Kevin and Steve, partners for several years in a house painting business, paint three different sides of three different houses during the course of one summer in their Midwestern hometown. At each house, they encounter eccentric and colorful characters; a gabby widow who wants her house painted before she drops dead and her controlling, anal retentive daughter; a snooty and pompous New York Gallery owner and her kooky, clueless Best Friend; an estranged couple and their college-aged son. Along the way we learn bits and pieces of Kevin and Steve's special bond, their history, their sacrifices, their interactions with the other characters, and ultimately, why best friends are best friends. At the end of a life-altering summer of personal growth and discovery, Kevin sells Steve the business for a dollar, then runs off to New York to pursue a career as an Artist. A Practical Guide to Painting Houses is a laugh out loud comedy offering rich visual images and snappy dialogue. It's also a practical guide to painting houses.