TO SHEEN or NOT TO SHEEN? THIS IS THE QUESTION. PAINT SHEEN GUIDE:

PAINT SHEEN GUIDE: FLAT VS EGGSHELL VS SATIN

**To avoid confusion, a quick definition to start this blog. EGGSHELL and SATIN are both names to describe the amount of sheen (the amount of shine or gloss) in paint. GENERALLY SPEAKING, satin tends to have a slightly higher sheen level. However, most paint brands do not carry both an eggshell AND a satin. Therefore, we are lumping these terms together for the purpose of our comparison with flat paint for this blog. Happy reading and we hope this blog  helps make the process of choosing paint easier…

Probably the single most frequent question we are asked as painters, (after “and just how much does something like that cost?”) is “should I use Flat or Eggshell/Satin paint?”  Well, there is no simple answer! However, there are many situations where one is preferable over the other. This article will discuss the pros and cons of each type of sheen and which situations generally call for which paints.

Times to chose FLAT PAINT finish

• When the ability to Touch Up small areas is a concern

• When Walls have imperfections in drywall that are not easily fixed

• On Heavily Side-Lit Walls

• On Ceilings

• In Closets or other sometimes hidden / Often damaged areas

Times to Choose EGGSHELL/SATIN PAINT finish

• When the ability to Touch Up small areas is less of a concern

• When Walls are either new or in good shape with quality drywall seams

• On Walls that are not Side-Lit heavily

• Where Durability is Key

• Where Moisture Resistance is Key

If there WAS a short answer to this question, it would go something like this: If your friends are constantly telling you that your walls are in ROUGH SHAPE, and that it is time to do something about it if you are EVER going to have the girlfriend or boyfriend that you dream of, then you are looking at a FLAT paint situation. This is because flat paint tends to reduce surface reflections, and as a result, will hide a great deal more imperfections, (dents, dings, scratches, bad drywall seams, etc…)

But seriously, this is an important question, both because the qualities of each type of sheen dictate the “performance” of the finish, and because when chosen properly, either flat or eggshell/satin will provide a more satisfying final  product. I will do a “side by side” situation comparison, which should make the choice more simple. It is very important to remember, however that the FINAL choice is always up to the client- sometimes personal preference outweighs all other concerns- and this is fine!

One factor we think of when of helping clients select the proper sheen for paint is the overall quality of the surface to be painted. In new homes with high quality drywall, (showing very little surface texture or drywall seams,) or older homes in good condition, we often suggest eggshell/satin paint. Because this sheen is more reflective, it is best used on walls that are fairly smooth to start with, or that are in good enough shape that it is cost effective for us to fix all damage, (nail pops, dents, dings, holes,) so that they will not be visible. The higher reflectivity of this paint makes its use a trade-off. On the negative side, it tends to show imperfections in the wall to a much higher degree. On the positive, it provides an exceptionally luminous surface, making the room brighter and giving more “pop” to the chosen colors.

On the flip side of this equation, if a surface has heavy damage, bad drywall seams, or other attributes that our client wishes to cover over rather than repair, we would almost always suggest the use of flat paint. While flat paint is less luminous than eggshell, it has exceptional hiding capabilities, in that it reflects less, and the eye is much less likely to pick out imperfections. Some special cases, such as when wallpaper has been removed, almost ALWAYS call for the use of flat or very low sheen paint, as the surface will never match the perfection of a brand new wall.  (However, we come so darn close that I should note we have been able to do this successfully when a client was absolutely against using flat paint!!)

Another important consideration is the overall durability of the paint. There is no question that paint with more sheen holds up better to “wear and tear” than does flat paint. Paint with higher sheen is harder and tends to be very wipe-able / cleanable with no damage to the surface. This means that all SORTS of messy stuff, oils from pet fur, hand prints, food spills, etc…never sink into the paint. Also, many new finishes are so resilient that they can even be cleaned with a bit of warm soapy water on a sponge, if needed. On the flip side, flat paint offers very little resistance to spills and damage, as it tends to soak in whatever lands on it!! Also, it is less scratch resistance because the enamels that give paint its sheen and hardness are missing from flat paint. However, don’t give up on flat paint just yet- please read on!!

Has anyone seen Steve Martin in The Jerk? If you have, then you might remember that he discovers his “special purpose.” Well, while eggshell/satin seems to beat out good old flat paint in many “bang for your buck” categories, there is one case where it certainly does not. This brings us to the Special Purpose of flat paint- you can “touch in” small areas of damage, without needing to repaint entire walls!! With eggshell/satin and other high sheen paints, once damage is done, the entire wall must be repainted. This is because the sheen “builds” with each layer of paint, so that even though the color might match, the area of the touch-in will have more shine and be highly visible.

Because flat paint lacks sheen, there is no sheen build. For this reason, if you have walls that may be damaged regularly, (such as in a rental property,) flat paint will often be your choice, as a total repaint will not be necessary between renters.) This is also the case in closets or other areas which almost ALWAYS sustain heavy damage, regardless of the sheen of the paint.  Flat paint in these areas will allow for spot repair/ repaint, rather than a total repaint.

There are a few final notes on the qualities of each type of sheen that should also be considered. One is the type of light the wall to be painted will receive. We often recommend flat paint on heavily side lit walls, as this type of light shows wall imperfections VERY clearly, especially in dark colors. (There is also a category we do not discuss here, called flat enamel/matte, basically a VERY low sheen paint, which is a good compromise if a client really wants sheen, but the drywall or wall texture won’t look the best with eggshell/satin level sheen.)

Another situation is ceiling paint. Because ceilings receive very little light, and because damage is rare but often catastrophic, (such as from a water leak,) we suggest flat paint on ceilings almost 100% of the time. This allows for the best possible look on the ceiling, but also allows for spot repairs if damage does occur. It also allows for a single coat of paint in many cases, which saves a larger part of the budget for walls and trim, which are often considered to be the most important parts of any paint project.

A final special consideration runs hand in hand with wipe-ability, and that is moisture resistance. In cases where there is a high level of humidity present, (such as in a bathroom or laundry room,) a high sheen paint is almost always used. This prevents mildew, because the moisture beads on the surface, and dries before it can work its way into the paint and cause damage. In fact, in cases where there is high moisture and poor ventilation, we sometimes recommend semi-gloss paint- an even higher sheen paint than eggshell/satin, which is usually reserved for painting trim.

Again, it is important to remember that in most cases, properly applied paints of flat or eggshell/satin sheen will yield a satisfying result. If you are still uncertain about which to chose after reading this information, please remember that your personal preference should be the final deciding factor!

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By W. Grant Tankersley for Just Add Paint in Mechanicsburg, PA 17055