When selecting the type of wall finish for the interior of your home, you must consider the amount and the type of traffic that it endures.  If you have young children, pets, or lots of visitors, your wall finish will require a more washable and scrubbable paint. The second consideration is how high a sheen or gloss is necessary to enable washing and scrubbing maintenance.

A third factor is the higher the gloss of a paint, the more sheet rock discrepancies will be observed, especially in rooms that are well lit or receive bright sunlight. For example, sheet rock seems, cracks, nail pops, and previous repairs. Also, the higher the sheen the more glare will reflect off the walls. This can be uncomfortable when sitting in a room that has glossy walls glaring at you continuously.  

In general the washability of a wall finish falls into three basic categories:

1. Washable: means you can use a sponge with a mild degreaser, such as dishwasher detergent, that can be wiped gently to clean the surface

2. Scrubbable: the same process as above, but you can use gently rubbing pressure

3. Stain resistant: This means you can apply some elbow grease while cleaning the surface with a sponge So in selecting the paint product, you want to keep the gloss as low as possible and still be able to wash and clean the walls effectively.

The following are the products that we recommend for different rooms in your home:

Low traffic areas: dining rooms, sitting rooms, master bedrooms, guest bedrooms, use Sherwin Williams Super Paint Flat or Cashmere Flat Enamel.

High traffic areas: foyers, hallways, staircases, and mudrooms, use Sherwin Williams Cashmere Low Luster or Duration Matte.

Rooms that will require frequent cleaning: kitchens, bathrooms and young children’s bedrooms, use Sherwin Williams Duration Matte.

For two-story rooms such as foyers and great rooms, use Sherwin Williams Super Paint Flat, or Cashmere Flat Enamel.  

For basements, depending on the amount of use, use Super Paint Flat or Cashmere Low Luster, or even Duration Matte.

I hope this has been helpful to you. If we can help with any questions, please contact us: 770-928-8700 or contact us.