Difference In Sheens And Which Rooms They Should Be Used In

Yet another decision you will have to make regarding your paint job is which sheens should I choose and why. To begin the sheens of paint are listed from lowest luster to highest in the following order (please note some companies have different names for there sheens but they are the same for the most part). Flat, matte, eg-shell, satin, semi-gloss, gloss. So to begin the majority of ceilings in main living areas are typically flat as this hides imperfections in the ceiling as well as dirt as they are not cleaned often. The only ceilings that should go a different sheen would be bathrooms and kitchens as flats are not meant to be used in high humidity areas due to the fact that will develop streaks from the moisture in the air. It should be noted that flat paint is notorious for being difficult to clean, the higher sheen you go the easier the surface is to clean. Although the downside of higher sheens is they show imperfections in drywall much clearer than lower sheens. In regards to walls the vast majority of walls in a home typically go eg-shell or satin, this way they are easier to clean but don't have an overly high sheen. In regards to doors and trim in a home these typically go satin, and preferably in an oil base. This is because oil-based paint is more durable/easier to clean than latex and baseboards/doors are often times the most scuffed areas of the home. Furthermore closets and pantries should go satin so they are easy to clean and will have several items moved around them throughout your time in the home so they need to be a sheen that is easy to clean. In regards to exterior painting higher sheens are known to be more durable and UV resistant than lower sheen paints. It is for this reason that wood siding/trim should go satin and nothing lower to ensure the most longevity out of your paint job. In addition if you are having stucco painted it is typical to go flat since stucco have such rough texture and inconsistencies a higher sheen would not look good on a stucco finish. You may be wondering if going flat on your stucco will impede the longevity of your paint job. The answer to this is no as stucco is the one surface that the sheen rule does not apply to this is because you have to use a specific masonry paint on stucco know as elastomeric. Elastomeric is an extremely durable rubberized paint designed specifically for stucco surfaces. In conclusion I hope this article will give you some information on choosing the sheen for your home painting project.