
Gloss vs semi gloss polyurethane wood floors. What finish is recommended for hardwood floors. If youre looking for the drama and appearance of the highest sheen level yet want to invest in hardwood that will hide imperfections and last longer semi gloss wood floors work very well. If you look at these two pictures here the one on left is a semi gloss. Low luster floors are the easiest to care for since they tend to conceal scratches and dust much better than higher gloss finishes and they protect the wood while letting its natural gran come through.
The semi gloss finish will still have certain levels of reflectivity and also offer a similar richness to the grain of most woods. Semi gloss polyurethane is clear shiny and not really recommended for households with pets or small children. Rich polyurethane semi gloss varnish penetrates deep into the grain of the wood and protects it from scuff marks and. Theyre both about the same color but you can see that the floors look very different.
It is actually the base ingredient for both satin and semigloss finishes as well as many others. There are a few that go with the semi gloss and even a couple that end up going with a matte finish. There are 4 levels sheen. The one on the right is a satin.
The choice of finish for hardwood flooring is a personal preference to a degree although there are factors to consider. Most popular hardwood brands carry lines with a semi gloss finish available in a broad range of wood species including dramatic exotic types and traditional domestics. Polyurethane is an oil based resin finish that is commonly applied to wood flooring and furniture. Semi gloss is the perfect choice for mid level traffic rooms where feet will trample continuously.
Polyurethane is applied as topcoat for flooring in order to protect the wood from scratches scuffs and other types of abrasions. The semi gloss finish is a bit shinier in an oil based polyurethane than a waterborne one. The higher gloss level of semi gloss makes it slightly more durable than a satin finish. The shinier you go the more noticeable scratches dents scuff marks and imperfections even dirt on the floor will be.
Semi gloss has a slightly higher luster level than satin. This means more light reflects off your floors. A finish with a sheen level lower than 35 percent is considered a low luster floor.