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Paint Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Sherwin Williams Paint finish for bathroom?

4 years ago

I need to pick a Sherwin Williams paint type and finish for master bath remodel. I don't love shiny paint surfaces and generally pick an eggshell/satin finish when painting other rooms. Contractor recommended I use semi-gloss in the bathroom. That sheen hasn't ever been my favorite, but I don't want to make a foolish decision that I will regret later. ( I am painting primed pine shiplap and sheetrock.) Do I "need" to go with semi-gloss, or is a good quality paint in eggshell acceptable? And what type of SW paint do you generally prefer for bathrooms?

Featured Answer

PRO

Beth H. :

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

contractor doesn't know poo. glossier paints do repel moisture better than flat paints, but they make better paints for bathrooms now. I'll also add that you should have ample circulation in there w/a good fan or window.

They make a paint meant for bathrooms that resists mold and moisture. I used it for mine in an eggshell. BM paint.

Sherwin-Williams' Emerald line, Benjamin Moore's Aura® Bath And Spa Matte Finish paint is low-sheen and is specially designed for high-moisture areas.

I used the Aura in my bathroom and I only have a window. the paint has held up great in there. I used Eggshell

for the shiplap I'd do an eggshell or even a satin. the sheetrock can be either.

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Comments (11)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
SW has specific names for their finishes. Here is what I would recommend for shiplap & drywall. Shiplap should NOT be shiny.
walk2fly thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Thank you for the replies! Emerald and Duration don't have eggshell finishes, but they have something called "satin" which I assume is similar. How different is it from matte and semigloss? I wish I had time to go to the store to check what they look like but I have to get the paint selections to the contractor tomorrow. Bad project mgmt on my side - I got so caught up in the paint colors, I forgot to check out the paint finishes! lol
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There is a paint shortage and it is an issue for many areas, there are pockets where it is less of an issue. It’s also certain paints. As the OP pointed out she had to go up a level on paint quality. Last month I couldn’t get samples at SW, but took the card to The DIY store and they made it up for me. Because I was using a higher grade paint, I had no problem getting the gallons I needed. I however listened to those in the trade there getting their paint talk about the shortages and what they have had to do to get paint. Google for the headlines. It’s a raw materials issue, the big freeze in TX is part of the problem. For some areas that had a greater supply on hand and less demand haven’t had to turn away sales or up sell/downgrade, yet. We are buying paint both in FL and WI and my husband proclaimed there was no paint shortage in WI, I insisted he buy up the paint anyway and what do you know, 3 weeks after me telling him it was an issue he let me know they were out of the cashmere we buy. In all seriousness, this has been an issue since end of March/Early April for many areas. Plenty of news articles in the last 2 days. To the OP, if you have Nextdoor app maybe make a plea to see if anyone has the colors you are interested in and maybe they would give you a little bit of theirs? Worst case if HD is out of samples, bite the bullet for a quart and have them make it up for you from SW.
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walk2fly
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you!
0
debbie1000
4 years ago
I'm painting our large 80's master bath in eggshell. It does not get very humid due to the size. Did our tiny second bath in eggshell and it is fine. I agree, I don't like semi-gloss.
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walk2fly thanked debbie1000
katinparadise
4 years ago
My painter only uses SW. He used Cashmere Low Lustre in my bathroom. It's two years old and I haven't had any issues with it.
walk2fly thanked katinparadise
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
You do not need a gloss paint anywhere and for sure not on walls
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PRO
Kevin Michael Interiors, LLC
4 years ago
I FULLY agree with @katinparadise. We spec only the Cashmere line of paints from SW for our projects. I’ve used it in clients home (including bathrooms and kitchens) and in my family home. High quality, not overly priced, but also not the most inexpensive. Gloss is not necessary.
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walk2fly thanked Kevin Michael Interiors, LLC
katinparadise
4 years ago
Kevin Michael Interiors, LLC, my painter has been at this for 30 years and tells me that, in his opinion, there is not a higher quality residential paint. He says the next line up is overkill for residential applications. My whole house except for 3 rooms are painted in the SW Cashmere and it performs very well.
walk2fly thanked katinparadise
PRO
Kevin Michael Interiors, LLC
4 years ago
@katinparadise - I completely agree!! :)
walk2fly thanked Kevin Michael Interiors, LLC
itsourcasa
4 years ago
We use SW everywhere. Flat/matte on main walls and satin in bathrooms.
0
walk2fly thanked itsourcasa
PRO
GannonCo
4 years ago
Paints used to not be scrubbable unless they were gloss paints. Modern paints are even in more matte sheens. He or she is just reciting what they have heard without knowledge of newer paints.

It all depends on what you believe about paints as you could use a matte exterior or bath specific paint. You can add mold additives to any paint. Usually the higher the cost of their line of paint the more scrubbable it is at lower sheens.

Casmere is a great paint but it has its specific sheens that tend to be on the less matte side so keep that in mind when you choose. Cashmere wouldn't be my first choice for a bathroom. Emerald is expensive but bathrooms are small and I would not skimp due to the harsh conditions.

Usally it is the ceiling that is painted with a higher gloss as that is where the condensation collects and leaves drip and stain marks. Run your shower and then run your hand across your wall and you will see why the higher sheens are recommended.

Smaller baths suffer from condensation regardless of the fan size. It all has to do with airflow and sometimes your stuck with what you have.

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