of wood at the bottom and insert wood spacers in between each tile. Use painter’s tape to keep them in position while the adhesive dries.
For an extra-strong hold, try a technique I call “burp the glue.” Here’s how to do it:
Apply the adhesive to the back of the tile
Place the tile on the wall.
After a few seconds, pull it away to expose more of the adhesive to the air.
Finally, simply push it back into place.
Burping the glue exposes more of it to the air, so it dries more evenly for a stronger bond.
Cleaning Soot From a Fireplace
Easily remove unsightly soot with some TSP and water. (Juan Pablo Arenas, Pexels)
Last year, Drew Lipinski converted his old wood-burning fireplace to gas.
He says it kept him warm all winter — and he didn’t even have to chop a single stick of wood!
The downside, though, is he noticed that the white bricks above the fireplace were stained with black soot. He asks, “How can I clean off the sooty stains?
If the gas fireplace is not adjusted to the right mixture of air, you’ll end up with a soot situation.
Here are the options for cleaning:
Make a paste from TSP and water and scrub the stain with a sponge. Watch this video to see how to do it.
Use a storebought cleaner like Sentinel Smoke and Soot Cleaner
If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, mix equal parts water and baking soda to make a paste. Smear it on the bricks, and let it sit for a few minutes. Spray it with water to keep it moist. Finally, scrub off the paste.
Best New Products
Touchless faucets are nothing new, but now Kohler is bringing that technology to your home bathroom. Learn more >>
Simple Solutions
Use a speed square to get straight cuts while using an oscillating tool. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Perfectly Straight Cuts with an Oscillating Multi-Tool — An oscillating tool is a compact, portable power tool that accepts a wide range of interchangeable blades.
It can sand, cut, scrape, grind and polish a wide variety of building materials.
It’s called an oscillating tool because the blade oscillates back and forth.
While this tool cuts great and is very versatile, the high-speed oscillating vibrations make it a little hard to control.
To make perfectly straight cuts, get a little assistance from your speed square.
Securely hold the speed square in place right on the cut line.
Then, simply guide the multi-tool’s blade along the edge of the square, producing a perfectly straight, smooth cut.
This technique works great when trimming baseboard or chair rail moldings, cutting house siding, notching deck boards, or anywhere else you need straight accurate cuts.
Tree-Trunk Protector — The bark of a tree is the tree’s first line of defense against bacterial diseases and boring insects.
To protect the trees in your yard, paint the trunk white to help prevent something called, sunscald. This happens in winter when extreme temperature fluctuations cause tree bark to crack.
Then, when summer rolls around, the tree is susceptible to harmful infections and bugs.
Mix equal parts water and white latex paint.
Brush the diluted paint onto the lower three to four feet of the trunk.
The light paint color keeps the wood from overheating and prevents future splits and cracks. Repeat once a year.
Other Products & Links Mentioned
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product from these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
In Episode 2 of “Ask Danny,” metal roofing expert Todd Miller gives us some insider tips and information about installation, energy efficiency and style options.
Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries, has more than 40 years of experience in the metal roofing industry. (Photo courtesy Todd Miller)
About Todd Miller
Todd Miller is president of Isaiah Industries, a manufacturer of residential metal roofing.
With 40 years of industry experience, Todd has worked with property owners and contractors on projects worldwide.
In addition to roofing, he is often sought after for his expertise with condensation and ventilation.
Todd Miller poses for a picture with Chelsea Lipford Wolf and Danny Lipford in Cut Off, La.(3 Echoes Content Studio)
Working with Todd in Louisiana
I met Todd while shooting a Today’s Homeowner TV episode in Cut Off, La., in 2020. Hurricane Zeta had majorly damaged David and Ruby LeBlanc’s roof, so we installed a new metal roof for them.
For David and Ruby’s metal roof, we used an aluminum product called rustic shingle.
They live on the Gulf Coast, so aluminum is ideal for their environment because it resists corrosion. Plus, the shingles interlock on all sides, giving it strong wind resistance with an added old-world shake look.
Workers install a new aluminum roof on David and Ruby LeBlanc’s home. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Less than a year later, their metal roof was put to the test during Hurricane Ida.
“As I watched that storm track, I was sweating bullets,” Todd says. “You always believe in your product, you know it can do well, but on the other hand, storms like that can be unpredictable. You can end up with a lot of wind-blown debris that oftentimes can cause damage.”
Ida brought on wind speeds of up to 200 miles per hour and also destroyed the neighbor’s garage.
David and Ruby’s metal roof came through in shining colors. The only damage was one detached hip cap on the side closest to their neighbor’s garage.
