Lewis & Lewis Painting Inc." Home Improvements Plus "

There are several types of 'finishes' for paint products.

Choosing paint can be confusing at first as there are so many paints on the market. But with a little understanding of the different types of paint, you will quickly become a paint finish expert!

The most common types of paint are: Flat, satin or eggshell, semi-gloss, and gloss.

What is Paint Sheen?
Paint sheen is the level of glossiness in paint. In other words, high gloss paint will make your walls look somewhat shiny while a flat paint won't have any shine. This is important for you because certain sheen paints a better for certain rooms in your home. For example, flat paint conceals scratches and other pre existing wall imperfections well, so it would be a good choice for hallway walls in a household with children. Read below to learn about each paint sheen type.

These are listed below in order of 'luster' (or shine):

 Flat:

A dry flat finish with no reflection. This finish does not have a smooth feel.

• Commonly used on most walls
• Lowest sheen
•  Matte finish
• Non-reflective
• Conceals wall imperfections
• Best for painting uneven surfaces or drywall

Satin:

A semi-dry finish with little surface reflection. This finish feels a bit smoother and less dry
to the touch than the flat finish.

• Low-luster
• Slight sheen
• Brings warmth and depth to a room
• Easier to clean than compared to flat paint

Eggshell:

A mild sheen with a somewhat smooth surface. This finish still feels a bit textured and just a little dry to the touch.

• Low-luster
• Slight sheen
• Brings warmth and depth to a room
• Easier to clean than compared to flat paint

Semi-gloss:

A moderately reflective finish. A surface coated with this finish will feel smooth. This is an ideal finish for high-traffic areas such as entryways, and for areas that accumulate grease and moisture such and bathrooms and kitchens. This finish is also commonly used on woodwork applications (doors, frames, baseboards, windows, wood trim, etc.).

• Very durable
• Easiest to clean
• Does NOT conceal imperfections
• Often used in kitchens and bathrooms
• Also frequently used in childrens  bedrooms

High-gloss:

This is the shiniest of the finishes. A surface with this finish feels almost glassy and a light shined directly onto the surface will form a halo in the shape of the light source. This finish is primarily used in decorative application.

• Most durable of all paints
• Highest sheen
• Used for doors being that it is so durable
• Good for trimming baseboard and door frames

Additional Considerations: Oil or Latex Paint?
Most paints come with a base option of oil or latex. Your decision will be based on several factors such as what surface you will be painting and what room you will be applying the paint to.

Oil Paint

• Better Abrasion resistance
• Higher gloss
• More durable then latex
• Smoother application than latex
• Seals stains well
• Harder to clean up after using oil based paint

Latex Paint

• More popular because It's easier to clean up, less odor, and overall easier to manage
• Water Based
• Fast drying
• Easy to apply
• Resists yellowing, fading and mildew
• Good for metal surfaces
• Best bet for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms

The higher the gloss in the finish the more difficult it is to touch up and the higher the gloss the more pronounced imperfections in the surface will appear. In short, select the luster of your finish carefully and be prepared to spend more time and take more care when applying paint with glossy finishes.