Flashing Paint Defects: How to Fix Uneven Paint Sheen

Flashing paint defects are a common issue that even professional painters have to contend with. It’s often caused by poor surface preparation, but you don’t have to start from scratch to fix the problem.

Although flashing in painting is largely cosmetic, the inconsistent appearance can harm your professional credibility. Whether you’re looking to flip a house or you paint for a living, your reputation hinges on consistent, professional-looking results. In this guide, we explain how to identify flashing, what causes it, and what you can do to fix it.

Paint flashing refers to uneven paint sheen, where some patches appear more matte or glossy than the surrounding areas. Flashing paint defects may only appear at certain angles or in a specific light, but even a subtle difference can make your painted surface look messy.

Flashing often appears after the paint dries, so you don’t notice the paint problems during the application process. After all your hard work, the appearance of shiny patches and uneven spots may seem like a frustrating project failure.

Many flashing issues arise during surface preparation for painting. Even if you use the right color and finish, the porosity of patched and repaired surfaces can vary.

Wrong Paint Finish

Matching paint color is important, but you also need to match the finish. Paints typically come in five finishes:

• Matte/flat  has the least reflective finish, appearing velvety in most lights. Matte paint hides imperfections well but is harder to clean than high-gloss finishes. Because it absorbs light, it’s ideal for cozy bedrooms and living rooms.
• Eggshell finishes have a velvet texture slightly more reflective than a flat finish. Eggshell is less durable than satin and other higher-gloss finishes, working better for low-traffic bedrooms and dining rooms.
• Satin  offers a smooth finish with a slightly higher gloss than eggshell but less reflective than semi-gloss. Satin is ideal for walls in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
• Semi-gloss provides a more lustrous surface with higher reflectivity and durability than satin. Semi-gloss is perfect for baseboards and window trims.
• High-gloss creates the most reflective and durable finish suitable for cupboards, trim, doors, and high-traffic surfaces.

Basically, glossy paints are more durable and easier to clean, while less glossy paints better disguise imperfections. Most professional painters and designers use eggshell or satin for indoor walls and ceilings, but matte finishes can benefit older rooms with uneven walls and many repairs.

Your local paint shop can help you match the color and finish of latex and acrylic paint with a chip of paint. However, you should also spot-test a sample to make sure it dries with a matching sheen level before you start your flashing repair.

Inadequate Surface Prep

More porous surfaces soak up the paint, resulting in a more matte finish once dry. If your surfaces are not equally porous, you end up with an inconsistent finish. This is especially common when you skip the primer or apply it unevenly. Be sure to sand, clean, and prep your surface thoroughly with high-quality must-have painting tools.

Poor Painting Practices

Paint flashing may also occur if there are problems with the painting process. Inconsistent pressure and poor overlap practices can lead to visible lap marks and stripes.

You can usually avoid this by using a “wet edge” roller technique, applying each stroke of paint over the edge of the last one while it is still wet for a seamless painted surface. Look for the best paint brushes and rollers for the type of paint job to avoid inadequate coverage and a poor finish.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors such as heat and moisture can also affect your paint finish, but these factors are often secondary to painting preparation and application issues. For example, uneven drying due to high heat can make it hard to keep a wet edge for smooth paint application.

Although flashing can be caused by surface prep and paint application issues, you can often fix it without having to restart your painting project from scratch. Professional painters use the following techniques to fix paint flashing issues:

1. Sand the surface lightly: Start by using a fine sander to level the surface where you see flashing. This helps to even out the painted area and prevent unwanted reflections.
2. Spot prime porous areas: Evenly apply primer to porous areas such as patches and drywall repairs where paint surface absorption is uneven. Drywall seams, patches, and spackle typically absorb paint differently from existing wall materials, so appropriate priming is crucial.
3. Reapply paint: Smoothly reapply paint to the treated surface using consistent, controlled pressure. Match the direction and film thickness of the paint in the surrounding areas.

It’s important to set realistic expectations for your paint flashing repair project. Even expert preparation and application may result in a slightly different surface sheen. A partial fix for a minor drywall flashing issue can be very effective, but severe or widespread flashing might require a full repaint.

Sometimes, the flashing is so extreme that the only solution is to repaint the entire wall. Consider a full repaint if:

• The repairs or touch-ups look shiny or dull after drying.
• Significant repairs and patches stand out after the paint dries.
• Your repair paint sheen does not match the gloss or sheen of the existing coat.

Even if you do everything right, varying surface porosity, changing environmental factors, and even minuscule changes in paint batches can leave you dealing with loss of gloss and other paint defects.

If you have to repaint the surface due to flashing defects, start by sanding the surface for a uniform surface texture. Clean away dust and debris thoroughly before priming. Then, apply a high-quality primer, especially where you have patches or repairs with different porosity. Only when your primer is fully dried should you apply two coats of paint using the types of paint rollers appropriate for the surface material and paint formula.

Get the right paint sheen every time by using high-quality tools. Hyde has been manufacturing professional-grade painting tools for more than 150 years. Experts rely on our American-made tools to facilitate even surface preparation and uniform paint application that lasts.