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.
When applying eggshell paint, it's best to use a roller with a medium nap, typically between 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch. This type of roller will provide good coverage while minimizing texture, which is important for achieving the smooth finish that eggshell paint offers.
Apply your eggshell paint like a pro
To get the best finish, we'd recommend using a synthetic bristle brush and lightly dampening the surface to allow the paint to flow smoothly for a fabulous finish.
When applying eggshell paint, it's best to use a roller with a medium nap, typically between 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch. This type of roller will provide good coverage while minimizing texture, which is important for achieving the smooth finish that eggshell paint offers. Here are some additional tips:
Wall finishes like matte and eggshell are best applied with a 3/8" nap. Semi gloss finishes on doors and trim are best applied with a 1/4" nap.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.
The Harris Ultimate brushes have been specifically designed and engineered to apply gloss, eggshell and satin paints effortlessly, to giving you a fine finish. The Harris Ultimate brushes have been specifically designed and engineered to apply gloss, eggshell and satin paints effortlessly, to giving you a fine finish.
Short or medium pile microfibre mini rollers are the best when applying water-based, woodwork paints, such as Quick Dry Eggshell, Quick Dry Satinwood or Quick Dry Gloss. Avoid using foam mini rollers when applying Quick Dry products, as these can cause paint bubbles to form when rolled onto the surface.
When applying an eggshell or satin finish paint on walls it is important to roll back over the cut in while the paint is still wet, this is called rolling wet on wet. Otherwise if you let the cut in dry, not only are the brush strokes very visible, but the cut in and the rolling may have different tones to their color.
Walls, ceilings and paneling require a slightly larger nap size of 3/8-inch; for lightly textured walls, decks and concrete, use a ½-inch nap; and for textured ceilings, stucco and masonry, use ¾-inch.
Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.
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.
Quality 12mm nap rollers will apply an even paint film to your walls and ceilings and give you a great finish, without splattering paint all over you and the floor. Professional painters actually use 20mm nap rollers on ceilings, and 12mm nap rollers on walls.
Eggshell paint reflects some light, giving it a more toned-down luster than matte, but it has less resin in the formula than satin, so you won't get that high-gloss effect. Eggshell paint is more durable than flat or matte paint but less durable than semi-gloss or high-gloss.
Synthetic nap lengths between 5 to 10 millimetres synthetic are suitable for higher sheen acrylic paints such as gloss or semi-gloss. A nap length between 12 and 15 millimetres is generally used for walls and ceilings where a matte or low sheen finish is being used.
So repaint with flat, recoat with flat clear, or knock down the egg gloss level with abrasive materials are the only options that i know.
Inconsistent Coverage Can Cause Paint Streaks
You should aim to use the same amount of paint every time you bring the paintbrush or roller brush back to the paint tray for more. By keeping the amount of paint you use consistent, you'll be keeping the amount of paint that goes up on the wall consistent, too.
Choose your brush
You can use any brush, but softer, tapered bristles tend to promote a smoother finish. Try to avoid those with stiff and/or flat cut bristles. These can easily cause drag lines, creating brushmarks and encouraging overworking of the paint.
Woven roller covers are more shed-resistant, so they're better for gloss and semi-gloss finishes, which can highlight lint left over from the roller. For flat, eggshell, and satin finishes, knit roller covers do the job more efficiently. For consistent control and smooth finish, we recommend microfiber roller covers.
Best brushes for water based eggshell
The 3″ Wooster FTP is as quick and accurate as a 2.5″ Picasso in general use with Little Greene acrylic eggshell paint, or Mythic eggshell / semi-gloss paint, but being really picky, the finer tipped Picasso leaves an even better finish than the FTP.
Intelligent Eggshell is a sophisticated low-sheen paint finish, perfect for use on interior woodwork and kitchen and bathroom walls where complete scrubbability is desired. Formulated using Intelligent Grip™ technology, Intelligent Eggshell is self-priming and can be used on almost any surface in the home.
Soft Nylon & Polyester—Use this type of bristle for all paints, especially semi-gloss and satin finishes. They provide extra flex for smooth application, leave few brush marks, and have an excellent paint capacity.
An eggshell paint finish has a slightly higher sheen than matte or flat finish paint, but it is not as glossy as satin paint. The low reflectivity of an eggshell finish makes it great for hiding brushstrokes, small dents in the drywall, and blemishes on painted walls.
Paint rollers are designed to efficiently paint large flat surfaces, such as walls and ceilings. A paint roller can hold more paint than a paint brush and will distribute an even layer of paint quicker.