What Is High Gloss Paint?

High gloss paint is one of the most eye-catching options for your rooms. When used correctly, it can make your space look luxurious and more sophisticated by adding visual interest. It also reflects or amplifies light, helping you achieve many different effects. This high gloss paint guide aims to equip you with as much knowledge as possible about this sought-after finish.

What Exactly Is High Gloss Paint?

High gloss paints have more resin than pigment, creating a mirror-like finish. The surface of high gloss paint is smooth with few irregularities to break up light. When you look at a painted wall, the difference is stark. A wall painted with flat paint will not reflect light, making it appear flat. High gloss paint has a very high sheen level and appears almost mirror-like when applied correctly. The high gloss finish is achieved by using a lot of resins and fewer pigments in the paint formula, which results in a hard and glossy coating. The best high gloss paints have a high sheen level, reflecting a lot of light to make the color look more vibrant.

High Gloss Paint Finishes

Surfaces must be prepped to perfection to achieve the proper high gloss appearance. No imperfections should be left on the surface. Otherwise, you will easily see it through the finish coat. Surfaces must undergo the same prep work, whether it’s new sheetrock or a previously painted wall. Secondarily, the finish applicators must be excellent —  which you can bank on when hiring Shoreline High Gloss.

To reiterate, high gloss paint will highlight any and all imperfections. Since it creates a glass-like effect, any unevenness or bumps will be more apparent with high gloss paints than with flat, matte and satin options. For this reason, hiring a master-certified painter from Shoreline High Gloss for your project is essential.

Benefits of Using High Gloss Paint

Regular paint has no sheen value and tends to come out matt. It is easy to apply and is commonly used for walls and ceilings. Though less prevalent than regular paint, there are benefits to using high gloss paint:

• Durability: High gloss paint can withstand wear and tear. The high resin content in the paint creates a surface that resists scratches and scuffs better.
• Easy to clean: Because it has a glossy finish, dirt and grime don’t stick to it as easily as they do with other types of paint.
• Sheen: High gloss paint can make a space feel brighter and more spacious.
• Hard finish: High gloss paint dries to a hard finish and is less likely to chip or crack. The finish is especially important for surfaces that are frequently touched or handled.
• Non-absorbant: The smooth and non-porous surface of high gloss paint means that water and other liquids don’t soak into it, making it less susceptible to water damage or mold growth.

Where Should You Use High Gloss Paint?

High gloss paint can be used anywhere you’d like to achieve a “WOW” effect. Today, designers enjoy the various uses of high gloss paint in dining rooms, bedrooms, living rooms and other spaces. Front doors, ceilings and handrails have become increasingly popular.

High gloss paints have benefits that make their applications limitless:

• They’re great for high-traffic areas: High gloss paint is easy to clean, so scuffs and marks are easy to wash away. This characteristic keeps your walls looking like you’ve just hired a professional to paint them.
• They are ideal for a dramatic look: Dark hues can create a sophisticated, eye-catching look. High gloss paints add visual interest everywhere, so bright, glossy paint on ceilings or one wall can add aesthetic appeal to any room.
• They can liven up trims and furniture: Durable high gloss paints are ideal for cabinets and even furniture where they can imitate quality lacquer. Darker high gloss paint finishes create drama for trim, molding and beams.

High gloss paint is also beneficial for specific sections of your house. Here are some areas where high gloss paint can be particularly effective:

• Kitchen cabinets: High gloss paint is used for kitchen cabinets, as they’re constantly opened and closed and prone to getting dirty. You can clean splatters and spills with a wipe from a microfibre cloth.
• Doors and trim: Another zone is interior doors and frames. People often touch doorframes with their hands and pets, especially cats, tend to rub themselves on them. Using durable, easy-to-clean paint for these zones makes sense.
• Furniture: Use high gloss paint to give a gloss finish to furniture, creating a modern and sleek look.

Sheen vs. Gloss

Gloss and sheen relate to the surface’s shininess or reflectivity, but they’re not the same thing. Professionals measure gloss and sheen by paint’s shine or reflectivity level. They are calculated using different methods to determine the amount of light reflected off the paint surface.

Both gloss and sheen are measured by the amount of light reflected off a surface at a particular angle. With gloss, it is a 60-degree angle. The beam of light deflects off the gloss paint at 60 degrees before returning to the receptor. The receptor provides the gloss units. The closer the unit is to 100, the glossier the paint.

