Gloss
- highest sheen
- very durable
- easy to clean
- excellent for trim or cabinets
Semi-gloss
- very durable
- easy to clean
- excellent for kitchens and bathrooms
- most popular choice for trim and doors
Satin
- medium sheen
- similar to eggshell but slightly more
washable
- a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms
Eggshell
- hides minor imperfections on walls
- the best choice for most walls
- washable
Matte or Flat
- lowest sheen
- generally used for ceilings
- not very washable
Considerations when choosing a finish
Clean-ability and Durability
While we only use quality products some paints are more durable
and easier to clean than others. A good rule is that the
shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to washing
and cleaning and the more durable it will be in the first place.
Kid-Friendly Finishes
When painting children's rooms, we recommend using an eggshell or
satin paint on the walls and semi-gloss for trim and doors. These
finishes will better withstand repeated cleanings.We also use many
paints with low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) giving you
the satisfaction of knowing that while we’re working your kids
can breathe easy.
Ceilings are typically
painted with flat finish paint. Choose a glossier finish, like
eggshell or satin, for good light reflection, but only if the
ceiling is flawless.
Any room, such as a
kitchen or bathroom, which will be exposed to water or steam, is
best painted with a satin or semi-gloss paint. A guest bath or
powder room will have less-frequent use and could be painted with
lower-gloss paint, such as an eggshell finish.
Types of Paints
Primers/Sealers
- used
to seal unpainted surfaces to prevent covering coatsof paint
from soaking in
- also used to block out stains
- taking the time to properly prime some
surfaces makes a big difference in the final quality of the
paint job
Latex
Latex paint is water-based, so brushes and rollers can be
rinsed with water, and the colour holds up well to exposure to
bright sunlight. It dries in about six hours, but often requires
two or three coats for complete coverage.
- the term "Latex" is used by paint
companies to refer to water based paints. There is no natural
latex in modern paint
- latex paints remain more flexible and allow
moisture to evaporate through the film thus reducing
blistering, cracking and peeling
- water clean up
- easy to touch up
- safer for you and the environment
Acrylic Latex
- “Acrylic"or "Acrylic
Latex" paint are water based paints that contain Acrylic
as the film forming binder ingredient
- Often, inexpensive latex paints use softer
vinyl resins as binders and more water in the formulation
while the more durable of the latex paints use 100% acrylic
resins and less water (you get what you pay for!)
Oil
Oil paint is more glossy and viscous than latex, making it tough
and durable, perfect for high-traffic areas like baseboards and
trim. It has a strong odour and brushes will need to be cleaned
with solvents. Keep in mind that oil paint can take up to a day to
dry.
- the term "Oil based" is used
to refer to paints that have a linseed oil or Alkyd base.
'Alkyd" is a synthetic oil base
- hard, durable finish
- will yellow over time
- paint thinner is required for clean up
- more VOC’s so we use these as little as
possible
Enamel
- Enamels are formulated with higher
concentrations of resin as they are intended to be subjected
to more wear and tear
