Gloss vs. Semi Gloss Floor

Measuring Gloss Levels

• The term gloss, or sheen, refers to the amount of light reflected from a floor's finish. The finish itself, and the kind of wood it protects, influence the degree of sheen. A gloss meter measures the amount of reflection from a beam of light striking a floor at a specific angle. A 60-degree angle--the angle at which you view a floor from a standing position--is the gloss-measuring standard. Measuring a very glossy floor from a 20-degree angle, however, better indicates the haze in its finish.

Difference in Gloss Levels

• A floor's reflection level is measured against the black-glass standard of 100 gloss units, or 100 percent luster. Gloss floors measure more than 77 percent luster. Semi-gloss floors fall between 55 and 75 percent. The type of wood in your floor influences the depth of sheen. High-density hardwoods like oak, elm or maple reflect light differently from pine, cypress and other low-density woods.

Gloss Effects

• A floor becomes increasingly noticeable as its gloss measurement number climbs. Gloss floors, with a minimum of 75 percent luster, have the glasslike reflection of bowing alley lanes, ballroom floors or basketball courts. Their high sheen is suitable for commercial settings, with professional maintenance to keep them looking their best. Semi-gloss floors have a slightly subdued gleam. They provide a polished but less dominating decorative tone.

Maintenance

• Homeowners choosing either finish can expect to see dust and dirt showing clearly on their floors. The reflective surfaces also reveal more damage and imperfections from improper sanding than satin- or matte-finished ones. Foot traffic from bare feet or high-heeled shoes, furniture marks, active children, and dog or cat claws all take a toll.

Pre-Finished or Site-Finished

• Wood flooring pre-finished with a gloss or semi-gloss topcoat offers durability and maintenance advantages over flooring given a post-installation finish. Floors pre-finished in a climate-controlled, dust-free environment don't scratch or dent as easily as those finished on-site. A water-based gloss or semi-gloss finish offers better protection for floors finished on-site than an oil-based one. It also dries more quickly, without any unpleasant fumes. Expect an oil finish applied on-site to need recoating in three years; a water-based one typically holds up longer.