With all this said, however, eggshell paint finishes aren't as durable as others. While they do hold up well on walls and can handle the occasional cleanings, they are extremely susceptible to scuffs and marks from the occasional bump or scrape.
You can't really go wrong with eggshell finish on your walls. Sometimes called satin finish, eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but you won't be left with shiny walls. It also resists stains better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag.
Eggshell is durable and washable, but not as much as high-gloss paint. It adds more dimension to a room compared to a flat finish. Flat paint is not easy to wash either. You can say eggshell is the best of both worlds.
Eggshell paint sheen is popular for many good reasons. It is an attractive, one-size-fits-all paint sheen that draws out the best in a paint's color. At the same time, eggshell is cleanable and somewhat resistant to wear and tear.
Often confused with other finishes, the difference between eggshell and satin paint is that satin delivers a higher gloss, while offering better stain resistance and durability than lower sheens, including eggshell. Satin paint is ideal for areas that crave definition.
Satin is more durable—an advantage in high-traffic spaces.
This is why satin paint is more resistant to dents, divots, scuffs, scratches, and stains, and more durable on the whole. Eggshell paint is more likely to become damaged by these impacts and abrasions because it has fewer binders and more pigment.
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.
Possible Cause
Use of a lower quality paint that has inadequate adhesion and flexibility. Over thinning the paint or spreading it too thin. Poor surface preparation especially not applying a primer before painting. Poor adhesion of the underlying coats.
In many such situations, the builder, seller, or low-cost painter used a low-grade flat paint for three reasons: the first is that it is inexpensive; the second is that it is easy to touch up; the third is that it hides imperfections in the drywall walls.
Satin and low-lustre paints have a slightly higher sheen than eggshell finishes. Paints in this category are warmer and provide a greater appearance of depth than flat paints. They also resist stains better than flat paints.
High Gloss
The most durable and easy to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors.
We recommend two coats of this eggshell interior paint in order to achieve full depth of colour. Each coat of Interior Eggshell will be surface dry within one hour, and ready for a second coat after four hours of drying time.
Yes, all types of paint go bad eventually. A previously opened can of paint lasts 5 years on average if properly sealed and stored.
It is best to always seal furniture you paint where you used a low sheen paint like flat, matte, eggshell, or chalk paint. These finishes are easy to scratch and smudge and hard to clean. Sealing them makes the surface easy to clean and will keep the piece looking nice.
Eggshell Finish
The Pros: This is much more washable than a flat finish, and you are more easily able to wipe it down with a wet cloth or sponge. The Cons: It is very hard to touch up. Because it has the slight sheen to it, it's almost impossible to only add a new layer in small areas without it being visible.
'Eggshell paint can be applied by brush, roller or spray. For best results, paint on to untreated, bare wood. Wood surfaces should be prepared with primer, such as our Multi-Purpose Primer and lightly sanded prior to application. We recommend following this with two full coats of eggshell.
FLAT, EGGSHELL, OR SATIN PAINT
To apply flat, eggshell, or satin paints and stains, a knit roller cover is recommended. Knit roller covers can pick up and release higher amounts of paint than woven fabrics because the fibers have a looped backing with a single pass-through process resulting in a more “open” fabric.
Eggshell. An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin. It offers what you may expect - it's shinier than flat (but not as glossy as satin), and it's easier to clean than flat (but not as easy to clean as satin).
The more reflective or glossy the paint sheen, the more noticeable those imperfections will be. Conversely, flat or matte finishes absorb light, helping to hide bumps and bruises. So, paint with a flat finish is the most effective paint for hiding wall imperfections.
However, eggshell will hide imperfections better than satin. What is eggshell finish best for? Eggshell is a great option for interior walls, as it hides imperfections well. It is recommended for low-traffic areas and areas that don't require frequent wipe-downs, as its durability isn't as high as glossier options.
It's no secret that modern day oil-based paint such as gloss, satinwood and eggshell will start to discolour and turn yellow fairly quickly do to the alkyd oil used in the paint, and EU restrictions on VOCs.
Emulsion paint is water-based paint that possesses a gloss finish without the problems associated with acrylic. It is the best paint for home walls as it dries quickly and remains flexible even when exposed to high temperatures. Emulsion paint is highly durable, long-lasting, and washable.