Changing paint finish from gloss to flat can be as simple as adding a primer, then choosing your new paint color. Often, this requires just a few hours for the primer, time to dry, then a few more hours to add the next color. Once the drying time for the color of choice is complete, you are ready to add accessories, furniture, and other accents that make your room feel like a home.
There are a few basic tips and tricks for painting flat over gloss. If you do not follow the few simple rules, you may wind up with an unattractive paint finish and patches of gloss showing through the flat layer. This can give the room an unfinished or unprofessional feel, giving guests the wrong first impression about how you feel about your own home.
Consider Sanding
A very glossy coat of paint can be a real problem when you change the paint finish from gloss to flat. When this is the case, consider sanding the wall lightly in order to get rid of some of the glossiness. Use a rag to wipe away the majority of the dust before you take the next step, or it may cause some issues when you begin to primer or paint the next layer. If you are not sure whether the wall needs to be sanded, it is always best to err on the side of caution in this case, so go ahead and sand the wall.
When sanding just is not an option for some reason, consider a deglossing agent such as those found at many home improvement warehouses and similar stores. You can also find great ideas online, and some online stores offer these substances for purchase and shipping directly to your home. They are relatively inexpensive, and pretty easy to use as well.
Start With Primer
The most important step is to start with a coat of primer to cover the gloss, or it will bleed through to your new paint color. This primer coat should be the starting point for any transition from oil-based to water-based paint, too, but is especially important for transitioning from gloss to flat paint. Primer covers the first coat, and is the best way to ensure a more professional look in the long run. Latex primers are often very easy to paint, and offer a great barrier between gloss and flat paints.
Many home improvement stores sell brand names of primer, from Kilz to store brands, most with equal effectiveness. The biggest determining factor in this case is often budget, because most brand names have the biggest variation in the price tag. If budget is less of an issue, choose a brand name that is better known to ensure the best results.
As a final note, keep in mind that you have to allow time for the primer to dry completely before painting the next layer. Primer that is not completely dry will crack if you paint over it, causing unsightly cracks in your overall paint job. Allow at least twenty-four hours for drying before you move on.