Painter Course

Lesson 1 • Measuring and Estimating Materials

Teaches area calculation, coverage rates, and waste factors for accurate material ordering. Accurate estimates reduce cost overruns on every project.

Lesson 2 • Essential Tools and Equipment

Introduces brushes, rollers, sprayers, and hand tools used daily on the job. Correct tool selection directly affects finish quality and efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Workplace Safety and Hazard Control

Addresses chemical hazards, fall protection, and ventilation requirements. Safe practices protect workers and ensure compliance with occupational health standards.

Lesson 4 • The Painting Profession Overview

Covers the scope of residential, commercial, and industrial painting roles. Establishes career pathways and professional expectations for new painters.

Lesson 1 • Cleaning and Degreasing Surfaces

Covers washing, degreasing, and mold removal on interior and exterior substrates. Clean surfaces are the prerequisite for every subsequent prep step.

Lesson 2 • Priming for Adhesion and Uniformity

Covers primer selection by substrate type and application methods for full coverage. Correct priming seals porous surfaces and improves topcoat adhesion.

Lesson 3 • Sanding and Abrading Substrates

Explains grit selection, sanding sequences, and mechanical sanding for various surfaces. Proper abrasion creates the profile needed for strong coating adhesion.

Lesson 4 • Repairing Cracks, Holes, and Damage

Teaches patching drywall, filling cracks, and repairing wood defects before painting. Repairs must be fully cured and sanded flush for invisible results.

Lesson 1 • Painting Trim, Doors, and Windows

Addresses brush selection, stroke direction, and panel sequence for millwork and joinery. Trim work requires slower, deliberate strokes for a clean, sharp finish.

Lesson 2 • Painting Walls and Ceilings

Covers the cut-in-then-roll sequence, roller pressure, and overlap patterns for large flat areas. Consistent technique eliminates roller marks and texture variation.

Lesson 3 • Brush Loading and Control

Teaches correct paint loading, drip prevention, and grip for precise brush control. Proper loading reduces lap marks and speeds application on detail work.

Lesson 4 • Cleanup and Tool Maintenance

Covers solvent and water cleanup procedures and long-term tool care to extend equipment life. Well-maintained tools perform consistently and reduce replacement costs.

Lesson 1 • Overspray Control and Containment

Addresses masking strategies, wind management, and containment systems for spray work. Controlling overspray protects adjacent surfaces and meets environmental standards.

Lesson 2 • Spray Equipment Maintenance

Covers daily flushing, tip cleaning, filter replacement, and pump lubrication routines. Consistent maintenance prevents costly downtime and extends equipment service life.

Lesson 3 • Spray Equipment Setup and Calibration

Teaches pressure settings, tip selection, and fluid adjustments for each sprayer type. Correct setup prevents common defects like orange peel and dry spray.

Lesson 4 • Spraying Different Coating Types

Explains viscosity adjustment and tip selection for latex, lacquer, stain, and epoxy coatings. Each coating type requires specific equipment settings for optimal atomization.

Lesson 1 • Weather and Environmental Conditions

Explains temperature, humidity, and dew point limits for exterior coating application. Applying coatings outside acceptable conditions causes adhesion failure and early peeling.

Lesson 2 • Waterproofing and Sealant Systems

Addresses elastomeric coatings, penetrating sealers, and deck waterproofing for moisture control. Proper sealant selection prevents water intrusion and structural damage.

Lesson 3 • Exterior Surface Preparation

Covers power washing, scraping, caulking, and priming specific to outdoor conditions. Exterior prep must address weathering, chalking, and biological growth before coating.

Lesson 4 • Exterior Substrate Assessment

Teaches inspection of wood siding, stucco, masonry, and metal for defects and moisture. Accurate assessment determines the correct prep and coating system for each surface.

Lesson 1 • Stenciling and Geometric Patterns

Explains stencil alignment, paint loading, and multi-layer registration for crisp patterns. Precise stenciling requires controlled paint application to prevent bleeding under edges.

Lesson 2 • Texture Coating Application

Teaches knockdown, skip trowel, and orange peel textures applied by spray and hand tools. Texture coatings hide surface imperfections and add tactile interest to walls.

Lesson 3 • Color Theory and Mixing

Covers the colour wheel, tinting systems, and custom colour matching for consistent results. Understanding colour relationships allows painters to match, adjust, and create any hue.

Lesson 4 • Faux Finish Techniques

Covers sponging, ragging, colour washing, and dragging to simulate natural materials. Faux finishes command premium pricing and differentiate skilled painters in the market.

Lesson 1 • Steel and Metal Surface Preparation

Covers abrasive blasting standards, power tool cleaning, and surface profile requirements for steel. Achieving the correct surface profile is critical for industrial coating adhesion.

Lesson 2 • Floor Coating Systems

Covers concrete surface preparation, epoxy floor coating, and anti-slip aggregate broadcast. Floor coatings must withstand traffic, chemicals, and abrasion in demanding environments.

Lesson 3 • Fire-Retardant and Specialty Coatings

Addresses intumescent coatings, anti-graffiti systems, and chemical-resistant linings for specialised applications. These coatings require strict application controls to meet performance certifications.

Lesson 4 • Epoxy and Urethane Coating Application

Teaches mixing ratios, pot life management, and application of two-component epoxy and urethane systems. Incorrect mixing ratios cause coating failure regardless of application quality.

Lesson 1 • Coating Inspection and Testing

Teaches wet and dry film thickness measurement, adhesion testing, and holiday detection. Systematic inspection catches defects before they become costly warranty claims.

Lesson 2 • Client Communication and Handover

Addresses progress updates, variation order management, and final walkthrough procedures. Professional communication builds client trust and generates repeat business and referrals.

Lesson 3 • Bidding and Cost Estimation

Covers labour hour calculation, material costing, overhead, and profit margin for accurate bids. Accurate bids win profitable work without underpricing or losing to competitors.

Lesson 4 • Job Planning and Scheduling

Explains scope definition, task sequencing, crew allocation, and milestone scheduling for painting projects. Effective planning prevents delays caused by material shortages or crew conflicts.