Paint reviews, guides, and color
Independent paint and tool round-ups. Project step-by-steps. Color references and brand reviews. Every product pick lists a real con — no review without a real weakness.
Best Electric Drywall Sanders
Six electric drywall sanders tested on new board, patched walls, and ceilings. The best drywall sander for most people is the WEN 6369 — plus where each one falls short.
The Exterior Paint Prep Kit
The nine exterior paint prep tools I actually buy before a repaint, tested on 1960s cedar and 1990s fiber cement. Top pick: the Bahco 665 carbide scraper.
Best Floor Protection for Painting and Renovation
Six floor protection products tested across a full kitchen gut, a stair repaint, and two room jobs. Top pick: Ram Board. Plus the floor protection paper worth buying and the one that stains.
The Furniture Flipping Starter Kit
The ten pieces of furniture flipping supplies I actually use on a flip, tested across six real pieces. Top pick for the color coat: Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte.
Best Gifts for DIY Painters
Twelve gifts for painters, tested and priced across three bands: stocking stuffers under $15, the $15 to $50 sweet spot, and big-ticket tools over $50. Top pick: the Purdy Clearcut Elite Glide.
Best Window Glazing and Putty Tools
Six window glazing tools tested on eleven old wood sashes. Top pick: the Hyde Black and Silver 2-in-1 Glazing Tool, plus the point driver, stripper, and putty that earn a spot in the kit.
Best HEPA Shop Vacs for Sanding Dust
Five HEPA vacuums tested on drywall mud, old paint, and cabinet sanding. Top pick: Festool CT 26 EI HEPA, plus a Bosch that costs half as much and where each one falls short.
The Home Touch-Up Kit Every Homeowner Needs
Eight things that keep a painted house looking painted, tested over 14 months across three homes. Top pick: the Slobproof Refillable Touch-Up Paint Pen, plus what every other piece of the kit is for.
Best Hygrometers for Painting Weather
Five humidity meters tested against real painting decisions: exterior siding, cabinet enamel, and a damp basement. Top pick: Extech 445815 for the dew point reading on the same screen as the humidity.
Best Ladder Stabilizers and Standoffs
Five ladder stabilizers and standoffs tested on siding, eaves, gutters, and brick corners. Top pick: Werner AC78 QuickClick — plus where each one fits and where it doesn't.
Best Ladders for Painting in 2026
Six ladders tested across interior rooms, a two-story stairwell, ceilings, and a full exterior repaint. Top pick: Little Giant Velocity M22, plus where each one falls short.
Best Laser Levels for Accent Walls and Stripes
Five laser levels tested on real accent walls, vertical stripes, and a color-block wall. Top pick: Bosch GLL100-40G, plus where each one falls short on a stripe layout.