Hardwood: Choosing Your Sheen

Zoe Eisele

Image: floorzz.com

There are so many different types of hardwood. Engineered vs Solid, Textured vs Smooth. Then you have the different types of wood, including but not limited to: oak, walnut, hickory, and maple, some of which have more specific subspecies, and all of which have different grains and color variants. With all of these options to choose from, it can be easy to overlook the sheen, the amount of shine or gloss your floor shows.
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Here are the different types, and what you can expect from each.

Matte

1. Easy to Clean/Maintain
   
2. Easier to Hide Scratches/Dents
   
3. Casual, Natural Look
   
4. No Shine
   

Satin

1. Easy to Clean
   
2. Happy Medium Between Matte and Gloss
   
3. Most Popular Look, “New” Look
   
4. Even Shine
   

Semi-Gloss

1. Need to Clean More Often
   
2. Easy to Notice Scratches/Dents/Dirt
   
3. Formal Look
   
4. Strong Shine - makes rooms appear larger and brighter
   

Glossy

1. Need to Clean More Often
2. Easier to Notice Scratches/Dents/Dirt
3. Formal Look
4. Stronger Shine - makes rooms appear larger and brighter​

As a general rule of thumb, your hardwood should be cleaned at least once a week in active areas, or monthly in lower traffic areas, depending on the amount of residents, pets, and overall movement in your space. A dust mop should be sufficient for daily living, but alternate methods of cleaning may be necessary for spills or other less common incidents.
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As for gloss floors, a typical active family will need to re-coat their floors every 2-5 years, but as soon as you see the gloss starting to dull, you should look into re-coating. You have the option to either coat the entire floor, or just the high traffic areas, just be aware that the overall appearance of the floor will differ if not fully re-coated.