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Written by Colleen Kalil

Making wall life easier with pets and kids

As pet owners and parents of small children we know the struggle of keeping the walls clean. Do you remember the last time you applied fresh paint to the walls and your dog came flying around the corner and scuffed up the whole wall with his collar? Or your kids decided to put dirty hand prints all over the wall you had just finished painting? It makes you ask whether there’s a paint that will stand up to the daily wear. Here are some suggestions to make that happen.

The first task is determining the paint color that you want. Using a painting professional will help with picking the right paint as well as the colors that are appropriate in your current market. Also, you may want to use an eco-safe paint for your home. Now that the dirt marks have gotten out of hand and the dog has severely scuffed up the paint on the walls, let’s look at some options that will help prevent this from happening in the future.

  1. Go with high quality paint!

If you’ve picked your favorite color but prefer it in a flat finish, then you’ll have to make sure you get a very high-quality paint. The higher the quality of paint the more washable the paint will be. Flat paints are commonly not washable but have recently improved. Most professionals will still not recommend a flat paint in high traffic areas. There are some paints though such as Flat/Matte, ceramic sheens, and eggshells that may give you the look you desire as well as still being washable. Ask your professional.

  • The use of a gloss paint or semi-gloss paint, which are better engineered for areas needing more cleaning, is a better option. There are many choices that will add charm and beauty to your home.
  • A recent trend with painting manufacturers is to add Teflon into the paint, making the finished surface easier to clean and less likely for foreign objects to stick to the paint.  It is more expensive but another option you can discuss with your professional when choosing the best recommendations for your home.

Painting with the correct kind of paint for your home and family and using the right painting company to do the job assures you a quick and efficient painting experience.  University Painters understands the dynamics behind getting the right color and textures for what you need. We are here to help you with all your interior and exterior painting needs. We give free home estimates and warranty all our work. Call us today for a free estimate!

interior painting, exterior painting, painters
Written by Colleen Kalil

When and Where to Use Matte, Semi-Gloss, or Gloss Paint

interior painting, exterior painting, paintersPaint is one of the easiest ways to freshen up and improve the appearance of your home both inside and out. Whether you’ve just moved into a new place, or you’re just in the mood for a new look, painting can transform your home quickly and inexpensively. Once you select the color, you should give some thought to the paint’s finish. Common choices for finish are matte, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. The finish you choose will impact how long it lasts, how quickly it gets dirty, and how easy it is to keep clean.

The gloss in the paint you choose determines how much it will shine, or reflect light. Paint with a matte, or flat finish, has no shine; it contains 0 to 10% gloss. Matte paint is the most difficult to keep clean so if you have kids or pets, it may be best to not use matte paint in high-traffic areas. However, since matte paint has no gloss to reflect light, it’s a good selection to use on walls where you want to hide irregularities or repairs. Matte paint is usually the lowest priced paint as well, so consider it if you have a large area to cover.

Satin finish and semi-gloss paint have more gloss than matte, 25 to 35 percent and 35 to 70 percent respectively. It has a shinier finish than matte and is easier to clean. While it’s typically used for interior doors, woodwork around doors and windows, consider using it in higher traffic areas such as the bathroom and kitchen. This paint will also last longer when exposed to water, soap, or grease. One downside of higher gloss paints is that they don’t hide imperfections in the wall or on wood.

High-gloss paint has 70 percent or higher reflectivity and can be used in the same places as low-gloss paint.  However, make sure you really want the area to have a very shiny finish. High-gloss paint is the most durable, and the easiest to clean. Like semi-gloss paint, it doesn’t hide the flaws in walls or other surfaces. Think about whether shine or a little camouflage is more important to you.

If you’re unsure which type of paint to use in your house, the experts at University Painters can work with you to select the best finish for your needs. Call us today for an appointment.