Satin Vs Gloss - What's Distinguished the Two?

Randy Charles

Professional Painter

Hi, I’m Randy Charles, the creator and chief editor of this site Paintcentric. I’m a businessman now by profession, but I used to work as...Read more

House painting finishes are very important. This is because the finishes determine the house’s attraction. It determines the level of confidence homeowners have. How then can house finishes be known? Satin and gloss are great finishes. But the major problem is satin vs. gloss. How does a house owner know which to use? What is the difference between them?

Satin and gloss are both shiny attractive paints. Many people don’t know the difference. This is because they both give shiny surfaces. Satin and gloss both give house owners extra confidence. How then can they be known differently?

Contents

Satin Vs Gloss – What’s Distinguished the Two?
- 1. Satin Finishing Paint
- 2. About Gloss Paint
Which Paint Is Best between Satin and Gloss?
Wrap Up

Satin Vs Gloss – What’s Distinguished the Two?

Satin and gloss both being shiny paints bring lots of confusion. How do you know which one should be used and where? How do you know which one stands out more? All these questions need answers. Satin and gloss vary in texture. It also varies in its shiny nature. Satin and gloss are both desirable paints. For this reason, the difference between satin and gloss has been outlined below.

Satin	Gloss
Satin is less shiny. As a result, light reflection is minimal.	Gloss reflects plenty of light because of its shiny nature.
Satin is mostly used outside. This is because it is highly resistant to mildew and other external problems.	Gloss is mostly indoor paint. It’s specially designed to add decor to a room. For this reason, it doesn’t withstand mildew.
Because of its low light reflection, mistakes on the wall are hidden.	It reflects plenty of light and as a result, mistakes will be seen.
Satin paints don’t highlight design by architects.	Gloss paints architectural designs.

1. Satin Finishing Paint

Satin is a shiny finishing paint. It’s not as shiny as gloss finishing paint. It reflects little light. It’s highly durable. It lasts long because it has high resistance to mildew and hardly peels. Satin finishing compared to gloss finishing, has less than forty percent gloss. Satin paint has a soft, smooth texture. It’s very attractive and boosts the lighting of the house.

Pros

Its ability to resist moisture and peeling makes it durable.
It is easily cleaned. Dust and stains can easily be wiped off with water.
Its shiny nature reflects light. This reflection adds lighting to a dull room
It is very durable for exterior and high traffic areas.

Cons

Constant cleaning reduces its sheen.
It doesn’t hide imperfections as well as flat paints.
Its application is tricky. This is because if it’s applied to a dry corner, imprints will be left.

Where Satin Finishing Is Applied?

Satin finishing can be applied to both the interior and exterior parts of the house. Because it resists mildew and peeling off, it can be conveniently placed outside. Also, using satin outdoor gives the house a shinier natural feel. The natural feel is because light reflection is minimal. For this reason, the house doesn’t look like it was placed but built.

Satin finishing applied on the inside should be in highly used places. Places like the bathroom and children’s room are applicable. Since children tend to design the calls a lot, satin is good since it can be wiped off easily. It’s also applied to windows and doors.

2. About Gloss Paint

Gloss’ interaction with light is of utmost importance. This is because gloss depends on light to shine. The lighter, the more the paint shines. Gloss is a highly lustrous paint. It looks like glass when applied. This is because it uses a layer of oil to glow. The glossier a paint, the higher its longevity. Glossy paints last long because it hardly peels or wears off. Gloss paints reflect a large amount of light. This helps light rooms with fewer lights.

Types of Gloss Paints

Partial Gloss Paint: This gloss paint is almost like satin finishing paint. It’s not so glossy. It has a gloss degree of about 50-60. The partial gloss paint is also durable. It has a less shiny surface compared to a high gloss paint
Increased Gloss Paint: This gloss paint has about 90 percent of glossiness. It’s very lustrous. It easily reflects light. This brightens dark rooms. Increased gloss paints are highly durable. This is because the higher the glossiness, the more efficient and the less it peels.

Pros

It lasts for long periods. This lasting is because it resists moisture.
It is easy to clean and maintain.
It brightens a dim room.
It highlights the architecture’s imprints. This beautifies the house.

Cons

When used outside, the house over shines. This tends to hide the real house color.
It doesn’t hide mistakes of holes on the wall. It tends to magnify the defects instead.

Where Is Gloss Finishing Paint Applied?

Gloss finishing paint is applied in frequently used areas. Areas like bathroom, kitchen and kids room will benefit from it. This is because it doesn’t hold moisture. It can also be cleaned easily. This helps to leave the kitchen and bathroom tidy.

Which Paint Is Best between Satin and Gloss?

Answering this will be like answering the difference between a wooden and a glass door. This is because both paints are durable. They both make the house attractive. They also add color. Both paints depend on the house owner. If the house owner is not particular about the exterior of the house, gloss can be used. This is because gloss doesn’t distinguish the color.

Satin can also be used if the house owner wants a definite color. Both paint colors are great and useful. They are both used for rooms with high activities. Satin and gloss paints are therefore recommended. The house owner just needs to determine what he wants to see when looking at the house.

Wrap Up

Paints enhance a building’s attractiveness. They make a house stand out among all other buildings. Satin and gloss give the house variation. The paint’s benefits allow you to make a choice and know the differences.

See Also: PVA Vs Acrylic Paint

Randy CharlesProfessional Painter

Hi, I’m Randy Charles, the creator and chief editor of this site Paintcentric. I’m a businessman now by profession, but I used to work as a painter earlier in my professional career. There is simply nothing about painting that I didn’t do as a painter. From painting a fridge to a multi-storied building, I left nothing. I retired from my painting job in the mid of 2018 due to back arthritis problems.