Wood Floor Finishes: Matte Versus High Gloss

Timber floors provide a classy, stylish, sophisticated and elegant look to your home, and they suit both modern and classic interiors beautifully. In fact, no other flooring type quite compares to quality timber when it comes to durability and added value for your home. There is a vast range of timber types, colours, and looks to choose from, and one decision you’ll need to make relates to the types of finishes available.

The finish on your timber floor helps to protect it from spills, scratches, foot traffic, wear and tear, and other damage. The finish will eventually wear down over time and require refinishing. Finish materials may be penetrating oil, shellac, wax, polyurethane, and moisture-cured urethane. But ultimately, the choice you make relating to types of finishes is based on how the floor will look and feel.

Types of Wood Flooring Finishes

Timber floors, whether they are hardwood or engineered wood, may be finished in a variety of ways. The main options are matte finish and gloss finish, with the satin finish and semi-gloss finish falling between these.

These finishes all impact how shiny or lustrous the floor appears, and how much light is reflected from the floor at an angle of sixty degrees. This is the angle at which people view the floor while standing on it. The glossier the floor, the more light is reflected. Different people have different preferences when it comes to lustre, hence the finish they select.

Matte Finish versus High Gloss Finish

Matte finish

A Matte finish is currently a very popular option. It has a lustre of 25%, which is considered a flat finish. Offering a modern, stunning yet casual look, it protects floors from the movement of furniture, toys, and walking and provides the feel of natural raw wood underfoot. It is best at hiding imperfections in the wood and is ideal for homes with children, pets, and high traffic. Its low-gloss finish hides normal wear and tear very well.

Satin finish

A Satin finish is not glossy but offers 40% lustre. Contemporary yet classic in appearance, it is a great all-round option favoured by many and it will not date. It is easy to keep clean and hides all but major imperfections.

Semi-gloss finish

A semi-gloss finish is a good option for anyone who wants a glossy finish without a high level of maintenance. It offers 55% lustre.

High gloss finish

A High Gloss finish provides a very shiny, reflective finish for your timber floors with a lustre of 70%. It highlights the unique details in the floorboards and provides a very attractive feature to a home, especially if exotic hardwood flooring is chosen. It is classically beautiful and very sophisticated. The glossier a floor finish, the more light is reflected.

There is a drawback, however, as dust, dirt and other debris show up much more on a high gloss finish, as does any imperfection in the floor. It is more prone to wear in heavy traffic areas, and it is very high maintenance, requiring cleaning more frequently than other finish types. Even footprints from walking barefoot (which is best for the floor) will show up very obviously on a high gloss floor. It’s probably not ideal for a home with children or pets unless you’re committed to very frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Which timber floor finish is right for you?

At the end of the day, the types of finishes available and the selection you make will not affect the durability of your floor or its finish – it is purely an aesthetic choice.

Your local timber flooring specialists on the Sunshine Coast

If you are looking for an engineered wood floor, with a high gloss finish or a matte finish Impact Floors on the Sunshine Coast is your superior one-stop-shop for premium-quality and outstanding choices. We have the experience and expertise to offer a vast array of flooring options and we can help you choose the best to suit your home and your taste. Come and visit our showroom to learn more, or get in touch today.