Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Why touch-up paint looks different—and when to repaint the wall
Tell a color mismatch from a shiny or raised patch, fix the preparation, and calculate paint if the whole wall needs a coat.
HouseHows articles
Decorating.
Work through paint touch-ups, wall layouts and material quantities before committing to the finish.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Board-and-batten spacing: equal gaps and edge boards
Six openings need seven battens. Work out the equal gaps, then tape the layout on the wall before buying trim.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Trim cut lists: allow for saw kerf, end trim and offcuts
A 96-inch board cannot supply two exact 48-inch cuts. This eight-piece example shows where the blade loss and useful offcuts go.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
How much paint do I need? Wall area, coats and can sizes
The same 12-by-10-foot room can need two gallons or three. Coverage and coat count determine which side of that purchase threshold you land on.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Board-and-batten spacing around outlets: a measurement worksheet
An outlet can clear a batten’s centerline and still overlap its edge. A coordinate worksheet catches the conflict before you cut.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Compare 8-foot and 10-foot trim boards by cut-list cost
Four 10-foot boards cost less than six 8-foot boards in this cut list, even at a higher price per foot. An extra delivery charge reverses the saving.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Room-by-room paint worksheet: colors, coats and gallons
Two colors can require an extra can even when the wall area stays the same. This room worksheet tracks each color from measured walls to the paint counter.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Board-and-batten example: a 140-inch wall with an outlet
Changing six openings to five clears an outlet and removes one batten. The revised cut list uses five boards, plus one chosen spare.
Decorating / Repairs & DIY
Paint coverage calculator
Work from paintable area, coats, and label coverage.
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