Whether you’re choosing a new floor or refinishing your existing hardwood flooring, the type of finish you select on will have a decided impact on the completed design. Aesthetics is always a factor, but it’s important to take maintenance and lifestyle into consideration.
What Hardwood Finish Options Are Available
The spectrum of finishes for hardwood goes from matte to high shine, or glossy, not to mention satin and semi-gloss. No matter what your preferences or lifestyle needs are there’s a finish you’ll love. Matte has essentially no shine at all. Satin has some shine but doesn’t reflect as much light as semi-gloss. High shine, or glossy, finishes reflect the most amount of light.
We recommend looking at all the finishes side by side so you know which one you prefer based on appearance alone. In an ideal world, your first choice matches your needs as far as cleaning, durability, and maintenance are concerned. If it doesn’t, don’t worry – that’s why all four options exist.
If possible, we always recommend bringing a sample into your home to see how the space’s lighting – both natural and not – will affect the look of the finish.
Choosing the Perfect Finish
A high shine finish is the most durable and the most likely to show any scratches or dents. In other words, a high shine finish is harder to scratch, but if you do the damage will be more obvious. Any loose dust or pet hair will also be the most obvious on the glossier finishes. If you don’t have pets or small children and want the finish that will last the longest, high shine may be the finish for you. If you love the look and durability, but need a floor that’s a little more forgiving a semi-gloss is a great compromise. You still get a durable finish, but it will be more forgiving.
On the other end of the spectrum, a matte finish is the least durable, but also masks any minor damages the best. It has a more rustic or traditional appearance. If your home is high-activity and you happen to prefer a more modern look, a satin finish might be best.
One of the best things about hardwood floors is that you can refinish your floor for a fresh look or when your needs change. When you’re ready to choose your new floor or finish we’re here to help. Give us a call!
