We recently had most of our downstairs painted. Our colors are fairly dark for the most part and I decided against flat paint at the recommendation of all three painters who quoted. We ended up using SW Duration Satin on the walls and SW Emerald Enamel Semi-Gloss on the trim. Whether you want to use flat on the accent wall will depend to some extent on the lighting. You might not be happy with the higher sheen if the wall will receive much light.

I think you're right on flat on the accent wall. our contractor is fantastic and very knowledgeable. I will have him respond to your other questions when he comes back next week.

Matte is their “eggshell”. I’ve used in many rooms and it’s my preferred sheen. And the colors I used were dark and reflection wasn’t an issue.

I didn’t use Duration though, I used both SuperPaint and Cashmere.

Hi everyone,

I learned that my contractor has been planning to use ProMar 400, which I understand is a pretty low grade quality of paint. I'm a little surprised because my builder has a really good reputation, but it seems like they're going cheap on my house. Pretty frustrating that I'm having to correct them on this.

I have read a little about the different versions of SW paint and, the way I understand it is that, at minimum, I would want them to use Super Paint. They are using PVA as primer, but indicated they will only do one coat of paint. Should I ask them to use Duration as the paint type? Or a different quality of SW, such as Cashmere or Emerald?

Thanks!

I like Emerald in matte. It’s got the slightest of sheens, just enough that you can wash the wall carefully. I like flat for walls too, but it can sometimes look a little chalky which is not a problem if that’s what you’re looking for.

Cashmere and Emerald are their most expensive lines. You need to figure out what each upgrade will cost before you decide. And if you use dark colors, 1 coat will not be enough.

Not a pro but i do know that texture on your walls plays a factor on how ‘shiny’ a sheen will appear. The thicker’ more bumpy your wall texture is will make a lower sheen ‘reflect’ at a higher rate. The more bumpy texture throws more shine from light reflection. Any one here might can explain better what i am trying to convey, but our Sherwin Williams rep has had these conversations with many customers that are having sheen concerns. And their ‘new’ lines of flats/mats do have a slight sheen from what i have experienced. Just my 2 cents for what it’s worth :)

Always two coats of paint is recommended for a more cohesive result.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Our contractor was planning on doing just the one coat of PVA primer and one coat of ProMar 400, which seems crazy given how crappy I'm hearing ProMar 400 is.

I was reading about Duration and it sounds like it's thickness may cause some challenges when compared to Emerald. On the other hand, Emerald hasn't been around as long, so not sure if the verdict is in on it's durability. So, bottom line is I'm waffling, but here is my thought:

- PVA Sealer throughout

- Most walls: Emerald matte

- Most ceilings: Emerald flat (really not sure about this one or if I should use Emerald matte or a different line of paint for the ceilings....I need help!)

- Bathroom/laundry walls/ceiling: Emerald satin

- Garage: not really sure - help!

You don't need to spend the extra money on Emerald for the ceilings. Like I said before, you need to ask the builder what the extra costs are going to be before you decide.

Contractors get ProMar extremely cheap, especially builders. Usually it's for a select few colors. 20 years ago my MIL managed properties, they painted everything Dover White. They got Dover White in 5 gallon buckets for $10. But...only Dover White, nothing else came with that price tag because it wasn't in large volumes. Your builder may outright refuse to do anything other than what is stated in the contract. You need to find this out before you go further. Contract states one color through out. They are not going to paint your individual rooms different colors, its not going to happen.

Your best bet may be to hire a painter once your build is done, then you can dictate colors, finishes, ect. And that painter can advise you on what to use.

The contract did not specify the line of paint. It only stated one color throughout and the sheens. I just want to make sure I'm educated going in with my request with the ideal line. I'm hearing lots of mixed messaging, so I'm kind of lost. Emerald vs. Duration vs. Cashmere vs. Super Paint...to me it seems that if my painter is skilled, Emerald or Duration would be best. If they are moderately skilled, then Cashmere, and if they aren't very skilled, then Super Paint.

Circling back to this, I am still at a loss for the best approach. I don't care that much about money (as long as I'm not flushing it down the toilet with over-engineered solutions). Rather, I want to make sure my paint holds up for the long haul with kids. I don't want to have to paint again for 10 years at least. Maybe it would be easiest for someone to fill in the blanks for each area below with the SW lines/sheens they would choose if they were in my situation? Thank you again for your help.

- Primer/Sealer:

- Most walls:

- Most ceilings:

- Bathroom/laundry walls/ceiling:

- Trim

- Garage:

What did you end up using? We are looking at SW duration. Need to decide on finish for most walls, trim, bathrooms, ceilings. Also, from what I’m reading a primer is not needed for duration?

Please let me know what you decided on. We are looking at SW Duration Satin finish. We were first offered Super Paint but decided on Duration for a small up charge. I hope that's the right decision.

We ended up using our contractor's crappy ProMar 400. They were wanting to charge an exorbitant amount of money for the upgrade. So far, it is holding up ok one year in.

I'm glad it's holding up:)