Semi-Gloss Vs. High-Gloss Finish for Hardwood Floors

Sheen

• The finishing coat is imperative for extending the longevity of your floor. It blocks moisture and keeps the wood protected from everyday wear and tear that leads to scratches and dents. The finishing coat refers to the amount of sheen or reflective quality of your floor. The higher the gloss, the shinier and more reflective the floor will look. The protective qualities are just as important as the aesthetic values of the finishes. Both semi-gloss and high gloss will provide a sufficient amount of protection for your floor.

Semi-Gloss

• A semi-gloss finish falls in the middle of the road. It's not as flat as the non-reflective quality of a matte finish but it is not as shiny as high-gloss. This coat is ideal for someone who doesn't want the floor to stand out against their walls too much. People painting in an eggshell or flat finish paint, for example, may opt for the less glossy semi-gloss finish. Semi-gloss can hide imperfections in the flooring. This makes it an appropriate choice for floors that have been refinished several times and have natural faults in the wood.

High-Gloss

• Appropriate for new flooring, the high-gloss will highlight the floor and bring it to the forefront of your room design. High-gloss finishes are most often seen on basketball courts. Finishing the floor with a high-gloss coating will make your floor look like glass when light reflects upon it. The downside is that high-gloss finishes are tougher to repair, and once the finish starts to wear in high traffic areas, it will be more noticeable than other finishes.

Pros Vs. Cons

• High-gloss is most often seen in commercials settings where frequent cleaning occurs. High-gloss floors show dust buildup much faster than semi-gloss. It also shows imperfections much easier. The high-gloss also wears faster opposed to semi-gloss, which handles high traffic areas better. Semi-gloss requires less frequent cleanings to look acceptable because it doesn't reflect as much light. Both, however, have the ability to highlight imperfections, but this effect is less with semi-gloss. The choice of semi-gloss is a nice middle of the pack settlement between the hardwood floor finishes.