Many homeowners doing house painting in Concord prefer satin over other types of paint finishes under the “glossy” category. It might be because satin offers the best of both worlds, so to speak — it has some characteristics of glossy paints and a bit of flat paints.
A paint with a satin finish gives off a luxurious appearance especially on interior walls. Compared to a flat/matte paint, most glossy paints are easier to clean and that’s what satin finish also is. But unlike most glossy paints, satin paint does a better job hiding surface imperfections than other paint types. That’s why satin paints are the preferred paint finish to use for kitchens, bathrooms, children’s rooms, entryways, and many more.
If your interior wall is painted with a semi-gloss finish and want to paint it over with satin, the most usual method is to sand it before painting it. You know that a semi-gloss paint is very smooth, offers a considerable sheen, and resists moisture. There’s one thing that’s missing: texture, which it needs in order to receive a new coat of satin paint. All you have to do is to sand the wall gently, applying very little pressure over the entire surface. After sanding, use a wiping cloth or tack cloth to wipe off the dust. Then you’ll be off to prime and paint the wall!
If sanding does not appeal to you though, you can prepare semi-glossy walls by making a solution that consists of mixing 1/2 cup of ammonia and 1 gallon of warm water. Use a rag to apply the solution on the walls to clean them. If you are wiping the kitchen walls, target the areas that have collected a heavy buildup of grease and grime. After that, wipe the walls again, this time using with just water. Let the walls dry completely before moving on to priming and/or painting.
Determine the type of semi-gloss paint on your walls. Is it oil-based paint or latex paint? You might refer to another article “House Painting Danville — How to Tell If It’s Oil or Latex Paint” to determine if your walls are covered with latex or oil-based paint. If the semi-gloss paint on the walls is oil-based, then apply an oil-based satin paint. If it’s otherwise latex semi-gloss paint on the wall, then use a latex satin paint.
Although your semi-glossy wall now has texture, when painted it can still give off a considerable shine. The solution to this is applying a primer. It is an undercoat with a dull finish which looks like a flat paint but doesn’t quite exactly work like one. Rather, a primer is a preparatory coat that helps the topcoat to adhere better on the surface. It also forms a binding layer that prevents the old paint to seep through the topcoat. Although most primers are white, you can also buy primers in various colors to go with your choice of satin paint color.
Apply the primer over your prepared and cleaned walls. Let the primer to dry before you finally apply the satin paint. It’s up to you whether you want to apply a second coat of paint to really achieve the maximum “satin” effect.
Many people prefer satin paints for house painting in Concord. It is because it has qualities of both flat paints and glossy paints. If you find your semi-glossy walls too bright for you, or that they still show a some imperfections, then satin paint might be the best choice.