Paint
Work out how much paint a room takes, why coverage figures differ, and what to check in an older home before any prep work.
Guides and calculators
Paint
Paint Calculator: How Much Paint Do You Need?
Work out how many gallons a room needs from its size, coats and your paint's coverage, with the published range shown to show how much the product matters.
PaintPaint Coverage Explained: Wet Film Thickness and Square Feet
Why a gallon's coverage changes with film thickness, how to convert wet mils to square feet per gallon, and how to read the figure on a data sheet.
PaintLead Paint in Homes Built Before 1978: What to Know First
Why pre-1978 homes need a lead check before sanding or scraping, who EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule covers, and what a test can and can't tell you.