Flat Or Semi Gloss For Exterior Trim

For exterior wood trim the paint you choose needs to be extremely tough easy to apply and provide a smooth high gloss.

Flat or semi gloss for exterior trim. Flat paint hides blemishes and flaws on an exterior surface well. For interiors use flat for ceilings medium sheens for walls and satin for a modern look with trim and doors. Family rooms living rooms and bedrooms are all places where artwork and mirrors have been hung over time so low-sheen paints work well to disguise those holes.

Use Semi-Gloss for interior trim and doors in traditional homes. If youre using semi-gloss enamel or hi-gloss enamel apply multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat to achieve the smoothest finish. However FLAT is not nearly as washablewipeable so you want to buy a quality paint.

Flat hides imperfections better but dark paints can also reveal imperfections moreso than lighter colors. Normally semi-gloss paint is the best choice for trim work since high-gloss paints are so shiny that they highlight imperfections. For large areas of the home covered by siding less glossy paints are a better choice.

Satin and semi-gloss exterior paints will provide different levels of durability ease of cleaning dirt resistance and appearance. Liquid deglossers exist but theyre mostly a weak paint remover and are mostly for prepping a surface to paint over. Satin is also well-suited for the trim and molding in any room.

Im only an amateur painter. However the negative side is that any kind of nick scratch and dent will really stand out especially in the light. Choosing between flat and semigloss on these surfaces comes down to location and condition of the painted area.

We also think a flat exterior paint sheen especially on masonry creates more of a timeless look. Thats why we went with Sherwin Williams White Duck in flat for all of our exterior brick and trim on our current house. With industrial coatings gloss level also affects color perception.