What to Do When Painting Over a Satin Finish

Satin Finish Paint

• Satin finish paint is a medium-gloss finish paint, which means that it has a slight sheen but does not reflect the light like a high-gloss paint. As a medium-gloss paint, it is more resistant to staining than matte paint, which is no sheen at all. It is also more resistant to damp and more durable than a matte finish. Satin paint is available in acrylic or oil-based compounds. Acrylic is easier to apply as it is water soluble and has a low odor, but oil-based paint is more durable and more suitable for external application.

Painting Walls

• If you have walls that are already painted in a satin finish and you want to repaint in a satin finish, allow enough paint for the number of coats recommended by the manufacturer. Prepare the wall surface by filling and sanding any cracks and rubbing down any areas of flaking paint. Apply the paint with a roller, finishing off in the corners and next to floors and ceilings with a paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry totally before starting the next coat. If you want to paint over satin-finished walls with a matte paint, you should purchase enough paint for additional coats. Matte paint does not cover satin well, and insufficient coats will give a streaky result.

Painting Interior Metal or Woodwork

• When you are repainting interior woodwork or metal in a similar color and finish, the preparation work needed is minimal. Fill and sand any cracks or holes, then use a medium-grade sandpaper to "key" the surface that you want to paint on, which means taking the very top layer of paint off to give a dull surface to receive the new paint better. If you are repainting in a paler color or different finish, sand the old finish down as far as you can. For large areas, use an electric sander, moving from a coarse finish to a fine finish to give a clean surface for repainting.

Painting Exterior Woodwork or Metal

• Wait for a suitable day, as rain, frost or damp conditions will destroy newly-applied paint before it has a chance to harden, and windy days blow debris into wet paint. Exterior paint is subject to much harsher conditions than interior paint and often needs to be removed completely before a new coat can be applied. Use paint that has been formulated for exterior use, and remove as much of the old satin finish as you can with an electric sander or sandpaper. Wash all the prepared areas to prevent grit or dirt from getting into the new paint. If you are reapplying matte paint over satin, prepare to apply more coats than recommended by the manufacturer.