If your wall has imperfections like uneven texture, patches or joints, flat paint will absorb light and make them less noticeable. However, flat finishes are not very durable and need to be carefully cleaned. Scrubbing flat paint could wear down the finish and cause sheen to appear in patchy spots.
Using flat paint means less work for builders and painters. BUT, flat paint is recommended for ceilings and very low traffic areas for a reason. It's not as durable or easy to clean as eggshell or other higher sheen paints.
If you cannot see any light bouncing off the finish of your painted wall, you have flat paint. Unfortunately, flat paint is much quicker to show scuffs, smudges, and fingerprints than other types of paint finishes. It does not hold up well to moisture, which is why it is seldom used in kitchens and bathrooms.
You shouldn't use flat paint on high-traffic areas, like bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms because it's the hardest to clean. But, if you're using a high quality flat paint, you'll be able to scrub away any imperfections on the wall after 30 days of painting the surface.
Flat paint has a velvety, matte look and is the best choice to hide any wall imperfections. However, it's the least durable choice and doesn't usually stand up well to scrubbing.
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.
Flat and Matte finish paints are ideal for covering walls that have flaws or blemishes. Even larger imperfections, such as extensive scuffs and nail pops can get covered and camouflaged since Flat Paints are effective at absorbing light, in essence, “hiding” the bumps and lines that exist on every wall.
Tips for Cleaning Flat or Matte Paint Walls
Vinegar and water can soak into the paint and cause stains, discolor the paint, or even cause the paint to drip and run. Avoid using too much pressure when cleaning flat paint.
But flat paints can be hard to clean since their porous texture can trap dirt and grime. And since flat paint doesn't resist water like glossier paint does, cleaning it may leave behind unwanted streaks that can make an already dirty wall seem even worse.
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.
A general rule of thumb is that a well-done interior paint job will last between 5-10 years, and potentially even longer. However, your paint's longevity is based on a bunch of different factors.
This depends on whether you've maintained the proper storage conditions. New, never-opened cans of latex or oil paint usually last about three years. If you store a can of opened paint properly and don't expose the paint to air, it may last up to a couple of years.
It depends on the surface you are painting. For interior walls in high-traffic spaces like a mudroom, satin or eggshell finishes work best. Flat or matte finishes work best for most ceilings and semi-gloss is recommended for interior trim and doors.
Bathrooms tend to be moist places, and flat or matte paint will begin to grow mold or mildew much faster than other paint sheens. Also, it doesn't resist stains very well, and it is somewhat hard to clean.
Painting Tip: It is important to avoid using flat paints or alkyd paints in humid or outdoor spaces because these paint finishes are more prone to damage, discoloration, and wrinkling, which can lead to new mildew growth.
Flat paint does not resist moisture, mold, or mildew, so it's not the right choice for bathrooms. Flat walls may begin to mold or mildew in high moisture areas. You could end up with a mess to clean up or even an entire bathroom in need of renovation.
You can wipe flat paint clean, but you'll want to use a light hand so you don't remove any paint along with dirt and debris. Wipe the walls with a dry cloth and then run a sponge soaked with warm water over any stains. Don't scrub. If the stain doesn't lift, try adding a few drops of gentle dish soap or detergent.
The flat low-end paint is very porous. Due to the porosity; the liquids (vehicle) of the new paint being applied are absorbed in some areas, more than others, leaving the binder partly exposed and an uneven finish.
Even if paint is not actually scraped away or scratched off, the color can be harmed by abrasion, especially on low-sheen finishes such as flat and matte. The problem is that low-sheen finishes contain microscopic hairs which stand on end and absorb light so that the surface does not reflect.
Any “landlord off-white” tends to be a more palatable neutral, less expensive per gallon, and most importantly: it hides dirt. With landlords overseeing multiple units, possibly on multiple properties, time and cost are critical. They can stockpile cans and trust that the color will work in any situation.
Does matte paint scratch easily? Despite being forgiving of imperfections already present in the wall, matte paint finishes tend not to be so forgiving of scuffs and marks. For this reason, experts would usually recommend against using them in high-traffic areas.
The sheen of your paint can impact how quickly it fades over time. Flat, matte, and eggshell paints tend to absorb light more than satin or semi-gloss and, therefore, tend to fade sooner.
Flat paint won't adhere well to a glossy wall if you don't. If you're changing the color of your wall from very dark to very light, priming it first will make it easier to cover with the lighter color and could save you from applying a second or even third coat of paint.