Picking the right paint finish & texture could be a challenge on its own, especially when you don’t even have the slightest clue of what the different paint textures are, and where they fit in.
The finish/texture of paint you choose, can have just as big of an effect on the end results as the colour.
To avoid getting any unnecessary headaches and ending up with the wrong paint finish on your walls, have a look at our quick overview of paint finishes & textures:
Smooth Finish vs Textured Paint
Smooth Finish: A smooth finish is pretty much self-explanatory. It refers to the texture of the paint being smooth, without any textured particles.
In general, smooth paint finishes can be cleaned quite easily (assuming a high quality product has been used). It is the most common option for the interior walls of a home/building.
Some of our most popular paint products with a smooth finish include Duraklad, Ultracover, Natural Silk.
Textured Finish: Also quite self-explanatory. This type of paint finish will have a clearly visible texture to it. Common types of textured paint includes fine textured (eg. Weathertex) & coarse textured paint.
Textured paint can have a great looking effect on the outside of a house/building. The major downside to using a textured paint (especially fine textured) is that it can collect dirt/dust quite easily.
Sheen, Matt, Silk & Gloss
Gloss: Gloss paint is usually very durable and easy to clean. It can be used effectively in high traffic areas such as bathrooms or kitchens. The glossy effect is caused by the high light-reflecting properties of the paint.
The surface preparation before applying a gloss paint is extremely important, because all imperfections of the surface will be exposed by the gloss finish.
Medium/Low Sheen: A medium or low sheen finish is usually the middle ground between gloss & matt. It has some light-reflection, but usually not that intense (depending largely on the grade of sheen chosen).
It is the best option if you don’t want to be left with a finish that is too shiny, but still easy to clean and quite durable. Usually the higher the sheen level, the higher the price will be, as it will contain more resin.
Our top recommended low sheen product (also our flagship & top performing product) is the Duraklad.
Matt: A matt finish barely reflects any light. It creates a very flat look, which can be great at hiding surface imperfections. The downside of using a matt finish is that it doesn’t clean that easily.
Silk: A Silk/Satin paint has some level of sheen to it and helps to create a luxuriously smooth and velvet finish. It usually offers very high washability and durability.
In high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms, using a silk finish can be a good alternative if you don’t want to opt for a gloss finish. Our Natural Silk is recommended for any high-traffic interior areas.
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