New build home? Here’s how to make the paint job last

Just put a deposit down on a new build home? Congratulations, that’s no cheap feat. You don't need me to tell you how crazy house prices have gotten. We are a small team of Gold Coast painters & decorators, here in Australia, the average new build price surpassed $315,000 USD as of Dec 24. And just about nowhere is safe, average new build prices are rocketing globally: 

• America $418,000 USD

• United Kingdom K $364,000 USD 

• New Zealand $428,000 USD

Unfortunately, there's a growing trend of new build homes being finished in cheap “builders white” that often have a “flat” sheen. 

What are paint sheens? 

Sheen = Shine, Shine = Sheen. A sheen level is simply the amount of gloss and reflectivity a paint has. Sheens are not just for visual appeal, higher sheens are more washable and durable. 

On the higher sheen end, think of Gloss and Semi-gloss. Notice how your window frames, doors, door frames, and skirting boards are all the highest sheens in your home. That’s because these areas need to be the most durable. Skirts get banged, doors get knocked, and they often need cleaning. 

Moving down, we had low sheens and egg shells. These are highly versatile paints and often make up the bulk of any interior paint job, namely your home walls. They are softer on the eye and contain moderate amounts of gloss and sheen. They are durable, washable, resist moisture, and great at resisting everyday wear and tear. Overall, they are excellent for high-traffic areas. 

And with the lowest sheens, we have matts and flats. Flat is almost exclusively used on ceilings; it does not reflect light, hides imperfections very well, and rarely flashes. (That’s when sometimes your roller leaves marks, or your cut in around the edges look different to the areas rolled. It’s excellent for ceilings, they are never touched or marked unless you're 7 feet tall.

Flat and Matt walls aren't necessarily a problem

Matt walls aren't always bad. It’s actually somewhat of a design trend to use matt on the walls. I personally think it looks great. But you must understand that the builders want to use the cheapest matt paint they can source, it’s not always the painting contractor's choice. Their reasons for using matt is not for aesthetics. 

It’s because the brand the builder uses is cheap. It hides drywall imperfections the best that would otherwise flash up with low sheen, and is easiest to paint when contractors come in and out of the house, causing more knocks and dents. 

Why is it a problem? 

Well, the builders are using builder's white without knowledge of the buyer. To the untrained eye this might not be a problem until a couple of weeks after a family has moved in. The builder using flat on walls isn't necessarily wrong or deceitful, it’s just something that in our opinion, should be discussed with the client beforehand. Take this Reddit post for example: 

This is the result of cheap matt paint. You see, even expensive matt paint is not renowned for its washability, let alone a cheap brand. Flat paint shows finger marks, scuffs, stains and is not so easy to clean without damaging it. It might be great for a retired couple, but for a busy family with kids and pets. Perhaps not the best choice. 

Make the right choice for your new build 

Your house is your greatest investment and purchasing a new build is enough stress already. Choosing the right paint from the get go may save you money down the line, why fix it down the line when it’s going to cost you more. So speak to your builder, and consider upgrading to an egg shell or low sheen finish. 

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