When it comes to running my painting business the 3 main ladders I use are a 5-foot step ladder, a 16-foot and a 20-foot extension ladder. These 3 ladders get most of my work done.

My wooden 5' step ladder is just right for cutting in along 8-ft ceilings. I have a 6-foot aluminum step ladder also for 9' and 10-foot ceilings. I also have an adjustable aluminum ladder that folds all kinds of different shapes including it turns into an 8-foot step ladder. I guess I have more ladders that I thought.

My 16-foot extension ladder I bought at a garage sale for only $15. It works well for painting in stairwells. I also have a 20-ft aluminum extension ladder that ny dad bought me when I first started painting. It comes in handy for interior high work as well as outside painting jobs.

I have some 24' ladders but I don't use them as much because I stay away from high work. I like painting on the one-story ranch style homes the best and that are well shaded as well.

When it comes to paint brushes my favorites are the Wooster and AllPro brushes. I like the AllPro "Stealth" in the two-inch angular with the synthetic bristles. I use these for latex and for alkyd paints.

The thing I like about the Allpro Stealth paint brush is that it is as good as the Wooster line except it's a little cheaper in price. I think the Allpro paint brushes may be made by Wooster for Allpro but don't hold me to that.

Both of these paint brushes will last a full time painter for months if they are taken care of. The right brush is critical for a professional house painter.

Every painter has his or her preferences but so far the Wooster line and the Allpro line of paint brushes work best for me when it comes to cutting in a ceiling line or along the woodwork. With it's angular bristles, it's an all around great brush for the professional painter.

When it comes to prepping out a room before painting it I always use a pole sander to clean my walls and ceilings of cob webs, dust and any little paint boogers left over from the last paint job.

If you have ever used a pole sander (especially on a ceiling) you will notice that they tend to "flip". This is not only annoying when you are busy, it leaves gray streaks from the metal hardware hitting the surface.

The ideal pole sander is the somewhat new tool called the "Radius 360 Drywall Sanding Tool". It's round and padded and works really well for drywall finishing as well as for a painting tool. You can get it at any paint store and it has the round sand disks that stick on and peel off with no more clamping.

I plan on getting this Radius 360 pole sander for my next paint job. It won't flip while you are busy sanding even when you are doing ceilings and high areas.

When it comes to Purdy paint brushes, one that really comes in handy is the 1-inch angular brush. Since Lowe's and other stores sell Purdy I am able to get this 1-inch angular brush whenever I need a new one.

I have used the 2-inch angular Purdy paint brushes a lot also. A 2-inch angular brush is my main brush that I use for interior painting. The angular brush is great for cutting in sharp lines on or next to woodwork and for cutting in the ceiling line.

For exterior paiting I like a 2 1/2-inch angular brush. The 1-inch Purdy paint brush is ideal for cutting in spindles in staircase railings. It is also ideal for cutting in some windows, window inserts or around french door windows.

In the full line of Purdy paint brushes the other brush I like is their top of the line brush that is great for exterior work. It has blue bristles that resist dragging on hotter days. It also makes a great interior brush as well.

When choosing interior paint colors I see 3 things people do wrong.

1.) They find a dark color that they like, but it's too dark to use a lot of it. I usually tell them to go a few shades lighter and use the darker interior paint colors for the trim. Otherwise by the time you paint all four walls it's really dark. I tell them use darker colors for larger rooms and lighter colors for smaller rooms.

2.) They get confused about which interior paint colors to choose. I tell them to choose something that goes with the color of their woodwork - whether it's stain or paint, match a color that goes well with not only the woodwork, but the carpeting, tile or the stain color if it's a wooden floor.

3.) They use a fan deck without first looking through a color matching brochure, like a historical interior paint colors brochure or a pastel one that has matching color schemes. Then fine tune it maybe with a fan deck if you're still looking for a better shade.

When choosing interior paint colors, if you're not real gifted at it (like me) using the above techniques is the safe way to go.

It takes time to learn what interior paint works best for your jobs as a professional painter. If you are doing high-end re-paints you will need to learn ahead of time what is going to work best in finer homes.

After years of painting I can fully put my trust in many top of the line interior paints. I know what works best for me on ceilings and I know what works best for me when it comes to woodwork and walls.

While there are many excellent choices when it comes to interior paint, each painter will know what works best for him. He knows what saves him time, what paints he prefers or likes best, etc.

The bottom line when it comes to choosing interior paint is availability, price and how it performs. As a professional painter I need a nice interior wall paint, ceiling paint and woodwork paint. If I can get that all in one brand, or at least under one roof or paint store I'm happy.

If you can find all that in a paint store like Sherwin Williams you have it made because they have stores everywhere. And that comes in handy for when you are on the other side of town and need more interior paint.

When it comes to interior painting, being a professional house painter, I see so many mistakes homeowners make doing it themselves.

A new homeowner can buy a nice previously owned home that was well taken care of and screw the paint job up royally overnight. Here are some of the interior painting mistakes the make:

1.) The woodwork has a professional paint finish done in alkyd and the new people paint over it with latex. They not only do a lousy job (brush strokes going every which way) but they don't prime first which causes serious unsound paint that will peel.

2.) They paint over wallpaper which makes it so the old paper will never come off.

3.) The go and buy cheap paint from a hardware store.

4.) They cannot cut in a sharp edge at the ceiling line.

5.) The don't use color guides for choosing interior painting colors that show what colors go well together

6.) They use the wrong sheen level on the walls and woodwork as well

When it comes to interior painting everyone is so excited about painting their new home that they don't take all these things into consideration.

Benjamin Moore paint is a trusted name among people who own nicer homes. Plus, the products are superior. Many common do-it-your-selfer type of homeowners go and get paint from the hardware stores but if you paint for top-end clients you better not show up with cheap paint.

I went that route trying to add to my bottom line. Not only are the cheaper paints inferior, people do notice what you paint with. Benjamin Moore is a trusted name and products like their latex version of Satin Impervo and their Regal Wall finishes are really great to work with and nice looking.

Do you ever wonder why some guys take up painting? By the look of their work you would think that even their wives wouldn't let them paint their own houses let alone anayone elses.

Two guys with a van think they can paint. They think that painting is easy, They paint four walls without any prep work, they get paint all over the woodwork etc.

Why didn't they become janitors or window washers? Anyways for us painters who do do good work, there is plenty of referrals for us from satisfied customers and repeat business as well. If you want your own painting business, good work will get you lot's of free customers. The secret is being professional in your work, courteous and honest. Then you will get all the customers you need.

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If you want to make hundreds of dollars daily during the holidays a glow in the dark business is a great way to do it. http://star-mural.com Birthdays are good for this too.