Satin-finish Hardwood Floor

The versatility of a satin-finish hardwood floor

When choosing the finish for a hardwood floor, a satin finish is a truly versatile option. Each type of finish has a certain amount of sheen or luster, which is the amount of light that it reflects. A high-gloss finish will reflect a great deal of light and appear quite shiny, while a matte finish reflects very little light and has a more natural appearance. A satin-finish hardwood floor offers a happy medium. It has a moderate amount of sheen which gives the floor the gleaming appearance of a glossy floor, yet it hides dirt, scratches and scuff marks like a matte floor.

As you are considering finish options, the design consultants at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors can offer expert guidance and knowledgeable assistance. From walking you through the pros and cons of a waxed hardwood floor or a water-based floor finish with various levels of sheen, we can help you design a wide plank floor that will be the perfect reflection of your sense of style and beauty.

What level of sheen is right for your floor?

When working with Carlisle, you’ll have several options for the finish and sheen of your hardwood floor.

Satin finishes are the most common sheen level in hardwood flooring today. With a luster level of around 30-40%, a satin-finish hardwood floor strikes an easy balance between the beautiful shine of a glossy floor and the ease of maintenance that a matte floor offers. Satin finishes hide dirt and scratches reasonably well, and they do not show smudge marks from footprints or scratches from pets like a high-gloss floor might. Yet a satin-finish hardwood floor will still have a clear and bright appearance that highlights the personality of the wood.

If you prefer more shine in your floors, you can opt for a high-gloss or semi-gloss finish. Glossy hardwood floors have a luster level of approximately 70% and reflect a great deal of light. As a result, a high-gloss floor will reveal dirt, dust, scratches and smudges very easily, requiring the surfaces to be kept quite clean. While high-gloss floors are usually seen in places like bowling alleys and gymnasiums, some homeowners choose a high-gloss finish to accent certain areas of a floor or certain exotic hardwoods.

Semi-gloss hardwood floors have a luster level around 55% and are the more practical choice for homeowners who want a very shiny floor. Semi-gloss finishes are often seen in very sleek interior designs – they reflect a great amount of light but are a little easier to keep clean then high-gloss floors.

At the other end of the continuum, matte finishes have a very low luster level, often between 15% and 25%. There are also even lower sheens available today that register between 6-9% which are often referred to as Extra Matte. Both a matte-finish hardwood floor and an Extra Matte is perfect for high-traffic areas or homes with small children as the surface can easily hide scratches, dirt, and debris. Matte hardwood floors are a staple of Scandinavian design. A floor that’s fashioned with hand-scraped edges, wire-brushed texture or other distressing techniques will tend to have a matte finish, as the level of sheen allows the texture and personality of the wood to be appreciated.

A fine selection of hardwoods with satin finish

At Carlisle, you can design a satin-finish hardwood floor with a broad range of hardwoods, grades and finishes.

• Ash floors offer interesting grain patterns with neutral and natural hues that run from very light blonde to rich, nutty brown.
• Birch floors feature grain patterns that range from subtle swirls to highly figured flames along with rich reddish-brown hues in the heartwood and blonde and warm amber in the outer portions.
• Cherry floors have distinctive, flowing grain patterns and glowing red hues that darken over time.
• Hickory floors boast hues of lighter blonde to beige to cocoa brown, with interesting grain patterns.
• Brown Maple floors offer striking variations in color and character along with subtle and consistent grain patterns.
• White Maple floors feature clean and light hues reminiscent of flowing water, and their striking grain patterns offer subtler options to Hickory or Oak.
• Red Oak floors have pinkish-salmon tones in the heartwood, with tight, consistent grain that produces floorboards of exceptional length and width.
• White Oak floors have nutty brown, cocoa hues and dramatic grain patterns.
• Rift and Quartersawn White Oak floors feature exceptionally straight lines in the grain that run the length the plank.
• Walnut floors are known for their complex grain patterns with chocolate hues and auburn undertones.

Why choose a satin-finish hardwood floor from Carlisle?

Carlisle Wide Plank Floors is one of the country’s leading sources of exceptional floors. We’ve been making the finest handcrafted wood floors in America for more than 50 years. Working with a carefully selected group of growers and sawyers, we sustainably harvest the timber for our floors from the parts of the country where each species grows best. Our woodworkers are true artists who live and breathe fine wood and who are equally at home fashioning floors with traditional rustic themes or fashion-forward styles.

When you choose a satin-finish hardwood floor from Carlisle, you’ll work closely with a wide plank specialist who will guide you through your choice of wood, grade, texture, color and finish. The ultimate product: a stunning wide plank floor that will transform your home, delighting and astonishing you for years to come.