Garage Interior Paint Question

[MikeinLA]

Hi all. So, having been inspired by this board, I am beginning my garage makeover. I have a 2 car attached garage in my townhouse condo. I'm having the popcorn ceiling removed and smoothed this week and will then be painting both the ceiling and walls. The paint scheme I have in mind so far is to paint the bottom 40" or so in black, then a 9" B&W checkered wallpaper border, then the upper part of the walls and the ceiling in white. There will be a B&W checked Racedeck floor eventually. My question for the group is whether to use a semi-gloss or gloss paint. I'd like it to be washable so I can keep it nice, but I'm trying to picture how the gloss paint would look. I'd like to hear from anyone who painted their garages in either semi-gloss or gloss paint and hear your opinions on how it looks.

Thanks, Mike

 

[keflaman]

Semi-gloss.

I am just finishing up the paint job on my garage. I used gloss paint on the walls and it turned out OK, but the gloss really shows every stroke and roll when light from the windows hit it. I don't think it will be that noticeable when I get everything set up against the walls and hung.

I put two gallons of ultra-high gloss on the ceiling and it looked absolutely horrible, so I went back over it with flat white and like that much better.

 

[thelews]

The more gloss, the more imperfections show. Ceilings are always the flattest paint you can get for this reason.

Use a washable semi-gloss.

 

[matttys]

I used an outdoor semi-gloss and it looks great. The outdoor formula is easier to spread and is much more durable for those hose-out-the-garage washings.

 

[mikeyr]

I just this weekend finished my garage, painted it semi-gloss and it does show all imperfections in the drywall, I thought he had done a good job when the primer was up as it looked good, then the semi-gloss went and made it look like heck.

As I was complaining my wife just kept saying, its a garage and it already looks better then the house so shut up before I make you paint the house... I shut up

 

[94legaleagle]

Unless you can keep EVERYTHING from splattering on the bottom 40 inches of your walls, you might want to rethink putting black on the bottom - black will show EVERYTHING that splatters on it - you will constantly be cleaning marks off of the black -

 

[pcmeiners]

Agree with others, avoid gloss at all cost, even semi. The amount of prep work for gloss is enormous, compare to a flat or eggshell. For gloss, it takes close to the skills of an automobile prep..every tiny imperfection shows. Eggshell is closer to a semi-gloss then flat, but is less prep demanding, quite washable, easier to blend in repairs to paint surface. Remember gloss paint requires more prep for recoating in the future.
As is, an eggshell finish still need good prep work, best to check the entire surface with two different light sources (fluorescent, incandescent) and by feel, BEFORE priming. Personally I check before and after the prime coat, quick light sanding before top coat.

 

[judgethis]

I used Sherwin Williams white gloss outdoor paint. It turned out great and its not a shiny as I thought it was going to be. Its almost a semi gloss. Its very easy to wipe down. The block foundation is about 2 blocks high above the floor and I painted them high gloss black so when I lean a tire up it wont show the dirt.
My walls arent drywall, they a 3/8 plywood(the smooth stuff). Im very happy with the outcome.

 

[TONE]

Id rathger have bare drywall than to look at shiny gloss paint. Just my opinion.

I did my garage in a satin finish. I used a high quality sherwin williams paint and it is fairly easy to clean and wipe down.

Its not as durable as gloss but I dont do the kind of work where that would be needed.

Gloss on the ceiling would drive me wacko!!!!

 

[djjsr]

Another vote for eggshell or satin (and no black).

 

[MikeinLA]

I bow to the wisdom of the group. Satin it is.

Thanks, Mike