Painting With Ultra Gloss Enamel Paint

Clean the walls and trim you intend to paint. Although you can cover entire walls with ultra gloss enamel paint, these large expanses tend to fade faster and require repainting sooner than small areas, such as trim or a backsplash. Use a water-based detergent to clean your walls, gently scrubbing any surface stains and marks with a soft sponge. Rinse the walls and allow adequate time to dry completely.

Patch all cracks or holes with patching plaster. Sand the surface of the walls lightly with fine-grade sandpaper, removing just the surface sheen. Skip this step if you are painting over new sheetrock. Use a tack cloth to wipe off any fine dust, hairs or lint on the surface of your walls or trim.

Tape off all surrounding walls, ceilings, window frames and doorways. Place a drop cloth over the floor and any furniture too large to move out of the work area. Open windows and turn on fans for proper ventilation.

Apply a coat of primer to your prepared surface area, using a roller with a fine nap for large areas and a paintbrush for small areas and corners. Let the primer dry completely, according to the instructions on the label.

Apply the first coat of ultra gloss enamel paint, using a roller and a paintbrush. Overlap each stroke slightly, but avoid brushing or rolling the same area more than once or twice. Let the first coat of paint dry for the allotted time. Depending on your brand of paint, it may take several days to cure completely.

Sand the outer surface of the dried coat of paint, only removing the outer shine on the surface. Examine the paint for any obvious flaws or blemishes and sand down these areas to match the surrounding surfaces. Wipe down the sanded wall or trim with a clean piece of tack cloth.

Apply a second coat of paint in the same manner as the first coat, letting it dry completely. Check the finished product for even shine and texture. Although two coats of ultra gloss enamel paint adequately covers most surfaces, many people use multiple coats to develop a thick, rich shine. If adding more coats, continue to sand lightly between each coat.