How to Apply Eggshell Paint – With No Roller Marks

As in the name, eggshell paint is a kind of paint finish that resembles the surface of an eggshell.

Compared to more common pain finishes in the US and UK, this type of finish offers less sheen. Basically, the shine is a bit more than matt but it’s always less than semigloss, gloss, or silk. In contrast, eggshell paint forms a hard, durable coating when it’s dry, giving your walls the extra protection they need to stay safe. This makes eggshell paint a great option for rooms with low- to mid-traffic.

The only complaint I have experienced is when you apply the eggshell paint with a paint roller, the roller does not roll as smoothly as it should.

Hence, understanding how to apply eggshell paint on walls, ceilings, or furniture without getting any streaks will enable you to get the most out of your home paint job.

How to Apply Eggshell Paint Without Streaks?

Applying eggshell paint is not so tough, but to avoid the appearance of roller marks (which often stems from not properly adhering to painting best practices) and achieve a smooth, blemish-free finish, it is essential to meticulously prepare the surface, select the appropriate roller, and apply the paint with even, consistent strokes.

Below are the step-by-step instructions you should generally follow to blend the finish seamlessly with the roller-applied areas.

Step 1- Do the preparation

Begin by removing all furniture, artwork, photos, curtains, and rods from the room being painted. Next, put painter’s tape around the trim, doorways, windows, and baseboards so that you will not have to clean them up after painting. Also, put drop cloths on the floor and any items that could not be removed.

Once the work area is prepared you need to prepare the surfaces that need the coating.

• Start by filling any holes with spackling compound
• Use a putty knife and smooth out the spackle so that its edge matches the surface of the wall
• Let the spackle dry and then clean the surface by wiping down the walls with a damp cloth

The walls will need to be cleaned thoroughly, otherwise, any remaining dirt or debris will make the eggshell paint less likely to stick.

If you are going to paint in a room with high humidity, such as the kitchen or bathroom, you will need to clean the walls with tri-sodium phosphate (TSP).  Follow the directions when applying the TSP to the walls and let dry.

Step 2- Start painting with a brush

Open the can of eggshell paint and stir it for a minute using a stir stick. Then, pour a small amount into a can or a container. This is the paint you will use for applying to the edge of the ceiling first. So, use a paintbrush to carefully create the edges for the ceiling and corners of the room.

Step 3- Choose the right roller and paint the ceiling

Paint roller sleeves are available in a variety of different sizes, materials, and naps.

• The best roller cover you can pick for eggshell paint is wool fiber with a 3/8-inch nap.
• However, in a pinch, you can use a 1/2-inch nap roller sleeve for applying eggshell finish.
• Just make sure you apply the paint right and avoid roller stipples.

Keep in mind that longer naps are better for textured finishes but for applying flat paint, you can pick a roller with a short nap.

Once you have picked your roller, pour the eggshell paint into the rolling pan. Load a generous amount of paint on the roller, and start painting the ceiling first. Let the paint dry and then inspect to see if you need to add a second coat on the ceiling.

Step 4- Apply the eggshell finish paint on the walls

Once you are done with the ceiling, you can now start on the walls.

• Paint from the top and work your way down the walls with the roller.
• Remember to roll slowly which will avoid the roller marks and prevent the paint from splattering.
• Let it dry and then inspect (by shining a work light on the freshly painted surface) to see if you need a second coat.

TIP: To get the fullest effect of eggshell paint finish, you will need to apply it with a paint roller in large enough quantities to create a thick coat; but not so much to make it sag or drip under its own weight. You can do this by having enough paint on the roller sleeve to apply generously without having to press too hard so the paint is released.

Step 5- Inspect and apply the second coat

Keep in mind that it will take at least two coats to get the desired finish from eggshell paint, so do not worry if the first coat isn’t what you expected.

When shining the light at an angle over the painted surface, you may sometimes notice a few defects. The uneven sheen, ridges, or bumps that may have appeared are generally due to insufficient paint coverage. To fix these eggshell paint finish problems, you will need to do a few eggshell touch-ups using 150-grit sandpaper and a paintbrush.

If you notice larger defects, lap marks, or streakings (which is rare if you have painted with a well-loaded roller) it will need complete scuffing and an additional coat of paint over the surface.

