Choosing the right sheen for your customer’s project is important. It impacts not just the appearance but also the performance of the paint. Check out our quick refresher and you’ll be ready to talk sheen with your customer.
- Every Sherwin-Williams product has a gloss or sheen value. Some have both.
- What’s the difference? Sheen is measured at an 85 degree angle, while gloss is measured at a 60 degree angle. The higher the number, the shinier the surface.
- Make sure to consider room traffic when selecting a paint sheen.
- A lower-sheen matte or flat finish is a good bet for bedrooms, living rooms and other lower-traffic areas. Because of its ability to hide imperfections, it’s also a great choice for textured walls and ceilings.
- Higher-sheen paints are more durable and easier to clean – good for high-traffic rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms as well as trim, cabinets and doors.
- Most contractors traditionally wouldn’t recommend a low-sheen finish for a room that needs frequent cleaning. However, some premium products like Emerald® and Duration Home® provide washability at all sheen levels.
- Budget extra prep time when applying coatings with medium to high sheen levels. This will help ensure that there are no visible brush strokes on the final product.
These are just a few of the most important tips, but for even more detail – including which gloss and sheen levels are available for each coating – don’t miss the official guide from Sherwin-Williams: How to Choose a Paint Finish.
You can learn even more about sheen and get a room-by-room reference guide for your next job in one of our most popular articles: The Finishing Touch.
And for painters committed to lifelong learning in every area – not just gloss and sheen – sign up today for Sherwin-Williams Learning Pathway. Acting as a “road map for the Pros,” Sherwin-Williams Learning Pathway offers online education and resources for paint pros at every stage in their career – from new upstarts to veteran painters with decades of experience.
Sign up and start training for FREE today.
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