Neighbor called my reno a 'cheap flip job' - made me rethink my whole approach

Last spring I was finishing up a basement suite in my Vancouver duplex and an older guy from down the street walked by while I was painting. He said the place looked like a 'cheap flip job' because I used flat paint everywhere even in the bathroom. At first I was super annoyed but then I realized he was kinda right. I had been using the same can of flat white for the whole place to save money and time. After that I swapped to a semi-gloss in the kitchen and bathroom areas even though it cost me an extra $40 for two gallons. The paint holds up way better against steam and grease now and the flat in the living room actually looks clean instead of patchy. Has anyone else had a stranger give honest feedback that actually helped?

2 comments

2 Comments

hill.jade1mo ago

Oh man I actually kinda disagree here lol. Flat paint can look really good in bathrooms if you use the right brand and seal it properly. I think the neighbor was just being a busybody and you ended up spending extra money you didn't really need to.

mary_schmidt1mo ago

Fair point about sealing it properly, but flat paint is still more porous than eggshell or satin even with a good seal. That extra moisture in a bathroom will find its way through over time, especially around the shower. I've seen sealed flat paint peel up in less than a year in a busy bathroom. Not saying your way can't work, just that the neighbor might have saved her a bigger headache down the road.