The satin sheen is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. This hardwood floor sheen has about 40% luster and is easy to keep clean. This level of sheen disperses light and doesn't show all of the imperfections or dirt.
Scratches and scuffs disrupt the finish and stand out against the gloss. Dust, dirt, and pet hair will also show up more clearly. Semi-gloss finish may be more durable than satin, but it still doesn't offer a high level of damage protection. For the best durability, you'll want a high-gloss finish.
The Verdict
However, when applying a finish to your interior hardwood floor, polyurethane is the better option. While varnish provides value in its protection against ultraviolet light and natural durability, it is specifically designed for outdoor surfaces.
Since high gloss is not the best option for high traffic areas in your home, a low gloss finish might be a better choice for those areas. If you want a slighter appearance of high gloss though, and still want a hardwood finish that will last a long time, semi-gloss is your best option.
The less gloss in your floor's finish, the less scratches, dings, and imperfections will show (same goes for dust and dirt!). So if you have a large family, pets, or a high-traffic area in your home, the more matte (the lower the percentage of luster) your floors are, the less damage will show up on your floors.
The pros: Satin and matte finishes are easy to clean and maintain. They conceal dust and scratch marks better than gloss. They are also quite fashionable. The cons: Some customers are a bit disappointed at the lack of sheen when the floors are initially laid (a throwback to when gloss was popular).
While this look remains popular, a matte finish on hardwood floors is on the rise. Matte hardwood floors are buffed for a more natural look and have a low luster sheen. It's easy to see why the matte wood floors style is rising in popularity — it has several benefits that make it an extremely desirable floor choice.
However, keep in mind that a glossy finish can make small scratches and imperfections more noticeable. This type of sheen is not recommended if you have kids or pets that are likely to scratch the floor regularly. Glossy finishes will also show dirt, pet hair and smudges more.
The best option is to use a varnish or lacquer to give the wood a high gloss finish. While varnish can be sprayed or brushed on, lacquer is best applied by simple spraying. Spraying makes the surface seem finer than painting as it doesn't leave any strokes behind.
The matte floors will be least glossy but everyone has their personal preferences. It seems that matte finishes hold up better with pets and children, since they show less wear. If your interested in a matte finished hardwood look check out some of the brands we have on Floorzz.com.
Polyurethanes. The most popular surface finishes are oil-based and water-based polyurethanes. Water-based polyurethane, which can be applied relatively easily, dries quickly (12 hours), has low odor and low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission, and maintains a clear, smooth, shiny finish.
Oil-based polyurethane is durable and scratch-resistant, which makes it the best choice for refinishing wooden floors or furniture that gets a lot of use (kitchen table, we're looking at you). Oil-based polyurethane also handles high heat like a champ, which water-based polyurethane and polycrylic do not.
A natural oil finish is the most traditional treatment for solid wood floors and gives a natural and classic look. Oil needs to be reapplied more often than lacquer, but luckily this is very easy to do.
Most flooring professionals will apply three coats of satin if they are doing a satin polyurethane. Flat sheens are obtained by adding flatteners such as crushed microcrystalline silica or microcrystalline aluminum oxide to the finish.
Satin finishes reflect light more easily than matte finishes, but they aren't as glossy as semi-gloss or glossy finishes. They'll give your wood a shiny look that can make the whole room gleam with style. Matte finishes, on the other hand, give your floors a smooth, dull appearance.
Satin paint is a type of paint that has a medium-sheen finish, making it a great choice for interior woodwork that needs to be painted but is not in perfect condition. Satin paint is less reflective than gloss paint, which means it can help hide small imperfections in your woodwork, such as dents, scratches, or chips.
Lacquer, specifically pre-catalyzed lacquer, is considered by many professional woodworkers to be the best finish for hardwood furniture, in terms of balance between beauty, protective qualities and ease of application and care.
Raw and Natural
The warm inviting tones of a natural raw wood finish brings the outside in and this look is quickly becoming one of the top trends for 2022. Yes, even that very trendy bare wood look can be achieved with Retique It®.
Rainguard Wet Look Sealer enhances and rejuvenates surface color and beautifies with a high gloss, "wet look" finish. Wet Look delivers quality protection for the homeowner that is both water-repellent and wear-resistant and yet easy to apply and safe to use.
Waxy buildup: If the floors were not sealed with a polyurethane finish and rely on a carnauba paste wax to create the shine, the wax can build up and look dull.
An easy way to fill in microscratches and shine wood floors is to polish your floors after mopping. After dusting and spray mopping, use a designated microfiber mop pad to apply polish to wood floors to add shine. Bona floor polish is easy to use and adds a protection and shine with every application.
Satin floors will also keep their appearance longer and will be much easier to maintain. A matte finish, on the other hand, works well to hide imperfections such as scuffs or scratches. As such, matte finishes are popular options for high-activity areas such as busy households with pets or children.
Classic medium-toned browns such as cherrywood, mahogany, oak, maple, walnut, birch wood, and hickory are all timeless colors that never go out of style.
Wide plank floors are making a comeback.
Wide plank is on the rise again, and Broxson notes that recent trends include red and white oak wide plank floors. She says we'll see more light and almost bleached tones and dark espresso colors coming back, as well.