The difference in one sentence
Level 4 coats the joints and fasteners; Level 5 adds a thin skim of compound across the entire surface so the whole wall is the same material.
Both should be flat. The difference isn't flatness, it's uniformity of absorption, which is what determines whether joints show through paint.
Where Level 4 is the right call
Bedrooms, hallways, closets, and most interior walls with normal lighting and flat or eggshell paint. A well-executed Level 4 in those rooms is invisible, and paying for Level 5 there buys nothing you'll ever see.
The vast majority of homes we finish in Barrow County are Level 4 throughout, and that's the correct spec.
Where Level 5 earns its cost
Great rooms with tall windows where afternoon light rakes across the wall. Ceilings under can lights. Any wall getting satin or semi-gloss. Long uninterrupted walls in a stairwell or entry where there's nothing to break up the plane.
Dark, saturated paint colors also show variation more than light ones, which pushes those walls toward Level 5.
What it costs and why
Level 5 adds material and, more significantly, another full pass of application, drying, and sanding across every square foot rather than just the joints. On a whole house it's a meaningful line item and it adds days to the schedule.
A common and sensible compromise is Level 5 in the rooms with hard light and Level 4 everywhere else. We'll walk the plan with you and mark which is which.
Seeing the difference in person
If you're deciding, ask to see both in raking light rather than in a photo. A photograph flattens exactly the effect you're trying to evaluate. We'll show you finished work in both specs.
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