As a painting contractor for many years, I have observed many slip-ups by well meaning homeowners who simply don’t understand just how unpredictable gloss paint can be on interior walls. In an endeavor to achieve toughness and scrub ability many sprint off to purchase satin or gloss paint without making an allowance for the problems that will shortly become obvious. With their imaginings of rich color tones that gloss paint affords and the scrub able character of the paint, some homeowners reason they simply can’t go wrong.

Most painting contractors would agree that one could certainly make a convincing case for using paints with sheen; then again most homeowners are not informed of the problem to using glossy paint on their walls.

Below are problems coupled with using gloss paint.

1. One of the most ordinary problems with using gloss paint is it causes minor defects in your walls to become visible. Defects that are not visible with flat paint abruptly become visible with satin or gloss finishes. If you receive a decent amount of sunlight through windows in the room, it will be even more perceptible. Sheetrock tape joints that are faintly raised or depressed can become obvious. Texture variations in the existing wall paint can become visible, etc.

2. Another problem many homeowners are not aware of is gloss paint is notorious for creating a halo effect around windows, doors, and baseboards of your rooms. When walls are rolled in a room, the roller nap leaves a different texture than what a brush leaves when cutting in wall paint around doors, windows, baseboard, and crown moldings. Light reflects differently from the texture left by the brush than from the textures left by the roller nap. This halo effect is aggravating and will spoil the appearance of your room.

3. If you are planning to paint gloss over existing flat walls, you really need two coats of paint to avoid flashing (unevenness of sheen throughout the wall). Two coats improve consistency of sheen and enhance color tone. This of course, increases your cost.

If you still would like the look that sheen can bring, then follow these suggestions.

1. Use very low sheen paint. To reduce the problems related with gloss paint, Consider using low sheen eggshell or satin finishes.

2. Prepare your walls very well. Some of the problems may be beyond the capacity of what you or the painter you hire can do. A sheetrock contractor may be your best decision for major wall repair.

3. Be sure and cut your walls in with a brush before you roll the walls. After the walls have been cut in with a brush, then roll the wall paint with a roller and nap within a quarter of an inch of your trim. Instead, you can apply blue tape to all your trim which will allow you to roll up to the trim. This will go a long way in reducing the halo effect. Make sure you have a small roller frame and nap on hand to reach areas where a normal size roller frame can’t reach. If you touch your trim with the roller, then clean the paint off the trim with a cloth immediately.

4. Be sure and budget for two coats of paint to achieve the look and feel you want.

Low sheen paint can give you the richness and dept of color with reduced problems especially in rooms that do not get a lot of light.

If you plan to stay with flat paint, my suggestion is use a top of the line paint in whatever brand you choose. Make sure it is a scrub able paint. When you clean flat paint you should use a sponge with water and soap. Never use a cloth. Cleaning with a cloth will burnish the surface, causing sheen to appear at that spot. As a painting contractor my recommendation is to take your time in planning and think carefully about what you want to achieve, weighing the pros and cons of using sheen.