Over the 20 years I’ve been working in people’s homes I’ve noticed that everyone has a different take when it comes to how much gloss they want to see on their hardwood floors.
Some folks like to see a high or semi-gloss that looks clean and vibrant. Others prefer a matte or satin finish with little to no gloss at all!
What seems to always be foremost in their minds is which will be easiest to clean and maintain…
Truth of it is….is…..the more gloss you have on your floors, the more the wear and tear will show. A higher gloss can illuminate scratches and knicks you’ll get throughout the years. Any home with pets and kids running around should definitely avoid a higher gloss..maybe even a semi…
The most common gloss levels available are:
* High Gloss – Pretty self-explanatory. Like a mirror on the floor…
* Semi-Gloss – A nice in between. Gives the floor a nice clean look but will still be easy to maintain.
* Satin – This is the most sought-after finish lately. Great for older/rustic floors or any floor with a grey or dark stain. Does well at hiding wear.
* Matte -No sheen whatsoever. This finish works well for those looking for that muted/unfinished wood look.
Beyond the tone of the stain, another consideration might be how much natural light the house receives. If a house has darker walls and little natural light coming in they may do better with at least a semi-gloss to help distribute some light around so things don’t look so drab.
BTW, I had a huge response from my post regarding the LED finishing process we now offer. That particular finish is very versatile as you can have spot repairs done even months/years after the job is done. That is not possible for standard urethane finishes. Also comes in all the standard gloss-levels.
Just to clarify, gloss-level in no way effects the durability of a finish…which is a misconception some folks have..
In summery, if you like a little pizazz on your hardwood floor then go with a nice sheen to give you that bright look. Now, if you’ve gone dark or grey and have much traffic on your floors, best to stick with a satin or matte.