The Difference Between Paint Finishes in Oklahoma

With the changing seasons may come the desire to update the living spaces in your home in Edmond OK. While you may have already considered the various colors you’d like to use, you may not have considered the type of paint, or sheen, that you’ll use in the process. The various available finishes will all provide different results in how your rooms look as well as your ability to keep your walls clean and looking great. A painting contractor from Kaleidoscope Paint will be more than happy to help you with this decision.

Six Common Paint Finishes

A paint finish is determined by its sheen, or its ability to reflect light. The lower the sheen, the less shiny it is because it absorbs more light than it reflects. Paints with a lower sheen have more color pigment while those on the glossier side have less pigment and more resin to produce the shine that they’re known for. Choosing the right finish for appearance, durability and coverage should be discussed with a skilled home painting expert before you get started.

Flat

With the highest concentration of color and only 0 to 5 percent sheen, flat paint covers minor imperfections such as spackled holes, cracks and patched areas of walls, often in a single coat.

Unfortunately, flat paint isn’t easy to clean and may require frequent touchups. The best place to use flat paint is on ceilings or areas where you won’t have to clean as often.

Matte

With only 5 to 10 percent sheen, matte paint still reflects very little light with a high concentration of color. Providing great coverage, this finish can cover minor flaws, and it might only take one coat of paint to get the job done to your satisfaction.

Although this finish is more durable than flat paint and a bit easier to clean, it’s best reserved for ceilings and rooms that experience low areas of traffic, such as bedrooms.

Eggshell

Offering slightly more reflection than paint with a matte finish, eggshell has 10 to 25 percent gloss and gets its name since it resembles the same level of sheen as an eggshell. This is one of the most popular finishes used on interior walls.

An eggshell finish is easier to clean than flat or matte paint, making it a suitable choice for areas with low to medium traffic. Eggshell paint also offers the benefit of resisting scuffs and stains. Your painting contractor is likely to recommend using an eggshell finish in these rooms:

• Hallways
• Entryways
• Bedrooms
• Dining rooms
• Living rooms or family rooms

Satin

A happy medium between flat and glossy, satin has 25 to 25 percent sheen. The coverage provided by a satin finish isn’t as good as those with less gloss to them, so you may need to prep your walls or use an undercoat to provide ample camouflage for mars or to hide repairs.

However, a satin finish makes your walls much easier to clean as the paint is more durable to washing. In addition to being commonly used in the same areas listed for eggshell pain, the mid-level shine makes this finish suitable for those areas of your home with medium to high traffic, such as children’s rooms, bathrooms and kitchens.

Semi-gloss

With a lower concentration of color and more shiny resin, semi-gloss paint has 35 to 75 percent sheen and offers less coverage than a less-reflective option. You may need to prep your walls before using a semi-gloss, and two coats may be required for complete coverage. Additionally, brush strokes may be visible at this level of shine and above.

Highly resistant to stains and mold, a semi-gloss finish is suitable to moist areas of your home, such as the kitchen or bathroom, and it is great for highlighting fixtures such as doors, trims, window frames and wainscotting.

High Gloss

At 85 percent sheen or higher, this finish offers the shiniest finish with the least color concentration. This means that pre-paint prep is most likely necessary to achieve flawless results.

Extremely durable and washable, high-gloss paint is typically reserved for cabinets, trims and doors. However, any blemishes will be highly visible, so primer or an undercoat may be needed before painting.

Enjoy the Look without the Work At Kaleidoscope Paint in Edmond OK, we take pride in our work. With a proven track record and exceptional customer service, we’ll get the rooms of your dreams completed on time and within the projected budget. You can have peace of mind knowing that we’re fully licensed and insured, and our home painting professionals can handle all jobs, both large and small. Give us a call and get started with your interior painting estimate.