Best Sheen for Exterior Paint | How To Pick The Right One
The Importance of a High-Quality Paint
Let’s look at what differences there are between paint sheen styles.
What is Paint Sheen?
Paint sheen is simply the gloss level of paint. The higher the gloss level, the shinier or more reflective it will look. That’s why you must choose the good exterior painting services and the best Sheen for Exterior Paint, The different levels or categories of sheen are flat/matte, eggahell/satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. Flat having no shine, and gloss being the shiniest. A High Gloss finish provides a more durable finish that is great for higher traffic areas such as kitchen cabinets, front doors, trim, and molding. Different sheen levels can make the color look different and reflect light in different ways. Glossy to flat are on totally different ends of the shine spectrum and look completely different.
Flat/Matte Finish
Surfaces that have a sheen are easier to clean, but matte surfaces are not impossible to clean as you often hear people say. People usually have no issue at all cleaning the outside of their homes when they start to look a little dirty. Rinsing with a water hose or pressure washing services will always work like a charm. That’s why you must choose the best sheen for exterior paint.
You might be interested in the guide to finding the residential painter.
Eggshell/Satin
Eggshell or satin is the perfect sheen if you don’t want overly glossy, but want just a little sheen. Use of this tends to be preferable in wet environments, such as our bathrooms. The subtle shine helps prevent watermarks from remaining on your walls. Satin is also popular among homeowners for interior millwork and trim.
The slight amount of shininess creates a nice contrast with the walls in a flat finish. This sheen is also considered the best sheen for exterior paint & will also make the surface a little slicker making it easier to wipe down and clean in these areas where dust tends to build up. Another thing to consider with a satin or eggshell finish is that the color of the paint will appear a bit richer compared to the same color in a matte or flat finish.
Semi-gloss and Gloss
Semi-gloss and gloss paints are highly reflective and very shiny These sheen levels are often, but not always, only used on interior trim, doors, and millwork surfaces that get a lot of wear and tear. In your current home, you might like to use semi-gloss for all the items that were mentioned above, again, due to the significant wear these areas succumb to.
Since you can use the same color on walls and trim, it is nice to let the sheen of the semi-gloss paint create a bit of contrast between the two. So should you use a semi-gloss or gloss finish on the exterior of a house? Many people in the painting industry do not agree with this but many say absolutely not! We’re typically not so dogmatic about design decisions, but many people can be.
Using such shiny paint on the exterior could make your home look like it is made of plastic. However, it is up to you to consult your family, neighbors, and H.O.A to stay compliant with the surroundings, but to also see a vision of what you want for your house and achieve it. Contact Nice Guy Painting today for a hassle-free estimate or to consult about which type of paint you should use!
Conclusion
Keep in mind that shinier finishes will also show more imperfections. This should be taken into consideration if you are planning on doing your own painting, as roller and brush marks will be more visible. Just one of the reasons hiring a professional for the job is a good choice. So what about on the exterior? Certain people do not like to request a specific amount of shininess on the exterior of their homes, but this is the finish that many people prefer as it makes it a little easier to keep the outside of their house clean.