It is easy to make the mistake of assuming that a shiny hardwood floor is a clean, freshly polished one. However, as an Amherst, NH resident recently discovered, this is actually because of the gloss level of the hardwood floor, and has nothing to do with cleanliness. This homeowner was always frustrated by the lack of sheen of her hardwood kitchen floors. Not matter how much mopping and polish she used, she couldn’t achieve that glossy shine that she had seen in other homes.
It isn’t surprising that this homeowner could not achieve the glossy hardwood look she was striving to achieve, because her hardwood floors were a very low gloss level right from the start.
Hardwood Gloss Level Makes a Difference
When installing hardwood floors, one of the many factors to consider is the gloss level of the floor. The floors of this Amherst resident were a very low luster, at 15% gloss. Growing in popularity, this gives the appearance of an almost oil-rubbed finish. This is a great option for floors that will see a lot of wear and tear, as it is ideal for hiding scuff marks or scratches.
A 50% gloss is considered a high sheen. This creates a sleek, modern look. However, it does show scuffs and scratches more prominently. A 100% gloss is the highest sheen possible, and is not seen in homes. This full sheen would essentially create a floor that would act as a mirror.
When choosing your hardwood floor’s gloss level, you are able to choose any percentage on the scale. If you aren’t sure what gloss level is right for you, samples of the various levels can help to make this decision.
Ultimately, this homeowner installed new hardwood floors with a higher gloss level, and her days of work polishing the floors to achieve that just cleaned shine are gone!