Paint Finishes Made Easy

Published by: Donna Kshir
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Painting the interior of your Connecticut home consists of a lot of time, dedication and hard work, but the end results can be a rewarding and blissful experience. Today, our homes are our biggest and most profitable asset. The most successful way to ameliorate the beauty of your home, as well as add value is maintaining the interior of your home and painting the walls and trim every few years.

The two hardest decisions you will have to make when painting is choosing a color and determining which type of paint finish best suits you and your family's needs. Should you use satin or flat and more importantly why? Is there a difference between eggshell and glossy? These are all tough questions and it’s hard to get the right answer until you know the facts. Here are a few tips to help you select the perfect paint finish for your home's interior.

Matte Finish: Whether you call it a flat finish or basic wall paint, this type of interior paint has a matte surface. This paint finish is used on the interior of your home and is a wonderful product to camouflage, cover or hide imperfections, as this finish does not reflect light. Today, most flat paints claim to be durable and washable. However, under certain circumstances you may need to touch up scratches, cracks or other imperfections with a bit more paint. Once you have completed the painting process it is a good idea to keep some touch up paint on hand.

Flat Enamel: This is durable flat paint with a matte finish. This is a good choice for hallways, dens and powder rooms, as it stands the test of time and holds up well for occasional cleanings.

Eggshell Finish: If you have any concern of what this finish of paint will look like on the walls, close your eyes and envision an egg. This type of paint has a very low sheen as the shell of an egg, but the benefits of a slight hint of shine or gloss. This is a durable finish when it comes to the cleaning process, as it holds up better than flat paint.

Satin Finish: This finish of paint is more durable than an eggshell finish and has a smooth, velvety look with the added bonus of being glossier. This finish is most often and best suited for trim; windows, doors and ceilings, but can also be used on the walls. This finish is best suited for kitchens, bathrooms, kid's bedrooms and other areas of your home with heavy traffic. This finish will hold up to a good cleaning or light scrubbing.

Semi-Gloss: This finish is more durable than a satin finish and is best suited for cabinets, trim and doors in the kitchen, bathroom or other heavy traffic areas of your home. It is easy to clean and is accompanied with a subtle shine, without being overly glossy or glitzy.

Glossy: If you are looking for a reflective, shiny finish of paint that mimics the look of plastic or shiny enamel, your best option is to select paint with a glossy finish. Although it is not a popular choice for the walls of your home, it is a good choice for cabinets, doors, trim and furniture. This finish is best suited and will magnify imperfections on any surface. It is very important to carefully prepare and sand the surface before using or committing to such a high gloss paint.

To get help from a professional painting contractor in Connecticut, contact us today or browse our directory.

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