Satin Vs. Semigloss to Refinish Hardwood

Stain Appearance

• The average person is unlikely to be able to tell whether a hardwood floor is finished in satin or semigloss stain, which makes the decision to choose one over the other largely unnecessary. Both types of finish have some shine, but neither satin nor semigloss creates the high shine common in gloss or full gloss finishes. Conversely, satin and semigloss both have more shine than a matte finish. Most stains are available in both satin and semigloss.

Paint Appearance

• Though hardwood is ideal to cover with stain, rather than paint, you can choose to paint a hardwood floor if the floor is old and you want to give it a fresh, new appearance. As with stain, noticing the difference between satin and semigloss paint is nearly impossible. Both styles of paint provide some shine but not a high gloss appearance.

Protection

• When selecting a stain to finish your hardwood floor, it's important to keep the condition of the floor in mind. Purchase stain that is durable enough to keep the hardwood protected but light enough to allow the wood's grain to show through. According to stain producer Minwax, satin and semigloss stains have equal durability, so if protection is a concern, using either style of stain is adequate.

Refinishing

• Before applying the satin or semigloss stain that you have chosen, sand the previous finish off the hardwood so that the new finish will adhere properly. Use a random-orbit or belt sander to make the job go quickly. Wear ear and eye protection while sanding and open doors and windows around the room to keep the area ventilated. If you plan to paint the floor, you only need to scuff up the previous finish. If you plan to stain the floor, the wood needs to be completely exposed.