Painting & Walls
Painting & Walls
Colour decisions are the fun part. Coverage decisions are the money part. These tools and guides handle both - from gallons and coats to sheets, screws and compound.
Tools
Calculators for This Category
Field guides
Practical Guides
- How Much Paint Do I Need? Coverage per gallon, coat counts, and the door and window deductions — with a room worked example.
- Paint Sheen Guide: Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss Which finish belongs on which wall — kitchens, bathrooms, trim and ceilings explained.
- Primer vs Paint: When You Need Both Stains, dark colours, new drywall and bare wood — when primer earns its bucket.
- How Many Coats of Paint Do I Need? Why two coats is the usual answer, and the situations where one or three is right.
- Drywall Sheet Sizes Explained 4×8 or 4×12, thicknesses and weights — and how to choose for your room.
- Drywall Screws vs Nails Bugle-head screws, ring-shank nails and why ceilings vote screws.
- How Much Joint Compound Do I Need? Buckets per square foot, tape rolls, and the Level 4 baseline.
- Drywall Finish Levels 0–5 What each finish level means and which one your project actually needs.
Coverage Quick Reference
| Material | Coverage (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interior latex paint | 350–400 sq ft per gallon | Per coat; textured walls take more |
| Primer | 200–300 sq ft per gallon | Over porous or dark surfaces |
| Joint compound (Level 4) | ~400 sq ft per 4.5 gal bucket | Tape, coats and fastener coats |
| Drywall tape | ~250 ft per roll | One roll per ~250 ft of joint |
Full formulas and assumptions live inside each calculator and guide.
Keep exploring