Poor Sheen Uniformity

Definition

Shiny spots or dull spots (also known as “flashing”) on a painted surface; uneven gloss.

Causes

• Applying paint unevenly
• Failure to prime a porous surface, or a surface with varying degrees of porosity
• Over-thinning of the paint
• Poor application resulting in lapping
• Use of low-quality paint

Solutions

• New surfaces should be primed/sealed before applying the topcoat to ensure a uniform surface.
• Often another coat of paint will even out the sheen irregularities. Make sure to apply paint from “wet to dry” to prevent lapping.
• Use a high-quality water-based enamel paint.