“Their fairly old home has endured damage and hardships from storms in the past, but you would never know it,” Todd says. “They’re delightful people and determined to protect this home for the next generation.”
Do you have to remove all the existing shingles from the roof before you install a metal roof?
Todd: While every house is different, the short answer is no. If you only have a single layer of shingles, most building codes allow for a second layer of roofing.
It’s pretty common for metal roofs, especially shingled and corrugated metal, to be installed over an existing layer of shingles. However, if you want a standing seam metal roof, you’ll need to have a smooth surface for installation. If you don’t, you’ll end up with oil canning, or ripples in the panels.
No matter what type of metal roof you want, always have an attic inspection before installation. Look closely at the underside of the roof deck for signs of rot, water infiltration and high moisture levels that need to be addressed.
Strapping can be put down to install a metal roof, but it’s not always necessary. (Getty Images)
Do you recommend a roofer put down strapping before the roof goes on?
Todd: Usually I don’t. For most products, it’s not required.
If you have proper attic ventilation, there aren’t any concerns from a condensation standpoint.
Strapping or batten can be used, but ultimately it will make the roof harder to walk on, more prone to wind uplift, and you may find yourself having to raise your gutters. This is why we generally promote direct-to-deck installation.
Even with direct-to-deck installation, if it’s over the old singles, we will put a layer of underlayment over the existing shingles.
Most times, the building code requires it, but it also makes good sense. You don’t want the old shingles’ abrasive top surface rubbing against the back of the metal panels.
How long does it take to install a metal roof?
Todd: Of course, every house is different, but one- to three-day installations are not uncommon.
This is another great benefit of metal roofing — minimal disruption to your routine during installation.
Modular metal products, or metal shingles, are becoming more popular. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Style Options
What types of metal roofing are becoming more popular?
Traditionally, corrugated and shiplap metal roofs are the most popular, but that’s starting to change.
Many homeowners associations and architectural review boards won’t allow metal roofing. Plus, it can be hard for some homeowners to imagine a roof that’s not asphalt shingles.
But now, there are metal roofing options that look like a traditional roof. They’re called modular metal products, which are basically metal shingles.
They’re produced from steel, aluminum and even copper. These panels are formed in a variety of ways, and can look like existing asphalt shingles, wood shake, high-end slate or barrel tile.
With this type of metal roofing, you can get the look of more traditional high-end roofing with the durability, energy efficiency and sustainability of metal roofing.
Metal roofs with a cool coating deflect the sun’s infrared energy to keep your home cooler. (Metal Roofing Alliance)
Energy Efficiency
Are darker metal roofs less energy-efficient than lighter ones?
Todd: Generally, when we talk about metal roofing’s energy efficiency, it’s in terms of solar reflection.
The more solar energy your roof absorbs, the hotter your home will be. This results in your air conditioner working harder to keep your home cool.
Typically, lighter metal roofs reflect more sunlight than darker ones.
White naturally has a high solar reflection of about 65 percent, but you don’t necessarily have to get a white roof to have an energy-efficient roof.
There are now cool roof coatings with pigments that reflect infrared energy from the sun and keep the roof cool.
Without this cool roof coating, a darker roof only reflects about 3-4 percent of the sun’s infrared energy. With these new pigments, the roof reflects up to 25-30 percent.
Find a metal roof product that complements your home’s architecture. (Metal Roofing Alliance)
Todd’s Tips
Choose the product first. Ultimately, you’re going to live with the looks of that product for a long time. If you don’t love the look and it doesn’t fit your home, you won’t be happy with it. The Metal Roofing Alliance has a visualizer to help you see how a metal roof will look on your home.
When you choose your product, find an installer through the manufacturer. They’ll know the product through and through.
Think long-term. The upfront cost of installing metal roofing is more expensive than a traditional roof, but you’ll save over time. Look at it on a cost-by-year basis. If you intend to stay in your home for a number of years, you can see good payback over time with lower utility bills and fewer repairs.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, forget about it — you haven’t seen anything yet.
Years ago, a woman in upstate New York wanted a metal roof installed on a small bungalow. She owned a fairly high-end magazine and website and wanted to work out a deal where Todd would help her get a roof and, in turn, she would promote Todd’s business.
It seemed like a win-win for Todd. As part of the deal, he sent a crew from Ohio to install the roof — free of charge.
Four years later, an upset woman called Todd. She said “You put a roof on my house and I don’t know why!”
Turns out, the woman who contacted Todd was not the owner. She was the renter.
“We put a roof on someone’s house who didn’t know it and didn’t even want it!”
All’s well that ends well, she turned out to be delightful, and she and Todd became great friends.
