Tough paint for garage walls....?

Just finished final application of mud to sheetrock repair in an attached, fully enclosed garage. What type of paint is most durable and tough for this application? Am I incorrect to think that oil-based enamels are "harder"? Do latexes come in something for this? And flat, semi, gloss? I know there's a lot a personal preference in that last one....

I plan to put up some type of "chair rail" guard to further protect the walls from car doors.

--Bryant

 

Oil base paints do dry to a harder film than latex paints but I'm not sure I'd want to use oil base. Besides the extra odor and drying time, oil base enamel can only be top coated with oil base. Even with oil base enamel on the walls they can still be damaged by a direct hit.

The new waterborne enamels dry almost as hard as oil enamel but they are bit pricey. If it was me, I'd prime the walls with a latex enamel undercoater and then apply a coat or two of a quality latex enamel [the cheaper latex enamels tend to peel if the wall gets damaged] I'd use a satin/eggshell latex enamel - not a lot of sheen but cleans up well. The more sheen the paint has the bigger the likelihood of defects in the wall being visible. The chair rail will offer the most protection.

 

Substantial reply...thank you. --Bryant

 

I have a similar garage and plan to use Zinsser Perma-White interior paint. Used the same on my basement block walls and it's pretty tough. I suspect a good kitchen & bath paint would work fine as well.

 

Zinnser's PermaWhite is some good stuff! it has extra mildewcide [so do K&B paints] all of which are latex enamels. Depending on how things are stored in the garage, mildew may or may not be an issue.