Most people choose satin type floor finishes primarily
because of the ease of maintenance. They also
become less noticeable to minor scratching opposed to
finishes with a higher gloss level. No matter what kind
of sheen level is considered most are equal in terms of
durability. Drying and curing times fall into the same
category unless you're comparing
oil based finishes to
water based.
It's also
interesting to note all levels of finish sheens are
slightly different from another. For instance a semi
gloss sheen level may be different from Waterlox to one produced by Bona Kemi. Manufacturers may
also list a percentage in their sheen levels. Some may
call a product gloss with a sheen level of 85% while
another may be lower.
What Is A Sheen Level?
The sheen
calculation is derived by the amount of reflection from
the finish. Not all hardwoods will produce the same
sheen level either; best seen with the photo examples on
this page. In order from top to bottom we have satin,
semi gloss, and high gloss. As a reference, applying to
an exotic
Brazilian Cherry may show differences in
their levels compared to softer hardwood flooring
species because of the inherent makeup of the wood. In addition,
manufacturers may have different application procedures
that can affect a desired appearance.
 Types
Of Sheen Levels -
Satin
Satin
finish levels are most chosen among prefinished flooring
manufacturers and professionals that finish floors on
site. Other terms for this sheen level are low luster
and low gloss. Lower portion of the photo above
illustrates the type of sheen level to be expected.
Semi or Medium Gloss
This
finish type lies in the middle of satin and high gloss.
Shown on the left is a prefinished solid 3/4" Brazilian
Cherry hardwood floor manufactured by BR111. Other
popular prefinished hardwood manufacturers that produce this
level more than others include Lauzon and Mirage.
High Gloss
High gloss
finishes offer a more elegant appearance. These finish types
are more common in commercials settings and can be seen
everyday on basketballs floors and gymnasiums. They will
tend to highlight imperfections including
dust buildup if you're not cleaning often. Other
complaints include visible foot prints by walking in bare
feet. Expect
higher gloss floors to show wear more quickly in high
traffic areas opposed to the previous two.
These
finishes applied on site or to unfinished floors require
a high quality sanding job, otherwise imperfections and
subpar work can
stand out noticeably.
Important Considerations For A Properly Cured Finish
Weather, or
more important, interior conditions can play a
significant role in the curing of any flooring finishes.
Natural air flow will work best. HVAC systems should be
turned off during any finishing procedures as dust can
find it's way into a finish that has not dried properly.
Walking in
bare feet over a newly finished floor that may look dry
can transfer oils creating a dull surface appearance.
For the first 24 hours sock traffic is suggested. Keep
the shoes at the door. Maintain a proper curing
temperature or in the range of 70 degrees for at least
seven days. To be safe, the use of ceiling fans operated
at lower speed should only be considered after the first
24 hours with oil finishes.
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