QA

Quick Answer: What Finish For Exterior Trim

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.

Should I use semi-gloss or satin exterior trim?

A semi-gloss paint offers visible shine on home exteriors and is ideal for surfaces that require frequent cleaning. The glossier sheen makes semi-gloss paint more durable than satin, so it’s easier to clean. Semi-gloss paint can also endure harsh weather conditions and withstand excess moisture.

Is exterior trim flat or satin?

Paints with a higher gloss are a logical choice where exterior trim will need to be washed frequently. Because of their reflective shininess every bump and imperfection is more visible, so they are not a good choice for large areas of siding. Burke and Crew recommends a satin finish for the exterior of most homes.

What kind of finish do you use on trim?

Best paint finish for trim and baseboards is gloss or semi-gloss paint sheens. All trim, woodwork, baseboards which are painted, needs to be in gloss, or semi-gloss paint finish, and not satin. Semi-gloss offers more scrubbing, wiping, and deep cleanings than satin paint finishes.

What kind of paint should I use for exterior trim?

Semi-gloss paint is also durable and easy to clean but has less shine than gloss. It’s suitable for doors, trim work and casings since it offers extra stain resistance. Choose a semi-gloss paint over a gloss paint for areas that are exposed to the elements and need high durability and longevity.

What sheen is best for stucco?

When painting stucco, you do not want to use a high-gloss paint. Stucco looks best with a flat or low-sheen paint. Kelly-Moore offers a full line of exterior acrylic masonry paints, including flat and low-sheen paints to breathe new life into your stucco home.

What sheen is best for front door?

Semi-gloss is ideal for front doors, as it’s more wear- and stain-resistant than flatter sheens. It’s also more reflective, which means it easily wipes clean, highlights carvings or other architectural flourishes on the door, and provides an attractive pop of shine in the entryway.

Is Low-sheen good for exterior paint?

For weatherboards, guttering, fascia and most masonry surfaces, a low-sheen or semi-gloss is more appropriate. Our wide range of paint finishes include Haymes NewLife Exterior Acrylic, Haymes Elite Exterior Acrylic and Haymes UltraPremium Solashield.

Can you use satin paint for trim?

Satin Finish This finish is ideal for adding a dose of drama to walls and trim, and is a good choice if you’re looking for an option to help mask any flaws. Consider it for living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and even kids rooms, where durability is necessary. Keep in mind that satin is also brilliant for small spaces.

Should stucco be painted flat or satin?

The best exterior paint for stucco is a 100% acrylic paint. It’s durable and flexible. It is even better if the paint finish is satin or semi-gloss because they are more water-resistant. Elastomeric paints don’t work very well as the sun causes it to look flat and dull.

What paint sheen should I use?

For one level of sheen up from flat or matte, eggshell and satin are good choices. “Satin is slightly shinier, and both are easier to clean than flat or matte paint,” says de Paz. You’ll find that some paint lines offer both eggshell and satin.

Is high gloss good for trim?

HIGH GLOSS It reflects a high level of light creating somewhat of a glam mirroring effect. It can be absolutely stunning when used strategically, but you really gotta make sure that the surface is perfect before you paint! High gloss can be used on interior doors, trim, baseboards, and exterior doors.

Is eggshell the same as satin?

Often confused with other finishes, the difference between eggshell and satin paint is that satin delivers a higher gloss, while offering better stain resistance and durability than lower sheens, including eggshell. Satin paint is ideal for areas that crave definition.

Is low sheen the same as satin?

Reflective finishes make imperfections in a wall surface much more obvious than low-sheen paints. A satin (or “eggshell”) finish is much more forgiving of holes and patches than a paint with more sheen. Low-sheen paints such as satin or flat are good on walls that have a lot of holes or holes that have been filled in.

What is the best paint for exterior wood?

When painting exterior wood, oil-based paint offers the best protection and longest-lasting results. Next in line are high-quality exterior acrylic paints, which have been improved and are less likely to crack and peel than latex paint.

Do I need to prime exterior trim before painting?

It’s important to prime bare exterior wood prior to painting because it seals the grain, prevents bleed-through and improves paint adhesion. It’s just as important to prime other materials, such as stucco, metal and concrete, for similar reasons. It seems like extra work, but it can save you time and paint.

Can I use semi-gloss on stucco?

High gloss paints highlights irregularities, this is the last thing that you would want when it comes to stucco. Stucco looks best with a matte paint or semi-gloss paint to mask imperfections.

Why you should not paint stucco?

Stucco needs to breath – One of the main reasons you shouldn’t coat your stucco with paint is because stucco is porous. This allows moisture that hits the surface to easily evaporate away. A coat of paint can harm that breathability. The stucco will not bond to the paint and will crack and fall away.

Can you use enamel paint on stucco?

Yes, to paint stucco surfaces, choose either acrylic, masonry, or elastomeric paint. Other types of paint may look good going on but be prone to bubbling, peeling, and cracking.