Types of Paint Finishes
For the Exterior of Your House

Amount of surface preparation, attention to details, quality of materials, selected colors and of course, the types of paint finishes you choose for your house will all affect the end result of a paint job.


Unlike interior paint finishes which can be confusing, there are only 3 paint sheens used for exterior surfaces - flat, satin and gloss.



Flat finish is the most porous of the three and doesn't reflect light.

It works great for older houses and can help hide many flaws and imperfections on the walls, but is not suitable for high traffic surfaces like doors or windows.

Plus, flat paint gets soiled faster, which is especially noticeable with lighter colors.



Satin finish is the most popular among homeowners.

It is neither dull nor shiny and has a subtle sheen that is ideal for most walls. It really dresses up the house and is easy to maintain and keep clean with regular pressure washing.

Satin paint is more durable than flat paint, but still not hard enough to be used on doors and windows.



Gloss finish is the toughest and the easiest to clean, but must be used sparingly.

Glossy paint used for the entire body of a house? That would be too much of a good thing and would make you home look plastic.

Besides, this shiny finish reflects light and will magnify every little surface flaw ten times, so it's better to use this heavy duty paint in places that really need it, like doors and door frames, windows, handrails, etc. Or, you can draw attention to some architectural detail on your house and make it really stand out by painting it with a glossy paint finish.

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