Satin, Eggshell, Flat, Semi-Gloss…What’s the dealio?

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So if picking an exterior paint color wasn’t hard enough, allow me to complicate things a bit further. The sheen CAN AND WILL affect color. What, you say??  This is getting ridiculous… yeah… yeah it is. We want to give you some recommended finishes depending on what you are painting on your home’s exterior… so here goes!  

1. Siding: Wood, Hardie Plank or Vinyl

Flat, matte, and eggshell finish on a textured surface will reduce the texture. However, FLAT is not nearly as washable/wipeable so you want to buy a quality paint. Matte is a bit more wipeable, but not much. The more the sheen, the easier to clean, as a general rule.  

2.  Trim and Exterior Doors:

Eggshell/Satin/Semi-gloss. Eggshell and Satin are great finishes for trim and doors and even garage doors. Eggshell is great for garage and front doors. For trim, Satin or Semi-gloss.  Semi-gloss being the most washable…but also the most sheen. (Satin is between eggshell and Semi-gloss. A Satin or Semi-gloss finish will make your color feel more saturated.  

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

3.  Masonry (brick):

Eggshell or Satin. Satin works for texture surfaces like brick and other masonry. Brick tends to get dirty on homes and Satin makes it easy to hose down. We prefer the look of Eggshell, but it’s slightly more difficult to clean.  

Hope this helps when you are choosing paint for your exterior! We’d love to partner with you on a painting adventure… from ideation to design rendering…brick&batten has you covered. Get started today.

Author

Alli’s passion for home design began during childhood when she’d accompany her father to various fixer-upper properties he was working on. Years later, Alli received a degree in physical therapy from Indiana University, but her love of design and personal need brought her back to the home design industry. Alli co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Cassie, out of necessity. She was looking for a service like brick&batten for her own home, but one didn’t exist. Alli loves designing exteriors that inspire people. She’s also interested in real estate investment and enjoys creating exterior designs that will provide a great return on investment. Alli lives in Atlanta with her partner, three children, and their dogs. She loves to travel and often finds herself looking at houses in the areas she visits for inspiration and ideas.