Durability. For durability, semi-gloss paint outperforms eggshell. The higher percentage of binders in semi-gloss make the surface tougher and more flexible, allowing it to stand up better to wear and tear and scrubbing. Plus, it's better at resisting stains, dings, and dents while also being moisture-resistant.
Semigloss is tougher than eggshell, so it will show less wear. It reflects even more light when dry, though, so if there are any imperfections on your walls before you paint, they'll stand out. Semigloss stands up the best to water and cleaning, so it's a good choice for a kids' bedroom or bathroom.
A semi-gloss paint finish will read "shinier" than an eggshell. The shinier finish gives it more durability - making it even easier to clean with a harder dried film that is tougher and can take more wear and tear, but there's a downside.
WHEN TO USE EGGSHELL PAINT: Eggshell is commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms, as it is durable and does not pick up dirt easily. If your walls have bumps or imperfections, an extra coat of eggshell can disguise them more easily than satin or high-gloss finishes.
High-Gloss vs.
Nearly opposite in reflectivity, durability and ease of cleaning, high-gloss paints are not ideally suited to the same areas of the home as eggshell paints. Eggshell paints are a far better choice for walls and low-traffic areas of the home because they are harder to clean effectively.
Is Eggshell Paint Durable? This type of paint resists scratches and dirt to a very high degree, so it's preferred for use in living rooms and dining rooms. Overholstery also disguises imperfections better than gloss and satin finishes, if they occur in bumps and bumps on your walls.
Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections.
Semi-gloss paint will not stick very well to eggshell paint except you sand the eggshell paint first. This is because semi-gloss paints only stick to a textured surface and eggshell paint is not textured. So sanding is very important. You should also know that you can only apply one coat of semi-gloss paint directly.
The shiny reflective property of a paint's sheen comes from a reflective particles in the paint. The more layers that are put on, the more light gets reflected back to the viewer. It's odd that this has happened with a low sheen; I have seen this with satin and eggshell quite a bit myself.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
Eggshell finish
"It is the easiest paint to wipe clean and is great for all areas of the home, including bathrooms and kitchens," she says.
When compared to flat paint finish, eggshell is much more durable and cleanable, and it can be used in higher-traffic areas where flat paint would chip or become damaged. While flat paint is typically cheaper than eggshell, it doesn't last as long since it will become chalky and fade faster than eggshell.
In most cases, the best paint for baseboards is a water-based or Acrylic-Alkyd hybrid paint with a semi-gloss paint sheen is the best choice for painting baseboards and trim. Benjamin Moore Advanced is a popular choice; it can be purchased at one of their paint stores.
Semi-gloss paint is always best for trim, doors and cabinetry because it's so easy to wipe clean. You can also choose gloss paint because it's also so easy to clean, but it's significantly shinier.
Flat paint costs significantly less than eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss. If I were building a new home, I would want eggshell painted on my walls. Eggshell is wipeable, and is also stronger on the walls than a flat paint.
Eggshell. Havenly interior designer Melissa Wagner always recommends clients use satin or eggshell finishes, as “they're middle-of-the-road and aren't as 'controversial' as gloss or flat finishes.”
Pigment Volume Concentration
Consequently, if you want to change a can of paint from gloss to flat, you have to add enough pigment to increase its volume by roughly a quarter. This means that, if you have a gallon of gloss paint, you need to add approximately a quart of pigment to make it flat.
Lowest paint sheen recommended for kitchens is eggshell. If you do not fry a lot, and/or have an open space floor-plan for kitchen, dinning room, eating area, eggshell paint sheen works well.
The glossier satin sheen translates to a slicker surface that's slightly quicker and easier to wipe clean of dust, dirt, mildew, and mold. Eggshell requires more elbow grease to get clean because it has more pigments, and the coarse pigment particles make for a rougher surface.
Do You Have To Prime Eggshell Paint? A coat of primer is often required for eggshell and semi-gloss paints, since they absorb unevenly. If your flat-painted walls have only minor repairs, you may only need to paint them a few spots.
Does Eggshell Need Primer? It is important to clean, dry, and free of loose or flaking materials for the best application. It is necessary to apply a primer such as Leyland Trade All Purpose Primer before applying Hardwearing Acrylic Eggshell to bare or new metal surfaces.
Eggshell paint is not well-suited to doors or trim around windows and doors. Semi-gloss is the best option for those frequently touched surfaces, because it is highly durable and easy to clean. Satin can be used as well.
A paint that has high coverage and a thick texture, such as our Claypaint or Lifestyle emulsions, will even out any hairline cracks and slightly bumpy surfaces.
“Eggshell, or low-luster, finishes are so named because the slight sheen they provide is similar in appearance to the surface of an egg,” Moran says. Unlike flat paint, eggshell bounces light around the room while resisting the inevitable stains and scuffs of everyday life.
Semi-gloss is more durable and easier to clean.
For objects and areas that get a lot of use and therefore require frequent wipe-downs—bathrooms, kitchens, playrooms, kids' bedrooms, and any other area children may feel tempted to draw on walls with Crayola—semi-gloss is often the wiser option.