When choosing the best paint sheet or gloss, it’s essential to consider the level appropriate for the surface and application:

• Gloss paints: Different levels of gloss paint are available on the market, from semi-gloss to high gloss. It’s perfect for creating a modern and polished look in a room. The reflection provides a feeling of depth. It’s a great way to add personality and character to a space and create a statement wall or highlight architectural details.
• Sheen paints: Sheen refers to the level of shine or reflectivity of a surface, but it’s not as high as gloss. Different levels of sheen can affect the appearance of paint colors, making them look lighter or darker depending on the angle of the light. Sheen paint shows fewer imperfections from the surface underneath and dries a little quicker than thicker paints. It is ideal for rooms that need a little reflection to increase the light and give the room a lift.

Understanding Gloss and Sheen

High gloss paint will reflect light directly, increasing the brightness of a room and giving a mirror gaze. A matt paint has a rough surface finish which your eye perceives as matt or flat.

You can distinguish some key differences between paints based on the level of gloss and sheen:

• Flat paint: Flat paint has no shine at all, making it a good choice for walls with imperfections or in areas where you don’t want any reflection. It is excellent for creating a cozy and soft atmosphere, but it can be harder to clean and less durable than other types of paint. An advantage is that touch-ups are easy with this type of paint.
• Velvet paint: Similar to flat paint, velvet has a slight sheen that gives it a soft and luxurious look. If you look at the surface head-on, it appears flat. But if you observe it from an angle, you can see the slight sheen.
• Eggshell: A paint with a low sheen, similar to the texture of an eggshell. Eggshell paint is a good compromise between flat and glossy paint — it has some reflection but not too much.
• Low sheen: A good choice for walls and ceilings in areas requiring little cleaning or durability. For example, bathrooms and laundry rooms. The paint is getting a little thicker than the lower ranges, so there is some moisture resistance.
• Semi-gloss: You can start to see reflection with semi-gloss paint, as it has a medium level of sheen with a slightly reflective finish. Another good choice for high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
• Gloss: Gloss paint has a high level of sheen with a very reflective finish. The paint may show imperfections on the surface, so it’s more common for smaller areas, such as doors, cabinets and frames.
• High gloss: High gloss paint is a good choice if you want the shiniest and most reflective paint you can get. It is excellent for creating a modern and sophisticated look. It is thick to apply and dries hard, making it the most stain-resistant.

Is High Gloss Paint Good at Hiding Imperfections?

The exceptional sheen created by high gloss paint is ideal for highlighting unusual features and makes for a surface that’s easy to clean. The intense high gloss paint sheen is due to its high degree of reflectivity, meaning imperfections or blemishes will be noticeable when covered with a coat of high gloss paint. If your surface undergoes proper preparation before painting, these marks or flaws should not be seen.

With a professional Fine Paints of Europe Master Certified Painter from Shoreline High Gloss taking care of your high gloss paint finish, you can rest assured of adequate cleaning, repairs and preparation to mask or remove those blemishes before painting.

How Often Should You Repaint High Gloss?

Knowing when to repaint your high gloss surface depends on several factors, including how much traffic the surface sees. For the most part, your hallways, bathrooms, kitchen and children’s bedrooms will likely need repainting before other areas.

It’s also a good idea to repaint your high gloss surface in the following instances:

• The paint is fading, typically due to exposure to sunlight.
• You’ve noticed cracks or damage, often caused by moisture or poor workmanship.
• You’re ready for a change and want to update the look of the space.
• It’s time to sell your home, and you want to ensure your property looks its best for potential buyers.

Does High Gloss Paint Need an Undercoat?

Due to its high sheen and reflectivity, careful surface preparation is essential when painting with high gloss paint, so applying an undercoat is highly recommended. At Shoreline High Gloss, our highly skilled team can apply an undercoat in the following instances:

• If the existing color is darker, we apply an undercoat that closely matches the new high gloss paint color for the best results.
• Painting directly onto plaster, drywall or other bare surfaces must begin with a layer of undercoat.
• Where flaws and blemishes exist, undercoat and primer work together to create an even surface, masking imperfections.
• When painting onto a gloss surface, an undercoat goes a long way to preventing potential peeling over time.

Call a Professional to Do the Job

High gloss and sheen are exquisite when painted professionally but can be a challenge for the novice painter. Shoreline High Gloss proudly serves our clientele in all their painting needs, and our team of highly skilled artisans can deliver a quality high gloss painting finish.

Check out our gallery to discover what we can do for you. If you have any questions or inquiries, we are ready to answer your questions!