When it comes to hardwood flooring, there are several different sheen finishes you can choose from to give your flooring an additional stylistic touch. In this article, we are going to discuss the four primary types of sheens to help you decide on the best option for your hardwood flooring.
What Is Sheen?
Sheen is essentially the measurement of your floor’s luster pertaining to how your flooring reflects light off of its surface. Sheen can be subtle, reflecting a small portion of the light hitting its surface, and it can also be highly reflective, giving your flooring a noticeably shiny aesthetic.
The Four Levels of Floor Finish Sheens
Matte
Matte finish provides the lowest level of sheen, possessing around a 25% luster. Matte sheen finishes are ideal for those who want their flooring to present a more natural look. This level of sheen is also low maintenance and can aid in hiding imperfections that may arise more frequently in high traffic areas of your home.
Satin
Satin sheen finish is characterized as having around 40% luster, providing your hardwood flooring with a subtle yet visible shine. Satin finishes also happen to be the most popular choice for homeowners in many parts of the US. This may be due to the fact that satin sheen finishes can look stunning on nearly any shade of hardwood flooring, from the darkest hues to the brightest tones dependent on the characteristics of the specific flooring material it is applied to. Hardwood floors with a satin sheen finish are relatively low maintenance and are perfect for any area of your home.
Semi-Gloss
Possessing around 55% luster, semi-gloss sheen finishes provide your flooring with a more dramatic shine. And while hardwood flooring with a semi-gloss finish may require some extra maintenance, it is well worth considering if you are looking to accentuate a certain area of your home.
Glossy
A glossy finish has around 70% luster and is by far the shiniest of all sheen levels. For a good representation of a glossy sheen finish, picture the flooring of a bowling alley or an indoor basketball court. Glossy flooring generally needs to be cleaned often in order to maintain its brilliant luster.
Choosing The Right Level of Sheen
The right level of sheen really depends on the specific look you want to achieve. Everyone’s preferences are different, so the “right” sheen level is whichever one you think looks best in your home. At E_M Custom Flooring & Installations, our flooring experts can work with you directly to help decide on the perfect level of sheen for your hardwood flooring installation. Contact us today or stop by our showroom so we can assist you on your upcoming flooring project.
Learn More: The Differences Between Polyurethane and Wax Floor Finishes
