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Pros and Cons of Using Gloss on Interior Walls - Painting Contractor Shares Tips
As a painting contractor for many years, I have witnessed many blunders by well meaning homeowners who simply don't understand just how unpredictable gloss paint can be on interior walls. In an effort to achieve durability and scrub ability, many sprint off to purchase satin or gloss paint without taking into account the hurdles that will shortly become very noticeable. With their dreams of rich color tones that gloss paint affords and the scrub able persona of the paint, some homeowners reason they simply can't go wrong.
Most painting contractors would agree that one could certainly make a suitable line of reasoning for using paints with sheen; then again most homeowners are not aware of the problem to using glossy paint on their walls.
Below are problems coupled with using gloss paint.
1. One of the most widespread problems with using gloss paint is it causes minor defects in your walls to become detectable. Defects that are veiled by flat paint suddenly come alive when using satin or gloss paint. If you receive a fair 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 evident. Uneven texture in the walls can become visible, etc.
2. Paints with a sheen are notorious for causing a halo effect around trim. 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 is a very annoying problem that can ruin the appearance of your freshly painted 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 must have sheen on the walls, then follow these suggestions
1. Use very low sheen paint. The use of eggshell, or satin sheens will help minimize the above problems associated with gloss paints.
2. Prepare your walls very well. Some of the problems may be beyond the scale of what you or the painter you hire can do. A sheet rock contractor may be your best preference for major wall repair.
3. Always cut your walls in first using a brush. Then proceed to rolling 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. Alternatively, 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. Additionally, obtaining a smaller roller frame and nap will allow you to reach tight areas a standard size roller 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 in particular in rooms that do not get a lot of light. If you are going to use flat paint, then understand not all flat paints are alike. Top of the line flat paints will clean with much less damage to the wall than lower quality paint. Make sure it is a scrub able paint. When you wash flat paint you should use a sponge with water and soap. Never use a cloth. Cleaning with a cloth will polish the surface, causing sheen to appear at that spot. My suggestion as a painting contractor is plan your project well. Consider the quirks of gloss paint and budget in view of that. Weigh the pros and cons of using sheen on your walls.
About the Author
Nicky is the president of
a house painting contractor service
called Homeowners First Choice Painting. Nicky has served the North Atlanta for 26 years with his business. Nicky is author of many articles pertaining to
house painting, painting contractor issues
and home improvement topics. Click on one of these links for more info.
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I know you can rub it with wax to get a better show quality shine, but what do you rub it with . What kind of wax and especially what kind of cloth so the paint is not damaged
Hobby stores sell special wax and polishing cloths made just for plastic models.If you are supper fussy then buying a kit like a "NOVUS" polishing kit also at a hobby shop is the way to go.It involves progressive grit sanding sheets and a polish.You start with the coarsest sheet and work up to the finest one then you apply the polish.But The cost and effort required is usually reserved for models in contests and shows.