High Gloss Paint vs. Lacquer

When you want to make a room feel bright and spacious, a reflective finish can help you accomplish your goals. Both high gloss paints and lacquers create a glossy, high-end appearance.

Discover why high gloss paint is better than lacquer in many applications. Experts at Shoreline High Gloss can offer guidance to personalize your style and bring your vision to life with specialty painting services.

What Is High Gloss Paint?

High gloss paint offers one of the most eye-catching finishes you can add to a room. Each formula features resin and less pigments, resulting in glossy coatings. The high sheen level reflects or amplifies light, making colors look vibrant and creating a mirror-like finish.

Since high gloss paints create a glass-like effect, the finishes can highlight imperfections such as bumps or unevenness if improperly applied. The master-certified painters from Shoreline High Gloss use their exceptional detail and honed skills to prep each surface to perfection, providing the highest quality results for your project.

High Gloss Paint Advantages

Some benefits of using high gloss paint include:

• Customizable styles: Add a touch of sophistication and luxury to any space with high gloss paint — the finish creates a sense of depth and dimension, making architectural details stand out and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a room.
• Low maintenance needs: The smooth surfaces are easy to maintain over time. Follow our simple tips for cleaning and maintaining high gloss painted walls as needed.
• High moisture resistance: Have peace of mind choosing an application that can withstand moisture from steam, humidity and puddles. High gloss finishes offer the ultimate protection in areas such as entryways, kitchens and bathrooms.
• Protection from wear and tear: High gloss paint is ideal for various settings, including busy offices or homes with kids and pets. The finish helps protect your walls from scratches and scuffs.

What Is Lacquer?

Lacquer is commonly used in furniture making and other applications where a high gloss finish is desired. Traditionally, lacquer primarily consists of tree sap and a resin that hardens when it’s exposed to air. Some modern lacquers contain synthetic ingredients to create a finish with enhanced durability.

The finish can be challenging for craftspeople to apply because it dries quickly and is prone to brush marks, drips and runs. Stray lines can easily set before they have a chance to smooth out, leading to an uneven finish.

Lacquer Characteristics

Lacquer features these traits:

• Excellent durability: Lacquer is considered a durable finish. Its hard, protective layers can shield a surface from several forms of damage, including dents or scratches.
• Enhanced light reflection: Synthetic coatings contribute to lacquer’s overall shine. The finishes offer dramatic flair when they reflect natural lighting or amplify ambient lighting.
• Fast drying characteristics: Lacquer’s solvent-based ingredients evaporate rapidly, leaving behind a solid resin. Experts must utilize swift and precise skills to minimize flaws throughout the drying process.

Key Differences in Lacquer vs. Paint

Lacquer and paint have varying uses — opaque lacquer is mostly used to cover the wood grains and patterns of furniture, and it requires multiple applications with extensive sanding in between coats to build a smooth finish.

While high gloss paint is also ideal for furniture, the finish offers more versatility on surfaces such as walls and ceilings, doors, cabinets or accent pieces. Typically, high gloss paint requires fewer coats to produce a high degree of shine and reflectivity.

The self-leveling feature of high gloss paint allows it to cover more imperfections than lacquer can. With a more forgiving finish, high gloss paint is the clear winner you should choose for flawless results.

About Our High Gloss Painting Process

At Shoreline High Gloss, we prioritize protecting your surfaces before we start the high gloss painting process. We prepare your surfaces, ensuring they’re clean and free of debris. We also sand the surface, patch holes and baseboards as needed.

We prime all surfaces prior to painting and apply at least two finish coats. When we’re finished, we clean up and complete inspections to provide the best possible final product.

Transform a Space With Shoreline High Gloss

Whether you have a new build or you’re looking for ways to refresh your space, Shoreline High Gloss can provide your solution. Our company is a Fine Paints of Europe Master Certified Painter. As an industry leader, we have the expertise to make your ideas a reality with the finest quality of high gloss finishes.

During a consultation, one of our experienced painting consultants will help you choose a luxurious high gloss paint. We offer a beautiful array of colors that can make a statement or complement the rest of your environment. Explore our gallery of work to discover how you can elevate the look of your home or business.

Want to learn more about our offerings and discuss your project ideas? Call 212-764-3059 or contact us to get started.