I know everyone knows the difference between a flat and a high-gloss,
it's just the ones in between that can get confusing. So we listed
below a couple of key factors that you should consider when choosing a
paint finish:
FLAT
 Look at the walls, not the pants! |
Appearance | Completely flat with a matte appearance. No sheen at all. |
| Uses | Great for areas with dents, dings and changes in surface texture. Think of it as a way to cover up obvious imperfections on a wall that doesn?t get touched much. | |
| Durability | If you have children or pets, this paint is NOT for you. It shows dirt easily and will not enable you to keep it clean. |
EGGSHELL
|
Appearance | It reflects more than flat but only slightly. The best way to describe it is the reflective qualities are similar to that of a real eggshell. |
| Uses | This paint also hides imperfections but it is smoother than flat, meaning it reflects more light. Good for use on walls. | |
| Durability | While it is washable and you will not have to be as concerned as you would be with flat, it is not as durable as Satin or Semi-gloss. |
SATIN
|
Appearance | This paint definitely has sheen to it but I wouldn?t call it shiny. The best way to describe it would be a silky finish. It adds just enough light to the walls without being obtrusive without being obvious. |
| Uses | it's great for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, kid?s rooms, woodwork and trim. | |
| Durability | This silky finish is smooth enough to stand up to dirt and cleaning. (Notice a trend here: the greater the sheen, the easier the clean up). |
SEMI-GLOSS
|
Appearance | This paint reflects between 35 and 50 percent of the light that hits it. What does that mean in real terms? It will have mush more of a shiny appearance. |
| Uses | Many find it too shiny on walls thought it works well on surfaces that get a lot of handprints, such as trim, cabinets, moldings, and doors. It also works well in bathrooms and kitchens. | |
| Durability | It is extremely durable-think shiny washability. |
HIGH-GLOSS
|
Appearance | Due to the fact that there is a high shine with this paint, we don?t recommend using it on walls as it can be discomforting to the eyes. |
| Uses | Works great for playroom walls or a utility room and any trim that will get a great deal of abuse. Painter beware: Minor imperfections will appear painfully obvious. | |
| Durability | The high sheen allows for incredibly easy cleaning ability. |
NOTE: Painting over high gloss paint can add problems in applying
another coat of paint. If the surface is not properly prepared the
surface layer of paint will have a tendency to peel. It is not
impossible, just more time consuming. We recommend that if you are
planning to repaint this project in the near future, it would probably
be best to use something other than high-gloss.
