(Newswire.net — March 2, 2018) — Painting the walls of your home or office might seem like a no-brainer, but the quality of the paint job is determined by making the right choice for paint and taking the time to do the prep work. If you want to ensure that the fresh coat of paint on your walls looks good for a long time – instead of just for a little while – it is all about the type of paint you choose and where you use it. There is a difference between semi-gloss and flat paint; knowing what it is and what to put where is essential to hiding lighting shadows and keeping little fingerprints off of the wall to keep things looking neat and clean.
What is the difference between semi-gloss and flat paint?
Semi-gloss is just what the name implies: it is when the paint has a sheen or gloss on the top. It differs from flat paint in that it reflects the light of the room. Semi-gloss has a tendency to show all those little imperfections in the drywall and any uneven surfaces along the wall. Semi-gloss will likely show every crack, nick, and ding in the drywall, which is why it is recommended for newer walls that have fewer flaws in them.
A commercial painter will often refer to flat paint as “matte” paint. Unlike semi-gloss, it does not show the imperfections of the wall clearly because it doesn’t reflect light. Flat paint is an excellent paint for older walls and restoration places where there is unevenness or plaster. Even though it will do a better job of hiding all those imperfections in your walls, though, if you do have significant damage, it is always best to try to repair the walls before you paint.
Depending on which brand you buy, both flat and semi-gloss paints can be durable. But semi-gloss is known to be slightly better at putting up with things like dirt and fingerprints. Flat paint has a more porous surface, which means that things can stick to it. That is why semi-gloss is typically better to use in high-traffic areas that will have a lot of wear and tear, like kids’ rooms or living spaces. Semi-gloss is also usually a better choice for bathrooms and entryways because it can be wiped down easily. Although both paints can be washed, semi-gloss paint washes clean a little more easily than flat paint does.
What about primer?
Regardless of what type of paint you choose for your walls, you will want to apply a primer so that the paint will adhere to the wall better. If you are trying to paint over extremely dark colors, then putting down a coat or two of primer will ensure that you don’t have color showing through. It will also make sure that you don’t have to put several coats of paint on, which can become costly.
If you want to tint the primer so that you only have to put one coat on, then you can do that at your local hardware store. Primers can have color added to them, which just makes the final paint job look better all the way around. The primer is essential to making your walls look good and to ensure that the paint doesn’t start to bubble or peel after it is applied. If you are painting new construction, primer is necessary before you put the actual paint color on the wall, or you will have a really hard time making the paint look nice.
If you want to have a paint job that looks professional, then it is important to choose the right type of paint and to do the prep work ahead of time. If you don’t take time up front, then you will probably end up spending more repairing paint that is chipping, peeling off, or simply isn’t adhering correctly to the walls.
Although painting is a great do-it-yourself project, you might want to consider hiring a professional. Sometimes an attempt to save money will end up having to pay someone to undo our bad job. So before you put the brush to the wall, you might want to make sure that you know what you are doing.