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Additional Tips for Avoiding Roller Marks with Eggshell Paints

Roller marks can be a sore to the eyes when applying. But you can minimize their appearance and achieve a smooth, professional-looking eggshell finish by keeping certain things in mind.

a) Dilute the paint correctly

One major reason why eggshell paints leave roller marks after the painting is the consistency. If you dilute the paint right, most likely you can avoid the problem.

• When using acrylic or water-based eggshell paints, add 10% cold clean water for thinning
• When using oil-based eggshell, add turpentine or mineral spirits to the paint in a ratio of 1:3

Give the prepared paint a thorough stir before loading your roller.

b) Keep your roller fully loaded

When loading your paint tray, keep enough paint so that you can cover the roller sleeve well.

Also, while applying the paint do not try to squeeze your roller completely before reloading, and avoid reloading the roller more often. This may save you some paint but will most likely produce paint ridges and marks you do not want to get on the surface.

c) Apply the paint in a “W” pattern

Unlike flat paints, you cannot roll with eggshell finish the way you want.

This means when applying eggshell finish to your walls, ceiling, wooden floors, or doors you should begin by applying the paint in a large “W” pattern across the wall.

Then, fill in the spaces between the “W” strokes. Work in manageable sections, maintaining a wet edge as you move across the surface. Use light, overlapping brush, or roller strokes to apply the paint. Avoid pressing too hard or repeatedly going over the same area, as this can cause undesirable roller marks.

Also, keep in mind to roll the paint in a single direction. It should be either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Typically, you should avoid backing the roller when you have finished with a coat. Instead, bring your paint roller back to where you have started to apply the paint the same way.

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Eggshell Too Shiny – Can You Make Eggshell Paint Finish Look Flat?

Eggshell isn’t very glossy. Which means neither it’s flat nor too shiny. But despite its subtle velvety appearance, for many homeowners, the finish can end up looking overly shiny, which may not be the desired aesthetic.

If you find your eggshell paint has a finish that is too glossy or reflective, you can mix some flat paint (of the same color) with your eggshell paint to make it look flatter and more matte.

While no painter will ever want to do this because of the higher cost of eggshell paint finishes, it can be an effective way to achieve the desired matte look if the sheen is really bothering you.

Apply only a single coat of eggshell

Eggshell paints usually come with reflective particles that add to their reflective properties and make the paint look shinier after application. However, you will need to apply more than one coat to the surface to get more shine. The more layers you put on, the more light can get reflected back to make it shine better.

So, if you apply only one coat of eggshell paint it’s possible that the surface will not shine much and will look as painted with a flat finish. You can also get a lower sheen that may look flat by applying a coat or two of flat paint over a single eggshell finish paint coat.

Can You Paint Eggshell Over Eggshell?

Remember that eggshell paints come with some glossiness that can create adhesion problems when you need to repaint them. You can apply a variety of paint finishes over a latex-based eggshell paint, as long as the new material is also latex-based. However, using oil-based paints over latex can cause the underlying latex paint to peel or come off.

That said, if it’s a freshly eggshell painted area you want to paint right over, you can do that. But if the eggshell paint is already dry or it’s an old surface (like your walls, woodwork, or furniture), you will need to prep the surface first. Only then it will be feasible to paint the eggshell over it.

• Clean the surface with a cloth or a broom
• Protect the edges and floor with painter’s tape and drop cloth
• Strip the eggshell finish using a palm sander and 180-grit sandpaper
• Make sure you do not over-sand or abrade the surface. Your goal should be only to remove the existing finish
• Apply the fresh coat of eggshell paint using a roller or a brush (for smaller surfaces or where the roller does not reach)
• Let the freshly applied paint dry and apply a second coat if required for an evener and smoother finish

The Bottom Line

Due to the fact that eggshell finishes can resist stains better than flat, these are often most suitable for outdoors and can also be best used in kitchens, bathrooms, kids’ rooms, and other mid-traffic areas. But because this finish does have a likelihood to leave visible roller lines and overlapping strokes you should avoid it in newer homes with lots of natural light.

The key to getting the right finish with eggshell paints is knowing how to apply them correctly using the right techniques and tools. This means, start with only clean surfaces and do not forget to remove the old coating before you apply the paint with the most suitable roller.