Silk Paint

What Is Silk Paint?

Paint comes in a range of finishes that vary in terms of level of sheen including matt, eggshell, satin, silk and gloss. This sheen refers to the level of reflection the paint has. The higher the sheen, the more light it reflects and the more durable it is. Here is a breakdown of paint finishes:

• Matt - the 'flattest' finish of paint which is perfect for covering imperfections on walls, although it has low durability, which is why it is used on walls & ceilings in low-traffic rooms
• Eggshell - with the same sheen as an egg, eggshell is perfect for a slightly higher sheen than matt with more durability
• Satin - a mid-sheen finish that is most often used solely on woodwork & metal such as skirting boards & doors
• Silk - a mid-sheen finish that is traditionally used on interior walls & ceilings
• Soft Sheen - a mid-sheen finish with a slightly more subtle look than silk, perfect for interior walls & ceilings
• Gloss - the highest sheen of paint, most commonly used on woodwork & metal

Traditionally it is a choice between matt, eggshell & silk when it comes to interior & ceilings, with satin and gloss reserved for woodwork and metal, as well as oil-based versions of eggshell. The general rule of thumb is to only use water-based paints on interior walls, which is why silk is usually a water-based emulsion.

Silk paint is ideal for a slightly polished finish on your interior walls, creating a light and spacious feel. Silk paint is not ideal if have any imperfections on walls as the sheen will show these more than a flat matt finish. Furthermore, silk with its higher durability can be used in rooms that have higher levels of condensation or high traffic rooms, which is why they are an excellent choice for rooms such as hallways, staircases, kitchens or bathrooms.

How Many Coats of Silk Paint Is Required?

Like the majority of paints, silk paint usually requires two-coats and a primer if the surface that is being painted is bare. If it is a previously painted surface, you can just apply two-coats of paint.

Is Silk Paint Washable?

Due to the higher sheen level of silk paint, it has a higher durability than other emulsion paints. Due to this silk paint can be washed, masking it easy to scrub off marks without causing damage to the paint film.

What Is Vinyl Silk Paint?

Vinyl silk paint is a silk emulsion that has the addition of a resin in the form of vinyl to help provide it with added durability.

Silk Paint Colours

Silk paint is available from all of the major paint manufacturers in a range of base colours such as white, while they also all offer a tinted colours version that can be mixed in almost any colour with the paint mixing service here at Painters World. Simply type the name of the shade you would like (even designer shades) and we will mix your silk paint in the perfect colour for you.

Where To Buy Silk Paint

Here at Painters World we have a large range of silk paint to suit exactly what you are looking for. We also stock a huge number of paint brushes, rollers & decorating supplies, so you can get everything you need in one place.