Oil based paints dry much harder providing exceptional resistance to wear and tear. Though the paint dries harder, there is not much elasticity within the paint allowing the paint to likely crack. Becoming dry, chalky and brittle.
When it comes to durability, an enamel- or oil-based paint is usually the right choice. That said, if you don't prepare the surface properly beforehand, these paints won't last as well as they should.
The #1 Toughest Paint for Metal Surfaces
For industries that require an extremely tough protective paint for metal surfaces, the prize-winning brand of industrial paints STEEL-IT® is the technologically superior choice. STEEL-IT® effectively blocks corrosion and abrasion, lasting 10+ years in most environments.
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.
Semi-gloss: Semi-gloss paints are shiny and reflective. They're extremely durable and mildew-resistant, so they're best used in rooms that get a lot of wear and tear or moisture, like kids' rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. They're also great for trim.
The more gloss present in the paint, the more durable it is. Gloss paint is indeed going to be the toughest, but bear in mind that it will also show the most imperfections. Unless you're truly looking for the shiniest finish you can find, you may be happier with semi-gloss.
Matte Paint
Regal® Select Interior Matte (N548) is a professional painter favorite for its ease of application and smooth feel after drying. Matte finish paint also withstands frequent washing, even when applied in busier areas like hallways and family rooms.
Emulsion Paints -The Popular Choice
(Emulsion paints are the best quality paints for interior walls and are great for high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens.) Now this one is a sure-shot winner! Firstly, it is water-based paint, so there are no uncouth odours.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
The Latex paint with Hard Coat will adhere and harden as normal for the paint itself, but the final coat will reach its maximum hardness and final cure in 7-14 days, depending on conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.).
Overall, both Behr and Sherwin-Williams have upsides and downsides. In the Sherwin-Williams vs. Behr paint comparison, Sherwin-Williams generally performs better, especially in toughness, washability, and application simplicity. Sherwin-Williams is typically a better option if you're okay with the higher price.
1. Sherwin-Williams® The Sherwin-Williams® brand originated over 200 years ago and is now a global paint company whose mission is to “cover the earth.” Per Sherwin-Williams®, its wide variety of interior paints are thick, durable, and versatile.
The biggest difference between acrylics and enamel paints is that these are chemical and oil-based paints. This makes enamel much tougher and longer-lasting when compared to using acryl options. Enamel paints can also be used on many surfaces such as plastic, metal, glass and wood.
Available in thousands of Benjamin Moore colors, SCUFF-X is the next generation of paint for high-traffic interiors. Able to withstand dings, scrapes, scratches, tough scrubbing, and more, the latex paint is available in matte, eggshell, and satin finishes.
Since powder finishes are stronger and more durable than paint coats, powder will generally guarantee superior, longer-lasting protection to the surfaces of metal-bodied products.
Use a Bucket
Pros prefer 5-gallon buckets with a roller grid to roller pans. They hold more paint than pans and, says Doherty, “It's tougher to tip over a bucket.” A bucket also lets you box, or mix, two or three cans of paint to avoid color discrepancies.
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.
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.
From the perspective of a Color Designer/Consultant, I typically specify eggshell on walls for multiple reasons that benefit the people who are dwelling in the home. Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint.
We recommend matte paints for bedrooms and as living room paint finishes where the walls are exposed to less moisture, choosing a glossier eggshell finish for kitchens and as a paint finish for bathrooms, which are more prone to moisture, as well as children's rooms, which might need more regular cleaning.
Eggshell is between satin and flat on the sheen (and durability) scale. It's essentially a flat (no-shine) finish with little luster, much like that of an egg. Eggshell is a great option for anyone who wants to hide fingerprints, smudges, and minor stains without sacrificing light in their rooms.
Satin and Eggshell could be your sheen choice for high-traffic areas. Such paint is abrasion-resistant, easy to clean, and has a smooth, refined glow. Semi-Gloss is perfect for trimming or painting moldings. It adds an elegant shiny touch to perfectly smooth surfaces.
Matte paint requires fewer coats than higher gloss paints and is easier to touch up. It's also the least durable paint finish. Perfect for new construction, drywall, ceilings and low-traffic areas like adult bedrooms and dining rooms.