Hardwood Flooring, Glossy or Dull, What Finish is Better & More Beautiful?

Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however "What finish is better?" is a great question. The only issue is one is not better than the other. Both finishes have pros and cons and depending on you and your home and what rooms you intend on having hardwood in, will determine which finish is best for you.

The newest trend in hardwood flooring finishes seems to be a dull, simulated oil or matte finish with perhaps a wire brush or a hand scrape to it, however there is still a demand for the traditional semi-gloss finish. So the big question is “What finish is better and more beautiful to you?”

I will start with a semi-gloss or (shiny finish). To look in a large room and see that shiny clean hardwood floor with a reflection of the sun coming in from two large windows on either side of the fireplace is many peoples dream. However a shiny dream floor can also turn into a nightmare to a consumer with pets, kids or a consumer that puts a floor like this in their kitchen or bathroom.

A shiny floor is stunning when its clean and unmarked however a shiney or semi-gloss floor will show most scratches, nicks, dings, when the light shines down on it as well as water spots. I have even heard complaints about footprints showing up when someone walks across it. Years ago I had a customer swear there was a deficiency in her finish because she had a dark very glossy bamboo she bought at another store because they told her it would be great for dogs, and believe me they were wrong. I personally cleaned her floor to perfection and after 20 min of her dog walking on it, that floor was a disaster, every time the dog put it's foot down there was another blotchy spot .

If you are a consumer that perhaps is retired with no pets, or have a family but have a living room that rarely gets used you will love the look of a clean glossy floor because the likeliness of it getting scratched, dinged or nicked is highly unlikely.

The simulated oil, or matte finish with a hand-scape or a wire brush gives the consumer a more rustic look, however in the design world it seems rustic is the new contemporary so no matter the style of home these new style seem to fit right in.

The matte finish or dull hardwood flooring scratches every bit as easy as the semi-gloss floor, however it does not seem to show up as much giving the consumer a floor that seems to stay nice longer without having to refinish it as soon as they would if it were a semi-gloss. If our customer is very family oriented and has children playing and dogs running, like at my house, we generally suggest a laminate floor, however if they are stuck on a hardwood we strongly suggest a low luster matte finish.   

Therefor we believe one finish is as good as another and depending on how you the customer lives on it will depend on what product best fits your lifestyle. For more pictures of recent hardwood jobs in Chatham-Kent check out Recent Hardwood Installations on facebook. To see more photos of the latest hardwood trends across North America, check out The Hardwood Flooring Product Board on Pinterest.