What Paint Finish Should You Use?

What are the different sheens and where are they used?

In paint technology, the sheen is the glossiness of the paint finish. The higher the shine level of the paint, the more durable it will be. The sheen scale goes from Flat, Matte, Egg-Shell, Satin, Semi-Gloss to High Gloss. Paint manufacturers offer a range of sheen options in which they measure gloss by percentages. Here’s how the general sheen categories rate:

• Flat paints contain one to nine percent gloss ability

• Low sheen paints have 10 to 25 percent gloss

• Eggshell paints have 26 to 40 percent gloss

• Semi-gloss paints have 41 to 69 percent gloss

• High-gloss paints have 70 percent and above gloss ratings

Flat paints have several advantages as well as disadvantages. Some advantages include:

• This type of paint adheres readily

• It makes uneven patches and imperfections less noticeable

• Hides rough patches

• Gives a matte finish that is aesthetically soothing

Some of the disadvantages are:

• This paint is prone to dirt and stains

• It takes a lot of effort to clean such paint compared to glossier paints

High-gloss paint is enamel paint, which means that it is a great deal smoother than semi-gloss paint on a microscopic level. This smoothness makes high-gloss paint more stain resistant and less susceptible to picking up dirt and grime.

Different sheens are appropriate to different areas of the home, depending on their activity level.

Here’s our advice:

FLAT - Works best on living room and bedroom walls and all ceilings.

MATTE - Works best on family room, dining room and hallway walls.

EGGSHELL - Works best on foyer and kitchen walls and on any trim.

SATIN - Works best on playroom, laundry room and children’s bedroom walls.

SEMI-GLOSS - Works best on doors, trim molding and cabinets.

GLOSS - Works best on trim, woodwork and doors.

Of course, you can always use whichever finish you like best. The Cobb Brothers crews have worked with all types of paints in a variety of sheens. Give us a call 508-655-7910 if you have a question about which one you should use.