Paint Guide • Family-Owned Since 1970 • CSLB #265709
Best Paint Types for Drywall Finishes
Paint does not hide a bad joint. Finish the wall, prime it, then pick a sheen that matches the light in the room.
We Finish the Wall. Your Painter Rolls It.
Ron Hogan Drywall has been family-owned since 1970. We tape, texture, and skim. Walls are left primer-ready unless paint is written into the job. This page is so you and your painter do not undo a good finish with the wrong sheen.
Start With Primer, Not Color
New mud and paper drink paint differently. A PVA or high-build primer evens that out. Skipping primer is how joints flash. Level 5 work needs a primer that can carry the skim. Level 5 primers →
Paint Families
Latex / acrylic (water-based)
The usual interior choice on drywall. Faster dry, easier cleanup, lower odor than oil.
Oil / alkyd
Harder film. Slower dry, more odor. Rarely the first pick on new interior drywall.
Specialty paints
Chalkboard, metallic, and heavy texture coatings are décor. They do not replace taping.
Sheen Is What Shows the Joints
- Flat / matte — hides more. Living rooms and ceilings.
- Eggshell / satin — a little wipeable. Hallways and bedrooms.
- Semi-gloss / gloss — cleans easily. Trim and wet rooms. Harsh on a Level 5 wall in side light.
Dark color plus gloss plus a window is the hardest test. Paint for Level 5 →
Texture and Paint Together
Knockdown and orange peel hide small marks. Smooth Level 4 / 5 needs a better skim and a flatter sheen if the room is bright. Do not use “texture paint” to cover a repair that should have been matched. Texture comparison →
Get the Wall Ready First
1. Finish
Tape, texture, or Level 4 / 5.
2. Prime
Seal the mud before color.
3. Paint
Your painter, unless paint is in our written scope.
Need the finish done? Text (925) 791-9099.
Paint FAQs
Do you sell or rank paint brands?
No. Use a quality interior latex your painter trusts. Brand lists go stale.
Can I paint the same day you finish?
Only if the mud is dry. Ask before you book the painter for the next morning.
Need the Drywall Finished Before Paint?
Call the family-owned Bay Area crew that has been finishing walls since 1970.
Call / Text (925) 791-9099