Most clear finishes like polyurethane come in three types of sheen: gloss, semi-gloss and satin. Think of sheen in terms of “shininess.” There are more or less, three types of sheen: gloss, semi-gloss and satin. Sheen will have an impact on the appearance of your floor so it is important you know what is the look you are going for.
GLOSS:
Gloss is the shiniest sheen and has a “wet” look. It is often thought of as having a very high-end appearance (think French Polish). However, it can be very difficult to achieve satisfactory results with gloss when finishing on-site due to its high amount of reflection. Gloss is harder to maintain because it shows dust, scratches and scuffs more easily.
SEMI-GLOSS:
Although semi-gloss is less shiny than gloss, it still maintains a fair amount of shine. Many homeowners choose semi-gloss for its compromise of shine and maintainability.
SATIN:
Satin has the least shine of the three and gives floors what’s called a matte appearance. This is also a popular choice for homeowners. It has a silky appearance and is the easiest to maintain out of all three finishes. Satin has a wonderful ability to “hide” small surface scratches and scuffs.