Practical painting knowledge, from the surface up.
Joshua Christopher’s own methods, alongside lessons from dozens of experienced painters, organized through SPATE.
Browse by surface, problem or technique
A painter arrives with a surface, a failure or a method in mind. Every entry is filed under all three, so any one of them leads to the same shelf.
Useful starting articles
Each one records a single job end to end, with Joshua's standard set apart from the manufacturer's published direction.
Choose brushes and roller covers for wall paint, enamels, primers, and stains using my field selections. Includes shared nap tables for drywall, cedar, stucco, and smooth finishes, plus frame choices, mini rollers, water-based cleanup, storage, and replacement checks.
Entry001
Preparing and Repainting Cedar Siding
An inspection-led guide to cedar siding and shakes: diagnosing peeling, agreeing repairs, cleaning and removing failed coating, confirming dryness, priming, spraying an exterior acrylic finish, and inspecting the result.
Entry002
Preparing and Painting New Drywall
A good new-drywall paint job begins before the primer goes on. Identify the finish, inspect the entire job, and resolve the preparation work. Then keep inspecting as each stage is completed.
Entry003
Repainting Previously Painted Interior Walls
An interior repaint starts with the condition of the existing room: investigate damage, remove what is failing, repair and clean the surface, spot-prime where needed, and apply two finish coats. Sound existing paint does not automatically require a full coat of primer.
Entry004
Interior Painting Techniques and Guidelines for a Paint Crew
The method I teach my crew: protect the room, establish a station, work from the top down, keep tools loaded, paint into the wet, and inspect throughout. Includes the second-coat caulk seal on the tape edge and how it differs from manufacturer directions.
Entry005
Airless Spraying: Setup, Tip Selection, Application, and Cleanup
Good spraying begins before paint reaches the gun. An organized station, protected surroundings, checked equipment, and a consistent application sequence let a crew work efficiently and correct problems while they are still manageable.
Where it comes from
I began writing an employee handbook for my painting company in Florida. That grew into years of handwritten notebooks and an idea for a book. Along the way, I interviewed dozens of painters, each with decades of experience.
Painters with experience to share
I welcome contributions from other painters. The goal is to preserve what experienced painters have learned, make that knowledge useful on the job, and help train the next generation.
Joshua Christopher