Commercial buildings are usually high-traffic areas, so they require paints that are easy to clean and maintain.
When painting spaces, commercial painters in the Bay Area apply paints that can stand up to scratches, scuff marks, and humidity, as well as cleaning and scrubbing, depending on the painted area.
Paint finishes that are the easiest to clean
The general rule of thumb for choosing a paint finish is the higher the gloss or sheen, the greater its durability and the easier it is to clean and scrub. On the other hand, the glossier the paint, the more prone it is to reveal unsightly marks and dirt.
Choosing the right paint finish balances durability, cleanability, and aesthetics. Here are the following paint finishes you’ll want to use for an easier-to-clean space:
1) High-gloss or glossy finish
High-gloss or glossy is the shiniest and most reflective of the paint finishes. It is ideal for hallways, reception areas, kitchens, bathrooms, restrooms, break rooms, pantry rooms, storage facilities, laboratories, etc. This is because scratches, scuff marks, humidity, grease, food splatters, etc., will be wiped off glossy paints more than with other paint finishes.
High-gloss or glossy paints are not traditionally used on entire walls. Their highly reflective and mirror-like appearance tends to be too distracting. Besides, they are more prone to showing surface imperfections.
2) Semi-gloss finish
The semi-gloss finish is also shiny but less shiny than high-gloss. It also doesn’t reflect too much light. You can use semi-gloss paints on any wall paneling or areas that are subject to a considerable amount of wear and tear. These areas include doors, door and window trims, baseboards, cabinets, railings, and banisters.
Paints with a semi-gloss finish are ideal for use in hallways, reception areas, bathrooms, kitchens, restrooms, break rooms, storage facilities, laboratories, and more. Like high-gloss, semi-gloss is also resistant to dirt and humidity, making it easy to clean, wipe, and scrub. However, a semi-gloss finish can reveal surface flaws and brush strokes if not applied carefully, making touchups challenging.
3) Satin finish
Despite the name, a satin finish tends to have a faint, velvety sheen. It is less shiny, reflective, and durable than semi-gloss and high-gloss, but it is still straightforward to clean.
A satin finish plays a “happy medium” between flat and glossy paints, making them ideal for areas with moderate traffic, such as conference rooms, webinar rooms, audio-visual rooms, pantry rooms, break rooms, offices, hallways, and reception areas. The right amount of sheen, durability, and cleanability are some of the reasons why satin is one of the most popular paint finishes.
4) Eggshell
As the name implies, the eggshell has a faint sheen similar to a chicken egg’s shell. When applied to the walls, an eggshell finish bounces some light around the room.
Like satin, eggshell is one of the most popular paint finishes. It holds up to cleaning and can resist fingerprints and stains better than flat or matte. It also has good washability and can hide surface imperfections quite well. These qualities make eggshell finish ideal for hallways, reception areas, office areas, pantry rooms, and other spaces like classrooms, laboratories, and facility areas. Painting contractors near me use eggshell paints for almost every area of a commercial property.
Paints that are easy to clean
1) Oil-based paint
Oil-based paints use natural oil (linseed) or synthetic oils (alkyd) as their medium. These paints make a good option if you want a durable finish that can withstand scratches, stains, scuffing, and humidity.
Oil-based paints give interior or exterior surfaces a smooth and glossy finish, which makes the surface easy to clean, wash, and scrub.
The strong odors may not be a big deal when used outdoors. But the area should be adequately ventilated if you use oil-based paints indoors. Open the doors and windows and run exhaust fans to let the toxic fumes escape and let the fresh outdoor air in.
2) Enamel paint
Enamel paints can be water-based or oil-based. However, oil-based enamel paints dry much harder. This gives enamel paints a smooth and glossy finish, providing excellent resistance to wear and tear, moisture, and chemicals. Enamel paints are ideal for painting walls, flooring, metals, masonry, and even glass.
Due to their durability and washability, enamel paints are ideal for high-traffic areas, including hallways, kitchens, restrooms, pantry rooms, break rooms, facilities, office rooms, and other work areas.
3) Acrylic paint
Acrylic paints may be water-based, like latex paints. But once they dry, they form a hard and durable coating. Acrylic paints offer excellent resistance against water and moisture. They also tend to have a glossy finish, resisting external dirt and moisture. You can easily wipe the visible stains off acrylic paints.
Again, acrylic paints offer excellent resistance against water and moisture. But remember, acrylic paints are not waterproof, so you wouldn’t want to take any chances when using this paint.
No matter which paints or paint finishes you use, make sure that the surfaces are cleaned and prepared well before applying paint to them. We invite you to read other articles on this website to learn more about the products that painting contractors near me typically use. Then, please fill out the Contact Us form or give us a call at (510)-795-0903 to discuss your painting needs.