Gloss levels is a fun topic for hardwood flooring. Its kinda hard to explain without pictures in person, but online its easy! Check out the pictures below.
We sell cheap hardwood flooring and often suggest customers to go with a matte finish. Why? Because it shows less wear and tear from abuse in the long run.
Can glossy and semi gloss finishes last a long time? Sure! But I'm cheap, and I want to replace flooring as little as possible in my home! But many people want the specific look of a finish over the promise of longevity. Lets get into sheen levels and gloss measuring!
A Brief History On Hardwood Flooring Finishes
Choices on gloss levels on hardwood flooring have been around for decades. Terms like Gloss, Semi-Gloss, or Matte are names of finishes that are marketed in a can, but those were the only terms that we had available back when all of the hardwood flooring was finished on site by skilled labor that would first sand a floor with various grits of sandpaper, then apply 2-3 coats of finish, possibly after the application of a stain.
I can remember my brother suggesting to people that they could use Gloss for the first 2 coats to give the finish depth and clarity, then use a semi or Matte for the topcoat. Why would he do this?
The answer to that question will help us to understand which gloss is best for our wood floor application.
What Are Sheen Levels?
Gloss, or sheen, on hardwood flooring tell us how much light is reflected back to our vision. 
High gloss finish will be shiny and clear, and are very impressive when they are spotless and unscratched.
Lower glossed finishes, like Semi-Gloss and Matte, are less shiny. Why would anyone want a less shiny floor, if a Gloss hardwood looks so impressive?
Remember how I said the Gloss finish will look great when spotless and unscratched? What about when they are dirty or have a few scratches? That is where the problem lies, as any dust, dirt, or mars in the finish will be visible from across the room.
If those same spots or scratches are on a Semi-Gloss finished floor they will be much less noticeable. Matte finishes are even better, and offer a great way to hide potential wear patterns.
Glossy, Semi-Gloss, or Matte Hardwood Floors?
As I said earlier, these terms are relative to finishes that are purchased in a can, be it a water-based or oil-based polyurethane. Whether you are using the classic Minwax finishes, or the more upscale products from Bona or Las-N-Last, the sheen level will be visible on the outside of the jug, and will be a decision that you have to make when the finishing process starts.
Prefinished Hardwood Floor Gloss Levels
Prefinished hardwood floors typically use either the terms High Gloss or Low Gloss, while what we would consider a medium gloss doesn’t get a name. It just exists!
At ReallyCheapFloors.com we prefer to use the number that represents the percentage of gloss level. These numbers are given to us by our manufacturing partners and they go a long way to helping our customers better understand the gloss levels.
Until a few years ago we had basically 2 choices in sheen for prefinished hardwoods- glossy, or 70% gloss, or the regular low gloss, which would be around a 50% gloss. As only about 10% of the prefinished hardwood flooring that was sold nationwide was High Gloss, the vast majority of flooring customers never discussed gloss level. They just expected it to be the lower gloss level.
Lower Glosses Gain Popularity
That changed several years ago when companies started offering lower glossed products. Originally these 10-20% gloss floors were limited to the more Rustic floors, like Red Oak or Hickory. Later we saw the low gloss finishes applied to more contemporary flooring like Select Maple.
Now our partners such as Bruce and Somerset offer a range of gloss levels on many different species, grades, and surface textures. Hand scraped and wire brushed floors commonly come with a 10-20% gloss. That makes those floors extremely unlikely to show a change in appearance due to abrasive wear for many years, giving a homeowner a floor that will maintain its original look far longer than a smooth hardwood floor with a higher gloss.
Want Some Help Choosing?
The best way to compare the different gloss levels is to look at the actual flooring, and compare the different finishes under different types of lighting. A Glossy floor will look very different in the non-directional light in your home after dark than it will with bright sunlight entering your space via large windows. Please do not hesitate to call us for free samples sent to your home that will help you to make the right flooring decision for your home.
