Most paints come in different sheens or finishes. Finish refers to the amount of light that reflects off the paint once it is dry. If you paint your home, you will have to choose from different paint finishes. You can speak to the professionals at Euro Painting, Inc. to understand which paint finish is ideal for your home. We’ll update the exterior of your Sarasota, FL home with our professional exterior painting services and also help you choose the right finish for your interiors.
Five Popular Paint Finishes
Below are five of the most popular paint finishes you can choose from for your home:
- High Gloss
High gloss paint finishes are the shiniest and most reflective. As a result, they are extremely durable and easy to clean. You can use a high gloss finish for your doors, trims, and cabinets. They can also be used for outdoor detailing on shutters. However, while high gloss paint finishes look glamorous, the area needs to be prepped correctly before using this finish. The extreme shine of the finish will highlight every flaw, bump, or roll in the wall. Because of this, people often use high-gloss finishes to add accents to ceilings, millwork, and molding.
- Semi-Gloss
The semi-gloss finish is not as shiny as the high gloss. But it is also reflective and durable. This finish is also extremely mildew resistant. As a result, it is most commonly used in rooms with a lot of moisture, like the kitchen or the bathroom. Since semi-gloss finishes also have a reflective sheen, the area will require a little extra prep work to prevent any flaws or imperfections from standing out.
- Eggshell Finish
The eggshell finish is a low-luster sheen with a slightly soft and velvety appearance, similar to the surface of a chicken egg. It slightly reflects light around the room and can resist fingerprints and stains better than other finishes. Because of this, the finish is ideal for a room with high traffic, like living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways.
- Satin Paint Finish
The satin paint finish is most commonly used for interior projects. It has a very soft, velvety sheen. While the finish is not as durable as the high gloss or semi-gloss finish, it can handle everyday wear and tear and regular cleanings well. How you apply the satin finish on walls is critical, as the brush strokes are easily visible with this finish. As a result, repainting and touch-ups can be difficult. Since satin finish paints can handle dirt and grime, they are ideal for moderate to high-traffic areas like living rooms, family rooms, children’s rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and interior doors.
- Matte/Flat Paint Finish
The terms matte and flat are commonly used for paint finishes that have the least reflection or shine when fully dry. Matte finish paints provide the most coverage on walls and, as a result, require fewer coats to hide any flaws or imperfections on surfaces. However, matte paints are the least durable and can get damaged when in contact with cleaning solutions. If you are always moving things around the house or have children at home, this paint may not be ideal for your home. In addition, you cannot clean a particular area of the wall with matte paint. The damp cloth will leave a mark, and you must repaint the entire wall. As a result, this finish is ideal for areas that are hard to reach, like ceilings.
Other Paint Finishes Available to Homeowners
While the five paint finishes mentioned above are the most popularly used for any interior project, there are other finishes as well that you can pick from. Some of them are:
- Crackle
The materials used for the crackle finish cause cracks to develop in the last coat while drying. As a result, the undercoat is exposed in a unique pattern. Once the paint is dry, a coat of clear polish is applied to the surface.
- Textured
The textured finish is slightly rough, created using coarse materials like stone chippings or sand. A textured finish can give your room a luxurious look.
- Polychromatic
The polychromatic finish is painted with metallic flakes and fine transparent pigments. It creates a variety of textures and colors when seen from different angles.
- Wrinkle Finish
The paint in this finish is applied to develop wrinkles or ridges on drying, giving your walls a wrinkled look.
- Hammered
The hammered finish is created by spraying certain paints with a metal powder in a controlled spray application. On drying, the appearance will be similar to hammered metal. Usually, paints with a hammered finish have metallic pigments like aluminum, powder of mica, and bronze.
Choosing the right finish will not only determine how reflective or shiny your walls are but will also help with maintenance. Professional painters can help you choose the right finish depending on which area of your home you want to paint.
