TIL most people don't know how to read a paint can label

I was helping a friend paint their living room in Portland last month, and they just opened a new can of Behr Marquee and started stirring with a random stick. I had to stop them and point out the part on the label that says to stir for a full five minutes, not just a quick swirl. The paint needs that time for the solids at the bottom to fully mix in, or your color and finish will be off. I learned this the hard way after a ceiling job where I got weird shiny patches because I was lazy. Now I see it all the time, people just giving the paint a few turns and calling it good. It seems small, but it really does make a difference in how the paint goes on and dries. What's the most basic step you see people skip that ends up messing up the whole job?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_nancy1d ago

Honestly, watching people skip the primer step hurts my soul (it's a game changer).

ruby_wright1d ago

Shiny patches from lazy stirring" is so real. People skip cleaning the walls first.

harris.andrew1d ago

Watch them skip the prep work every time. That initial clean is what makes the paint stick evenly. You can't just dive in and expect a smooth finish.