formerly Shaw Paints Ltd
Benjamin Moore Sheen Levels
The shininess of a paint film is referred to as its sheen. It is a measure of how much light is reflected from the surface - the shinier the surface, the higher the % reflectance.
There are no particular standards in the UK paint industry for how to name sheen levels nor what % reflectance a particular name might refer to - each manufacturer has different names and reflectance levels for their paints.
Benjamin Moore paints offer 6 sheen levels for interior paints and 4 sheen levels for exterior paints.
Interior Paints
| Sheen Name | Typical % reflectance | Products available in this sheen |
|---|---|---|
| Flat / Ultra Flat | 0-4% sheen at 85° | Regal Select®, Ultra Spec 500, Ceiling Paint |
| Matte | 3-10% sheen at 85° | Aura®, Aura® Bath and Spa, Regal Select®, Ben®, Scuff-X® |
| Eggshell | 10-25% sheen at 85° | Aura®, Regal Select®, Ultra Spec 500®, Scuff-X® |
| Satin / Pearl | 20-35% sheen at 60° | Aura®, Regal Select®, Advance WB Alkyd, Scuff-X®, Ultra Spec 500® |
| Semi-Gloss/ Gloss | 40-65% sheen at 60° | Aura®, Scuff-X® |
| High Gloss | >85% sheen at 60° | Advance WB Alkyd |
Exterior Paints
| Sheen Name | % Reflectance | Products available in this sheen |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | 0-3% sheen at 85° | Aura® Exterior, Regal Select® Exterior, Element Guard® |
| Low Lustre | 9-15% sheen at 85° | Aura® Exterior, Regal Select® Exterior |
| Satin | 20-30% sheen at 60° | Aura Exterior® |
| High Gloss | >85% sheen at 60° | Advance WB Alkyd |
Glazes, Clear-coats
| Sheen Name | % Reflectance | Products available in this sheen |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | max 5% @ 60° | Stays Clear |
| Low Lustre | 35-45 % @ 60° | Stays Clear |
| Gloss | 75+ @60° | Stays Clear |
For shinier paints, the reflectance is measured by shining light at an angle of 60° to the paint surface. For flatter paints, the angle of measurement is 85°.
In a room, the amount of light falling on a surface will change how shiny it appears. So, shinier sheens will not appear as shiny in dimly lit rooms as in brightly lit rooms.
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