What Degree Of Sheen Should Exterior Paint Have?

Lower sheen paints are typically used for the body of a house, while higher sheen paints are commonly used for trim, doors, and accents. When choosing a paint sheen, consider the exterior surface you are painting, as it can significantly impact both appearance and serviceability. The gloss level of paint can improve the durability of paints, including resistance to fading, chalking, and peeling. Outdoor gloss paint offers a vibrant, durable finish for exterior surfaces, offering resistance to fading, chalking, and peeling. It is easy to clean and enhances curb appeal.

There are different sheens for exterior paint, from matte (or flat), eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Each sheen has a role in exterior painting. For example, a satin or eggshell finish is best for most exterior surfaces, but a matte finish can help hide blemishes. Durable gloss or semi-gloss finishes are ideal for exterior trim that’s prone to major stresses like rain, snow, UV rays, and physical wear.

Stain, eggshell, or matte paints have a slightly glossy appearance but aren’t as reflective as gloss paints. Semi-gloss paints are suitable for walls and woodwork subject to wear, weatherboards, and exterior cementitious surfaces. The recommended paint sheens for the exterior are satin/eggshell, semi-gloss, and gloss.

A semi-gloss finish is best for painting garage doors, front doors, exterior trim, gutters, shutters, metal lamp posts, railings, and window sills. The commonly available sheen options for exterior paint are flat, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss, each offering a different level of shine and durability.

Is satin exterior paint too shiny?

Satin finish paints have a more reflective sheen than flat finish paints, making them ideal for bright, vivid colors on your home exterior. They reflect light and make colors pop, but they are less effective at hiding surface imperfections and are less forgiving of mistakes in application. Despite this, satin finish paint is easier to clean than flat finish paints, as it can be wiped or brushed down, allowing for easy removal of mud and algae without repainting.

This is particularly beneficial for homes shaded by large trees, which can lead to excess moisture and algae growth. Professional painters often opt for satin finish paints for their ease of cleaning. Both satin and flat finishes can be used outdoors, but each paint sheen has its own set of pros and cons. For more information on when to use flat vs satin exterior paint, visit Fillo Painting.

When to use high gloss paint?

High gloss paints are durable, stain-resistant, and highly reflective, making them ideal for doors, cabinets, trim, and woodwork exposed to dirt and oil. They are easy to clean and can emphasize surface imperfections. Gloss levels vary depending on surface texture, porosity, and atmospheric conditions. For specific product recommendations, contact a Dunn-Edwards representative or your local store.

Is low sheen good for exterior paint?

Wattyl Solagard Low Sheen is a low-reflective finish suitable for cladding or rendering walls. It offers a slight sheen that conceals imperfections and facilitates thorough cleansing. This product strikes a balance between aesthetic appeal, dirt resistance, and flexibility.

What happens if you use interior gloss outside?

Interior and exterior paint are made for specific purposes and projects, with exterior paint prone to peeling, cracking, and color fading due to light and weather conditions. There are four main differences between interior and exterior paint, which affect their use and results:

1. Interior paint is designed for indoor use, while exterior paint is suitable for outdoor use.

Is high gloss paint good for exterior?

High-gloss paint is ideal for accenting exterior surfaces, but it’s crucial to choose flat and in good condition surfaces. It can amplify flaws and make them stand out more. Avoid overdoing it on accents like door frames, window trims, shutters, and metal surfaces. For larger surfaces like garage doors and yard fencing, consider a semi-gloss finish. Surface preparation is essential when applying glossy paint, as even the slightest flaws can be exposed. Damaged or uneven surfaces can heighten these effects. Shoreline High Gloss offers a semi-gloss finish for larger accent surfaces.

What is the gloss level of paint?

Glossiness is a measure of the reflected light from a paint finish, with full gloss (70-90%) being the most extreme, semi-gloss (41-69), and satin (26-40). Gloss paint is shiny and reflects most light in the specular direction, while flat paints diffuse light in various angles. Intermediate gloss levels, known as matte, eggshell, satin, silk, semi-gloss, and high gloss, are between the most dull to the most shiny. These terms are not standardized and not all manufacturers use all of them.

UK paint manufacturer Firwood measures gloss as percentages of light reflected from an emitted source back into an apparatus from specified angles, ranging between 60° and 20° depending on reflectivity. For very low gloss levels, a lower angle of 20° is usually used.

What finish is best for outdoor paint?

Eggshell paint is a popular exterior paint finish that complements various siding types like HardiePlank, stucco, and horizontal wood. Choosing the right paint sheen is crucial for enhancing the look and durability of your home. Sheens are not universal and can vary across brands, making it difficult to compare products. At Kind Home Solutions, we use the best paint products available, such as Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.

Choosing the right paint product is essential, as sheens are not universal and can vary from one company to another. We recommend choosing your paint product before determining the sheen. There are several options and price ranges to choose from, with most clients opting for top-of-the-line exterior paint. Sherwin Williams typically uses Emerald Exterior or Emerald Rain Refresh, while Benjamin Moore clients opt for Aura due to its fade-resistant technology and rich finish.

After determining the brand and paint product, you can begin experimenting with sheens to achieve the best exterior paint finish for your home.

Should exterior paint be flat or satin?

A satin finish is a popular choice for exteriors due to its pearl-like sheen, making it ideal for high-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and window trims. It is durable, easier to clean, and can highlight surface imperfections. Satin paint offers an aesthetic appeal with a soft, pearl-like sheen, making it more lustrous than a flat finish but less glossy than semi-gloss. It also makes colors appear richer and more vibrant, enhancing the overall look of the home.

What are the 5 most commonly used gloss levels?

When selecting paint for a job, it’s important to consider the paint sheen level, which refers to the level of shine or gloss produced by the paint. There are five different options: flat, low, semi-gloss, and gloss. Flat paint is recommended for gyprock and fibro ceilings, but should be avoided in mold-prone areas, woodwork, or areas that will be frequently touched. The lower sheen level makes it easier to hide imperfections and is ideal for dark feature walls.

Low sheen paint is the most commonly used type for interior walls due to its cleanliness and ability to hide imperfections. It has slightly higher reflective power than flat, but architects prefer it on the exterior due to its combined properties and increased durability. Low sheen paint is also becoming popular again on VJ ceilings.

What sheen is best for house paint?

The most suitable paint for interior painting is typically satin, eggshell, and flat/matte for walls, while gloss and semi-gloss paint are best for doors, baseboards, trim, cabinets, and woodwork. However, the choice of paint depends on factors such as lifestyle, family composition, traffic patterns, and room use. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the shine/gloss/sheen in a paint, the more durable and washable it will be. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these factors when selecting a paint for your home.

What gloss to use outside?

Dulux Trade Weathershield gloss is a popular choice among decorators due to its excellent sheen level, especially in darker colors. Although it may not be as popular inside the home as it once was, it remains desirable as an exterior paint due to its sharp appearance. However, choosing the best exterior gloss for wood requires careful consideration. The paint must not only look good and without defects but also waterproof, maintain color, and protect against UV.

It must also ‘flex’ to accommodate the constantly expanding and contracting exterior wood due to changing weather conditions. As a Professional Decorator, choosing the right exterior paint is not just about its appearance, but also its long-term durability.