House Painter Forum

DIY Home Painting => Home Owner's DIY (General painting) Forum => Topic started by: Vin on October 22, 2007, 09:30:39 PM

Title: Paint finishes guide
Post by: Vin on October 22, 2007, 09:30:39 PM
Matte / flat finish

Matte or flat-finish paints dry with no sheen – that is, they have a matte finish that does not reflect light. They work wonderfully at hiding imperfections on the wall and are forgiving on novice painters. Some paint specialists advertise washable matte paint. However, a matte finish is generally hard to clean, so it's advisable to keep leftover paint on hand for touch-ups. Matte paint is a good choice for ceilings or walls in rooms that receive little traffic, such as a study.
Eggshell finish

An eggshell finish is similar to a matte finish but it has a tiny glimmer of sheen when dry. Picture the low sheen of an egg and that is the effect your paint will produce. It suits walls as it washes slightly better than flat-finish paints.
Satin finish

Also referred to as velvet finish, a satin finish is often the glossiest finish a decorator will recommend for walls in rooms other than the bathroom and kitchen. It's ideal for children's bedrooms and other high-traffic areas such as hallways and living areas as it's suited to washing and light scrubbing. Satin-finish paint is regularly used for windows, doors, trims and ceilings, too.
Semi-gloss finish

Semi-gloss paint dries with a significant shine without being too glitzy. It is most often used on doors, windows, trims and bathroom and kitchen walls. It withstands water and frequent cleaning. Ensure, however, the surface is properly prepared prior to painting as its reflective nature highlights imperfections.
High-gloss finish

High-gloss paints have a reflective quality. They bring out even the slightest of imperfections, so meticulous surface preparation is essential. Some people find it too shiny and opt for semi-gloss instead. It is used mostly on windows, doors and trims. High-gloss is a good choice for painting furniture as it creates a modern, durable finish.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: DecorativeWalls on October 23, 2007, 07:19:33 PM
Hey Vin,  this was really nice of you and should be very helpful to others viewing.  :)

there should be some kind of sticky to have it posted to the top - like the "evaluate the paint brush"
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: rmichael on October 23, 2007, 07:25:20 PM
DecWalls... Your wish is my command...  :D
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: DecorativeWalls on October 23, 2007, 07:30:06 PM
wow- that was great and fast rmichael  :).   

I looked and thought , in a blink of an eye- where did it go.
 
Hopfully our viewers will find this helpful.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: BrushJockey on October 25, 2007, 05:02:48 PM
I need to add a caution- different paint manufactures use different terms, and it can be confusing.  For instance, some like Benj Moore a satin is higher sheen than eggshell, but I have seen some companies use it lower.  Best to get a sheen chart of the paint you are going to use. But Vin's guide is a good rule of thumb to start with.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: Vin on October 29, 2007, 10:14:58 AM
WOO HOO look at me I got a sticky ;D

I agree with BJ its also similar with a product I use a lot, there satin which used to be semi gloss ( yes they decided themselves it was satin ) is extremely glossy not sure where they get the idea it ought be satin.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: Frankie on May 22, 2008, 09:07:08 PM
WOO HOO look at me I got a sticky ;D

I agree with BJ its also similar with a product I use a lot, there satin which used to be semi gloss ( yes they decided themselves it was satin ) is extremely glossy not sure where they get the idea it ought be satin.
The Regal Wall Satin has a pretty flat look to it. I use it for light colored ceilings all the time.the Aquavelvet is another great finish.(better then eggshell or semi gloss) and for touching up BM paints are the best.
I use all Benjamin Moore paints as well. and I like Grahams Ceramic for my Mate finish allot more...
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: johnpaint on August 29, 2008, 07:16:05 PM
yeah it really is a good idea to look for the sheen samples. Most stores have them. I get used to using the same paints and I kind of know them by heart, but get me paint and it's anyones guess. Sherwin Williams comes out with a new paint everytime I go in the store it seems, but don'r ever ask them for a exterior velvet sheen. they don't seem to know how to make them.
http://johnhowellconstruction.com
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: specialkmh on June 11, 2010, 03:28:56 PM
I have no idea which to pick. I am painting the living room, dining room, and kitchen all the same color. We have a very open layout. There's only 2 of us living there. No pets. No children. Do I need semigloss or satin paint? Is there really that much of a difference?

Please check out my blog www.downhomefeeling.blogspot.com.

I need advice!

Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: BrushJockey on June 11, 2010, 04:46:41 PM
Yes there is a huge difference. In both application and looks.
For most rooms that don't require lots of water resistance and clean up (like baths and kitchens) I recommend using a Matte finish.  But as stated above, you need to check with the brand you are using, not all use the same terminology. But a higher gloss Like a semi looks cheap and "apartment" to me . For instance, Ben Moore's Regal matte ( a fine paint!) is almost flat looking, fairly good wash and a little side sheen. The Aura matte that Ben Moore has is significantly higher, but still not a full eggshell. The aura  Matte is my favorite finish. But it runs about $60 a gal.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: rmichael on June 11, 2010, 05:24:07 PM
First, the vid on your site is not the best painting advice..  ;)  The only thing harder than rolling a wall is rolling a wall without an extension pole... add a roller extension pole to your list, for walls, a pole that adjusts from 2ft to 4ft. works out great. Do not use brown masking tape for the trim, use a blue painters tape. If you plan on painting the trim use a tape made for freshly painted surfaces like 3m's blue" Delicate" tape.
Brush (cut in ) corners and around trim before you roll, allow the brushed paint to dry to touch then roll as close as possible to the trim and corners. While rolling always end with a down stroke.
Do not use a semi-gloss on your walls, it will show every flaw in the walls and every mistake in application. Matte or flat paint is the most forgiving but if you think the walls need more" life" consider an eggshell sheen or a low sheen paint for the walls and save the semi-gloss for the trim.    ;)

BTW Sherwin Williams "satin" could be considered an "eggshell" ... IMO it has a pretty low sheen for a "satin".

