Eggshell paint is a popular choice for interior walls because of its subtle sheen and durability. If you’ve recently painted your walls with eggshell paint or are considering doing so, you may wonder if it’s easy to touch up.
Despite its low gloss formulation, eggshell paint is relatively tricky to touch up. The presence of gloss will show any imperfections in the touch-up job and make it more visible. However, if you carefully blend the edges and match the color correctly, it is possible to create a seamless touch-up job.
In this article, we will explore the properties of eggshell paint and provide insights into whether it is easy to touch up or not.
The 8 Factors That Affect Touch-up Results on Eggshell Paint
Although eggshell paint isn’t the easiest paint finish to touch up, there are a number of things you can do to ensure a professional finish. Let’s take a look.
Gloss level
Eggshell paint has a low sheen. This means that when you touch up the paint, it will likely be shinier than the original eggshell finish, which can create an uneven appearance across the wall.
In addition, different brands of eggshell paint may have slightly different sheens, which can also affect the touch-up results.
Paint color
Eggshell paint comes in a wide range of colors, and the shade you choose will also impact touch-up results. For example, using a darker paint color for your touch-up job may be noticeably different from the original coating.
Age of the paint
The age of the paint can also affect touch-up results. Older eggshell paint may have dulled and taken on a slightly different color over time, so if you’re attempting to match a touch-up job to an older one, you may be disappointed with the result.
Type of surface
Touching-up textured surfaces like eggshell paint can be more difficult because the texture and finish make it harder to blend the original color with a new coat of paint. The roughness can also cause the brush or roller to skip or drag, making an uneven surface.
Environmental factors
Temperature and humidity changes can affect how eggshell paint dries and adheres to surfaces. If you are touching a spot on your wall, ensure the temperature and humidity levels are similar to when you first painted the wall.
Fading
Over time, the color of your eggshell paint may fade due to exposure to sunlight or other environmental factors. Even if you have the same paint color, touching up a faded spot may result in a noticeable color difference.
Surface preparation
Proper surface preparation is crucial for achieving good touch-up results with eggshell paint. Ensure the surface is clean, dry, and free of debris or contaminants before applying touch-up paint.
Paint quality
The quality of your touch-up paint can also affect the results. Using a lower quality or mismatched paint can result in an uneven finish or noticeable color difference.
Touch-up Comparison With Other Paint Finishes
Flat
Flat paint is a popular choice for interior walls due to its smooth, matte, and non-reflective finish. Flat paint is the easiest paint to touch up. This is because flat paint has no sheen, making it easier to blend colors and achieve a seamless and even finish.
Matte
Matte paint has a subtle sheen and is slightly more resistant to wear and tear than flat paint. When it comes to touch-ups, matte paints are easier to work with than eggshell because they have a lower gloss level that makes it easier to blend and create an even surface.
Satin
Satin paint is a versatile option that offers a slight sheen and durability. It is ideal for high-traffic areas and has a slightly greater resistance to wear and tear than eggshell paint.
However, its higher gloss level makes satin paint more challenging to touch up since achieving a consistent sheen can be difficult.
Semi-gloss
Semi-gloss paint is a good choice for areas where there may be more moisture or humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Semi-gloss paints are the second most difficult to touch up because of the higher gloss and sheen levels.
High-gloss
High-gloss paints offer a high level of reflectivity and are very durable, making them a great choice for surfaces that need to withstand lots of wear and tear. However, due to its high sheen, it can be difficult to touch up as the sheen can create an uneven and glossy finish.
Best Practices for Touching up Eggshell Paint
Cleaning the surface
Make sure to clean the surface properly. Any debris left on the surface can cause adhesion issues and affect the look of the touch-up area. Additionally, grease and grime can prevent the new paint from adhering properly.
Preparing the surface
If any cracks or imperfections exist in the existing coat of paint, use spackle or caulk to fill them in before painting. Once it has dried, sand down rough patches and wipe away dust.
Prime if necessary
In some cases, you may need to prime the surface before touching it up with eggshell paint. If the current coat of paint is new or if there are any noticeable differences in sheen or color, priming can help create a more uniform finish and ensure better adhesion.
Choosing your paint
It’s important that you select an eggshell paint that is as close as possible to your original color. If you don’t have access to the same color, try using a slightly lighter hue for the best results. Make sure you mix your paints carefully so they blend seamlessly and provide consistent coverage across the entire wall.
Use a small brush or weenie roller
When touching up small spots on your wall, use a small brush or weenie roller to ensure that all crevices will be painted evenly.
Painting techniques
To achieve a flawless finish when painting with eggshell paint, use a brush or weenie roller that’s specifically designed for this type of paint. Start by lightly feathering the edges of the touch-up area and then gradually build up layers until you achieve even coverage.
Drying and curing time
Eggshell paints usually take anywhere from two to four hours to dry. Once fully dry, you can check the touch-up area for any imperfections and add additional layers of paint as needed.
Make sure to cure your eggshell paint by allowing it to sit untouched for at least 24 hours before exposing it to moisture or other environmental factors.
Evaluating the result
Once you have finished painting your touch-up area, you can evaluate the results. Check for any color or coverage inconsistencies and ensure that everything is even.
Repeat if necessary
You may need to repeat the process if the touch-up area doesn’t meet your expectations. Start by lightly sanding the area and then apply another coat of eggshell paint. Once it has dried, evaluate the results and make any adjustments as needed.
