Choosing the correct paint sheen

Paint Sheens Made Simple

There are a million and one paint colors but typically only five or so sheens (finishes)  to choose from each manufacturer. Although they may call them something different the sheen will determine the luster and washability.

Paint sheens range from flat to high gloss and can be used on many different surfaces and applications however there is typically a standard.

Selecting the ideal paint sheen has both practical and cosmetic considerations.

Meaning using a flat paint on most high use areas will not last very long and vice versa using a high gloss finish on a ceiling that tends to not be finished as perfectly when spackling a new home can result in highlighting imperfections you do not currently see, a sheen can also extend the life of a paint job in many cases.

Different Paint Sheens

• Flat has no shine, typically is used on ceilings or closets and in areas where you expect to touch up or on surfaces that are not perfect and you may want to hide imperfections.
• Matte Finishes are flat looking straight on but have an angular sheen and can be scrubbed in most cases. A great choice for interior walls.
• Eggshell has a soft appearance that resists dirt and can sometimes be washed, it should touch up but may not in some instances.
• Satin has a pearl like finish and is easy to clean but most likely will not touch up.
• Semi gloss has a shine and is typically used on trim such as baseboard, chair rail, doors and frames and is great when it comes to cleaning.
• High gloss is super shiny, easily washable but will be virtually impossible to touch up. We typically use this on front doors as a showpiece or on cabinets and even some accent walls. Your surface should be free of any imperfections as they will show.

Choosing The Right Sheen 

Choosing the right sheen doesn't have to be difficult, with proper planning and expectations and using a professional who can help with a consultation you can be assured to choose the correct sheen for your application

Which brand of paint to use?

So you decided to paint your home and picked out your colors only to find out there are 5-10 different paints you can use from EACH company

Whether it is Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr or something else there so many choices sometimes it can seem impossible to choose not to mention each contractor has their own favorites and each store may give you different opinions

So what do you do? I am going to speak about our company solely here. When we suggest a paint to use it is after speaking to the homeowner for quite some time during their estimate, knowing what they expect and most important what is the budget for this project.

Each company makes at least one product we may use and we select based on the what the surface is, what results have we been getting from those products, there may be some jobs we use every different manufacturer on the project due to results we have gotten on other projects.

Some paints may cover better but not all and it also depends on what colors and bases are used. Some may flow better or go farther while some are better on wood while others are better on gypsum (sheetrock).

We have no set answer when someone asks "which paint should we use?" That is variable and can have many answers, it is an investigation to determine all of those factors I mentioned above.
Do your homework, read reviews from people who have actually used it, what a homeowner may use is not necessarily what a contractor may use.

One thing is for certain, don't cheap out when buying paint, spend the extra money if that top of the line paint performs for the application you need it for, it may last longer and really be less expensive in the long run.

Here are a few of our favorite paints currently. (and this changes often)

• Cabinets: PPG Breakthrough, great adhesion, and nice finish
• Commercial Walls: Sherwin Williams Pro Mar 200, price point
• Residential Walls: Depends, Benjamin Moore Regal or Sherwin Williams Super Paint
• Metal Surfaces: MAcro Epoxy from Sherwin Williams if we're speaking about commercial 
• Ceilings: Here is one area to go cheaper, a sheen is not what your looking for here so we want something high in clay for coverage: Pro Mar 200 again flat