Best Luck,
rmichael
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: chrisn on June 12, 2010, 04:21:05 AM
Quote
First, the vid on your site is not the best painting advice..    The only thing harder than rolling a wall is rolling a wall without an extension pole... add a roller extension pole to your list, for walls, a pole that adjusts from 2ft to 4ft. works out great. Do not use brown masking tape for the trim, use a blue painters tape. If you plan on painting the trim use a tape made for freshly painted surfaces like 3m's blue" Delicate" tape.
Brush (cut in ) corners and around trim before you roll, allow the brushed paint to dry to touch then roll as close as possible to the trim and corners. While rolling always end with a down stroke.
Do not use a semi-gloss on your walls, it will show every flaw in the walls and every mistake in application. Matte or flat paint is the most forgiving but if you think the walls need more" life" consider an eggshell sheen or a low sheen paint for the walls and save the semi-gloss for the trim.   

Not to mention the use of the dreaded "BEHR"

    "better to leave the walls bare than put Behr on the walls"
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: commonuseriizlizaite on November 22, 2010, 10:53:02 AM
First, the vid on your site is not the best painting advice..    The only thing harder than rolling a wall is rolling a wall without an extension pole... add a roller extension pole to your list, for walls, a pole that adjusts from 2ft to 4ft. works out great. Do not use brown masking tape for the trim, use a blue painters tape. If you plan on painting the trim use a tape made for freshly painted surfaces like 3m's blue" Delicate" tape.

Thank you for the great advice Chrisn. Very useful information.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: justinrodhes on August 24, 2013, 06:48:46 AM
very effective painting tips
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: selectivepainter on August 29, 2013, 02:51:09 AM
 :) Cool tips, this will definitely help. Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: shanzy on April 25, 2014, 10:12:41 AM
nice advice, this is the way i am looking for. it will really help. enhance and enrich your post by pics
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: jejes on July 09, 2014, 01:48:00 AM
Thankfully, I've rounded up these really useful tutorials
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: lantiden diatom mud on July 10, 2014, 08:43:06 AM
A good share. :) i am new here.Follow it
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: RichardParker on August 09, 2014, 02:01:38 AM
This info though is quite old,  is really useful for those who want to start their own DIY projects.... thanks for the post  :D
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: alexlee on February 07, 2015, 02:11:27 AM
Its good .
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: repairsandpaints on February 26, 2015, 09:02:34 PM
There are a few other sheens like "low-luster" that are used too sometimes but this is absolutely the place for people to start. Great job.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: jabrumi on April 16, 2015, 02:08:53 AM
Hey, i have a question. Im painting my kitchen cabinets and i started by painting them with a oil base shellac paint but did not cover it very well. My question is can i 2nd coat my primer faze with watet based primer, such as Kilz? I just started hear on the paint forum and im not sure i no where to direct a question. Any info would help. Thanks
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Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: soperfectpaint on September 05, 2015, 03:29:49 AM
Useful painting tips.
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: soperfectpaint on October 20, 2015, 01:55:12 AM
Yes,i agree there are lots of difference between them.Great information you have shared.Thanks for sharing it.

www.soperfectpaint.com
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: soperfectpaint on October 29, 2015, 04:17:04 AM
Important painting tips you have shared in this forums. You need to have full knowledge about painting before start your job.

www.soperfectpaint.com
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: soperfectpaint on November 19, 2015, 03:46:39 AM
Useful tips you have shared.Thanks for sharing these useful tips on forums.Very helpful for painting.
www.soperfectpaint.com
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: crismartin on May 10, 2016, 02:19:51 AM
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Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: dacpaintingswfl on December 28, 2016, 08:05:22 AM
wonderful information & Thanks for shared.

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Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: TintGuy on September 27, 2017, 12:54:55 AM
Hi guys,

Finally, I found a place where I can share my thoughts with you. Actually, I am a housewife and I am also thinking of renovating my house and I am struggling with the wall colors, and I want to protect my house from sunlight about and my best friend told me about the home tinting (http://thetintguy.com/) . Can anyone suggest me that what kind of color I pick for my walls?
Title: Re: Paint finishes guide
Post by: HuesAndCoats on October 05, 2017, 04:10:45 PM
Great post and helpful guide for people who aren't sure what the difference is between finishes.

What I usually tell my customers is that for most surfaces, such as walls and ceilings, flat paint tends to be more aesthetically pleasing than other finishes.

The reason why I believe that flat looks better than other finishes is that it softly reflects light. Any other finish will reflect light more sharply, especially with gradually higher sheens.

A common problem that people come across, though, is that most flat paint products don't hold up well on surfaces that get a lot of traffic. For this reason, satin or eggshell finishes are typically used, because inherently they hold up better.

But if aesthetics and durability are important to a customer, I will recommend a higher quality of paint. My go-to's are either Sherwin-Williams' Duration or Emerald. The benefit of those products is that every sheen is highly durable regardless if it's flat or not. Yes, they are a bit more costly than most other paints. But with those products, you're getting a high performance paint that will outlast most other paints.

For further information, you can find post on my blog about which are the best paint finishes for each room in your home.

http://huesandcoats.com/best-paint-finish-paint-sheen-guide/