As a Professional Decorator, I’m often asked how to get a smooth finish with gloss paint, so I thought I’d write a very quick guide on the topic. There’s a huge difference between the performance of oil-based and water-based gloss, but the application is largely the same.
I’ll go through the tools you need, the steps you should take, the paint conditioners that will help eliminate brush marks. I’ll even recommend the gloss paints I think you should be using to achieve a smooth, long-lasting finish.
Feel free to skip ahead if you only need bits of info, rather than the whole story. If follow the advice on this blog, then you won’t go wrong.
Oil-Based Vs Water-Based Gloss
The first thing we need to establish is whether you’re using oil-based or water-based gloss. I don’t want to get sidetracked too much, so I’ll just touch on this here. Skip ahead if you already have your paint.
Oil-based gloss
This has a higher sheen level and a much better finish than its water-based counterpart. It’s a bit sticker to apply and you need to be very careful not to contaminate the paint with dust, otherwise it looks awful.
The biggest downside is the oil in oil-based gloss is an alkyd, and one of the properties of alkyd oils is they turn yellow over time. This has been a major issue with oil-based gloss since the 2010 VOC restrictions brought in by the EU.
You can still use oil-based gloss, but you need to be particular with the product you opt for. I’ll get into the best oil-based gloss later.
Water-based gloss
Gloss paints labelled “water-based” are usually hybrid paints, which means they still contain a little bit of alkyd oil. I don’t mind this too much because it helps with the sheen level and durability of the paint. It will still yellow eventually, but it’ll last a lot longer than oil-based.
How to Get a Smooth Finish with Gloss Paint
I’ll work my way through the steps you should take when applying gloss paint here. Then I’ll go on to recommend what I think are the best products.
Prep the Surface
Abrade the surface you intend to paint, fill and caulk as needed, mask surfaces you don’t want to get paint on, and then remove as much dust as possible. Starting with a smooth surface is half the battle.
Apply an Undercoat
You can often dilute the undercoat with white spirit or water (depending on whether you’re using oil- or water-based), for a better flow and less brush marks. However, you must achieve a solid colour with it because gloss has poor opacity in comparison.
Abrade the Surface Again
You need to de-nib between each coat if you want a completely smooth finish with gloss. Use a fine grade sandpaper and just pass over the surface once, being careful not to remove the undercoat. Any slightest grain of dust will show through your high-gloss finish. Then go OTT when removing dust to get rid of every bit.
Prepare your Gloss
Mix the gloss paint with a clean stick and then decant some into a mini scuttle or kettle. If you’re working in warm conditions, then you may want to add a paint conditioner (more info shortly). If you feel like there are already bits in your gloss, then you should strain it through a pair of old tights.
Cut in with a brush
Work on one section at a time and cut-in around the edges. So top and bottom of a couple of meters of skirting boards. Around the edges of the panels on a door, around the edges of a windowsill (you get the idea).
Use Roller to Paint the Middles
Next, use a roller to paint the flats of the surface, overlapping your brushed gloss. Using the right roller is an essential part of achieving a smooth finish with oil-based gloss. I’ll explain more on rollers later.
Lay Off
With a dry paint brush, run the bristles very softly over the gloss you have just applied. This will remove any texture and blend the paint applied with a brush with the paint applied with a roller.
Best Tools and Materials for Achieving a Smooth Finish with Gloss
The paint and tools you use will make a huge difference. Especially when it comes to brushes and rollers. I’d go as far as to say it’s impossible to achieve a good finish with inferior tools.
The Best Oil-Based Gloss for a Smooth Finish
There’s only really one oil-based gloss that I’d consider using inside now, and that’s Crown Trade Next Generation. This is a paint that doesn’t come in Brilliant White, but you can buy it in White, and the finish is fantastic!
It’s easy enough to apply providing you use a good oil-based undercoat, and the issue of yellowing isn’t as apparent. I’ve used it on jobs and gone back years later, and I can confirm it still looks good. This gloss ages well.
A Paint conditioner for Oil-Based Gloss
I don’t like using paint conditioners in oil-based gloss unless I really need to. I might use a few drops on a hot day or if I’m painting a large flat surface. It does help with the flow and open time, when means a smoother finish. However, a lot of people say it speeds up the yellowing of oil-based paints.
If you feel like you’d benefit from a paint conditioner for oil-based gloss, then check out owatrol oil.
The Best Water-Based Gloss for a Smooth Finish
I’ve changed my mind a little bit about the best water-based gloss. Recently I’ve been using a lot of Crown FastFlow and I think it’s brilliant. You will need to apply three coats (one coat of undercoat followed by two topcoats).
But most water-based gloss products can look quite cheap and they’re not very durable. This isn’t the case with Crown Fast Flow. It’s easy to achieve a smooth finish with this paint, it looks good, and it’s bulletproof. I highly recommend.
Best Paint Conditioner for a Smooth Finish with Water-Based Gloss
I may not be keen on conditioners for oil-based gloss, but they’re great in water-based. The best being Smith & Rodger Flow & Bond, and it’s a great way to achieve a smooth finish with water-based gloss.
I add maybe 5%; It helps with flow and allows brush marks to settle down. It’s relatively inexpensive too. If you take one tip away from this guide on how to apply gloss paint, make is Flow & Bond.
The Best Paint Brush for Gloss
This is a nice easy one. Regardless of whether you’re using oil-based or water-based gloss, you need a paint brush that’s up to the task. It needs to hold its shape in the sticky material, not clog, be stiff enough to cut-in with, but soft enough to lay-off with.
The best on the market for me is Hamilton Clean Edge. It’s designed for sticky paints like gloss and does everything you need it to. Using a Hamilton Clean Edge will mean you much easier application.
The Best Roller for Oil-Based Gloss
Any foam roller is great for oil-based gloss. Concave rollers are slightly better because it’s easier to avoid tram lines. But tram lines disappear when you lay-off anyway.
It needs to be foam through. Even microfibre rollers shed too much to get a smooth finish with oil-based gloss. They’re very cheap, so just use it and throw it away.
The Best Roller to Apply Water-Based Gloss
The Axus Décor Silk Touch is the best roller for water-based gloss. You can apply plenty of paint with it, the paint is always even, it leaves very little orange peel, and it doesn’t shed.
Using a good roller to apply water-based gloss is very important. Cheap rollers shed and leave texture, so you won’t achieve a very smooth finish.
FAQs
How to get a perfect finish with gloss paint?
Just follow the steps laid out in this blog and use good quality tools.
How to get a high gloss finish?
This is all in your product choice. The shiniest of gloss paints tend to be oil-based and are a little trickier to apply. If buying water-based gloss, look at the “sheen level” stated on the data sheet. You can normally find the info online.
How many coats of gloss should you do?
For oil-based gloss, you’re looking at 1 coat of undercoat and 1 of gloss. Water-based gloss tends to take an extra coat of gloss, but it’s far quicker and easier to apply.
How can I paint gloss without roller marks?
Apply the gloss with a roller, and then ‘lay-off’ with a brush. This just means passing the paint brush over the paint gently, usually in the direction of the grain.
What gives gloss paint its shine?
Oil-based gloss gets its shine from alkyd oil. Gloss has much more oil than satinwood and eggshell, which is why it yellows after a shorter period.
Final Thoughts
Gloss used to be more popular than it is now. When I started my career twenty-odd years ago, almost every one of my customers chose gloss. Now I think people are put off by the yellowing.
However, providing you choose the right products, you don’t really need to worry about it. And now you know how to get a smooth finish with gloss paint, there’s nothing stopping you from making your woodwork look amazing!
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