How to Be a Gloss Enamel Paint Pro

Use semi and high gloss paints on high traffic areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. They reflect the most light of all paint finishes and they are the easiest to clean. A gloss finish is also great on furniture but know that it will give a very modern feel to the piece. You can use this paint with brushes, rollers or sprayers.

Use less paint with gloss finishes. They provide the best coverage of all paint. They will cover most surfaces with far less paint. Usually one coat is sufficient unless you're covering a very dark color with a lighter one.
The higher the gloss the more coverage you can expect.

Thin with water if needed. Rarely do you need to thin any of the gloss paints but if you do, add water slowly and sparingly. Don't exceed one quart water to five gallons of paint. If you over thin this type of paint, it will not cover as well and it won't produce a good finish.

Know how gloss paints work. It's the resin content, which are solids in the paint, that make this paint stronger than other types. This is also what give the paint it's shine.

Understand the difference between alkyd and enamel paints. Alkyd dries faster, is available in interior and exterior types and is an oil-modified polyester resin. Enamel paint is a gloss finish paint that once was used only to describe oil based paints but now includes any high covering latex paints as well.

Clean up all acrylic gloss finishes with warm soapy water. If you use an alkyd gloss paint, you can clean up with mineral spirits which you can buy anywhere you buy your paint.