Most painters have priced a job from a line that reads “all interior walls: white, eggshell.” Which white? Whose eggshell? The line leaves both open, and whoever orders the paint ends up making the call.
If you work with a designer or architect, the finish schedule is where they say what goes on every surface. A complete one lets a painter price it, order it and apply it without guessing.
Some of the lines that change the price describe the wall before any paint goes on. The Gypsum Association’s GA-214 sets out levels of drywall finish, each more work than the one before.
| Level of finish | Coats over fastener heads (coats) |
|---|---|
| Level 2 | 1 |
| Level 3 | 2 |
| Level 4 | 3 |
| Level 5 | 3 |
Source
Source: Gypsum Association, GA-214-10, Recommended Levels of Gypsum Board Finish, 2010.
In the source list: 1
Level 5 adds a thin skim coat of joint compound over the whole wall. GA-214 calls it the most effective way to get a uniform surface and keep joints and fasteners from showing through the paint. It changes the prep and the price. The schedule should say which rooms get it.
A sample finish schedule, one room
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01 Walls
Product and color by maker, line, name and number. Sheen: MPI Gloss Level 3, eggshell. Substrate: drywall, Level 5 skim coat. Primer, then at least two finish coats.
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02 Ceiling
Product and color by maker, line, name and number. Sheen: MPI Gloss Level 1, flat. Substrate: drywall, Level 4. Primer, then at least two finish coats.
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03 Trim and doors
Product: Fine Paints of Europe Hollandlac over matched FPE primer, never a sealer like Shellac, BIN or Kilz. Sheen: MPI Gloss Level 7, high gloss. Prep: thin coats, sanded between coats.
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04 Cabinets
Product: conversion varnish, HVLP spray. Sheen: written as an MPI gloss level as well as a word. Primer: system specific, for adhesion and even topcoat absorption.
Give every surface its own line
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors, cabinets and built-ins take different products. One line for “all interior surfaces” leaves those choices to whoever orders the paint. A complete line names:
- the surface and the room
- the product, by maker and line
- the color, by maker, name and number, plus any custom match
- the sheen, as an MPI gloss level as well as a word
- the surface underneath and its prep, including the GA-214 level for drywall
- the primer and the number of finish coats.
The primer belongs on the line as well. Fine Paints of Europe’s system wants its own matched primers, never sealers like Shellac, BIN or Kilz. Leave the primer open and you can end up with a system the maker doesn’t support.
Sheen, as a number
“Eggshell” varies from maker to maker. The Master Painters Institute (MPI) defines seven gloss levels by how much light a finish reflects, and a level number ties the schedule to a measurement.
| Figure | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 7 MPI gloss levels, from Gloss Level 1, flat, at no more than 5 units at 60 degrees, to Gloss Level 7, high gloss, at more than 85 | One maker’s eggshell can be another’s satin. A level number reads the same everywhere. | Rodda Paint, Selecting Gloss Level, reproducing the MPI gloss levels |
| 10 to 25 gloss units at 60 degrees for MPI Gloss Level 3, the traditional eggshell-like finish | If the schedule says eggshell, adding “MPI Gloss Level 3” tells us which product sheens qualify. | Rodda Paint, Selecting Gloss Level, reproducing the MPI gloss levels |
| Level 5 is the recommended drywall finish for dark paint, paint with sheen or gloss, and surfaces in severe light | A schedule that pairs a deep color or a satin wall with Level 4 is worth a second look before bid. | Walls & Ceilings, on GA-214-2015 |
Which walls get Level 5
GA-214 recommends Level 4 under flat paints, light textures or wallcoverings, and Level 5 for harder cases such as severe light. The architect knows where the windows and skylights are before the walls go up. The schedule is the place to say it.
Working from the schedule
If you have an architect or designer, we work from their drawings, the same as on our remodel projects. On our fine finish and interior painting work, the steps follow the schedule.
- Assessment. We check each surface against the schedule and specify its coating system.
- Prep. The furniture gets covered and the floors masked, then the surfaces are patched and sanded, to Level 5 where required.
- Primer. The system’s own primers go on, for adhesion and a topcoat that absorbs evenly.
- Finish coats. At least two, by brush or HVLP spray, then a final walkthrough with touch-ups on the spot.
We’re a Fine Paints of Europe Master Certified contractor. FPE’s process has its own primers, thin coats and a full cure before heavy use.
Can you work from my designer’s finish schedule?
Yes. We work from their drawings and schedule and coordinate with them through the job.
What if the schedule says “eggshell” and nothing else?
We ask before we price it. A sample of the actual product on the actual wall settles it fastest.
We don’t have a designer. Who picks the colors?
Our color consultation is included with our painting work. We sample on your walls, and the palette is written down before the project begins.
Our posts on Level 5 drywall finish and choosing a paint finish go deeper on the two lines that cause the most questions. When you’re ready, request an estimate or call us at (650) 961-7415.
Sources (3)
- Gypsum Association, GA-214-10, Recommended Levels of Gypsum Board Finish, 2010 gypsum.org (https://www.gypsum.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GA-214-10-webversion.pdf) Back
- Rodda Paint, Selecting Gloss Level, reproducing the MPI gloss levels roddapaint.com (https://www.roddapaint.com/how-to/selecting-gloss-level/) Cited 1, 2
- Walls & Ceilings, on GA-214-2015 wconline.com (https://www.wconline.com/articles/89568-recommended-levels-of-finish-revised-and-expanded) Back
