Feel the Gloss: Choosing the Correct Paint Sheen Part Two

What are the benefits of choosing a gloss sheen paint for your project?  This is an important question to explore as choosing the wrong finish can make housekeeping more difficult and ruin the look of a space.  Glossy paint sheens or finishes vary from pearl, semi to high gloss.  Let’s look at the pearl finish first.

A paint that has a pearl or satin finish contains twenty-five to thirty-five percent gloss or shine.   It has the lowest amount of shine of all the glossy paints.  Satin finish paint is durable with a smooth, velvety texture.  Satin paints can be used in high-traffic areas as it can endure heavy or frequent cleaning and even light scrubbing.  We use this finish often for doors, windows and other trimwork in our clients’ homes.

Gloss Paint for Cabinetry

Semi-gloss paint has thirty-five to seventy percent gloss.  This is quite a fun paint to work with as it applies smoothly to surfaces.  The result is a sophisticated, gleaming surface that is not too dramatic or jarring to the eye.  Trim, doors, windows, banisters, and cabinets are the surfaces that benefit the most from this particular paint sheen.  As you can imagine, these surfaces suffer a lot of smudges, dirt and wear and tear in most homes.  The semi-gloss texture makes for easier cleaning.

Gloss sheen paint for cabinetry

High-gloss paint contains eighty-five percent gloss and even higher.  This paint boasts a highly luminous sheen and has the greatest amount of gloss.  A surface painted with this sheen can be so shiny that it almost looks like plastic.  High-gloss paint certainly offers durability and washability.  Liquids and dirt do not seep or work their way easily into this paint finish.  This dirt and water-resistant quality makes high-gloss paint ideal for cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom.  However, with great luminosity comes complications.  The reflective surface of this type of paint finish greatly exaggerates the tiniest imperfections in your trim, wall, or cabinet surfaces so we take great care to ensure that surfaces are prepared expertly.  Taking care and time helps us achieve a clean, polished look.

painting by Larkin Painting Company

High gloss paint for the banister

I hope you have learned more about the benefits of using a glossy paint finish for your projects.  If you have any questions about your painting project or would like an estimate, send us a “Get a Quote” form or call us at (508) 740-6212.

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