Since high gloss is not the best option for high traffic areas in your home, a low gloss finish might be a better choice for those areas. If you want a slighter appearance of high gloss though, and still want a hardwood finish that will last a long time, semi-gloss is your best option.
The satin sheen is the most popular finish for hardwood floors. This hardwood floor sheen has about 40% luster and is easy to keep clean. This level of sheen disperses light and doesn't show all of the imperfections or dirt.
“It's the perfect choice for floors,” says Alison. For sheen, semi-gloss is the hands-down choice; high-gloss can look garish or plastic-y, while flat or eggshell will attract dirt. The secret to a great floor-painting job, like any paint job, is in careful prep.
When finishing a hardwood floor, you have the option of using sealants with higher or lower sheen or gloss. Sheen refers to the amount of luster in the sealant – essentially, the amount of light that the floor will reflect.
The gloss of a satin finish disperses light and more easily conceals dirt, dust, and pet hair. Gleaming satin floors will also maintain their new appearance longer than other types of finishes. A matte finish, on the other hand, works well to hide imperfections such as scuffs, dents, or scratches.
The more gloss you want, the more reflective your hardwood will be and vice versa. Semi-Gloss is the highest of the three and will give your floor a shiny appeal. Satin is considered a medium gloss, and the most popular, giving hardwood a glossy tone that isn't considered over the top.
Rust-Oleum 7200 PU Floor Paint is our choice for the best paint for wooden floors. The hard-wearing solvent-based paint is designed for application to a range of floored surfaces, including wood & concrete.
For best results, go with a standard oil-based porch and floor paint or oil-based enamel. These aren't exactly the greenest products on the market, but they'll stand up to foot traffic better than any other paint. Other types of paints offer a tradeoff – they'll have less fumes, but they won't be as durable.
We recommend avoiding latex- or water-based paints, as these kinds of paint have much less durability and will likely not be resistant against chemicals, moisture, foot traffic, and so on. Typically an epoxy-based paint is recommended for floors (see below), or a paint with a polyurethane base.
Polyurethanes
Solvent-borne polyurethanes are one of the most commonly used timber floor finishes, and offer the highest durability of all coatings.
Ceramic tiles flooring
It is the most popular type of finish and is used extensively in kitchen and bathroom.
Gloss Paint
It is an excellent choice for interior woodwork that is in good condition, as it can help accentuate the grain of the wood and bring out its natural beauty. One of the biggest advantages of gloss paint is its durability. Gloss paint is very resistant to wear and tear, and it is easy to clean and maintain.
Although these floors may easily show marks, they are very easy to clean! With daily maintenance, whether you use a feather duster or a dry mop, your floors should look spotless and shiny. Spot cleaning areas that see higher foot traffic is also a quick cleaning tip.
While you can paint hardwood floors, it might not be the best home DIY option. Painting hardwood floors is the type of personalized home renovation that takes time and preparation. Painting could be a good option if your floors are too damaged to be sanded or stained.
Alexander-Perez says a well-painted floor can last for a decade or even longer. “There's so much fear around painting a floor that somehow it will fade or chip,” she said. “But most of the time, if it's done right, the fade over time just makes it look even better.”
The single biggest reason we consider painting wood floors, is to extend their life. When hardwood floors are 100+ years old and refinishing is questionable, painting is a great alternative. It's also an inexpensive alternative to replacing flooring, and less work, too.
Most paint brands offer a "floor enamel" or a specific paint formulated for floors. Remember to select the finish you want, whether matte, glossy, etc. Let the paint dry. Depending upon the paint and color you're using, you may need to apply a second coat.
All unfinished wood or bare wood surfaces should always be primed prior to painting. This goes for both interior and exterior paint projects. The reason you cannot skip bare wood priming is that wood is porous and has a grainy surface. Because primer contains high solids, it helps fill grains in the new wood.
Semigloss: Provides a sleek, radiant sheen that's great for cabinets and trim, high-traffic areas and high-moisture areas like bathrooms or crown molding/trim. High Gloss: Creates a brilliant, shiny appearance with a glass-like finish. Great for added vibrance on surfaces like cabinets, doors, and trim.
The most durable and easy to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for areas that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors.
Ultimately, the decision of what sheen to use for hardwood flooring comes down to the individual's personal preference. Both satin and matte finishes have their pros and cons, but there isn't one that is necessarily superior to the other.
The Cons of a Gloss Finish
While gloss kitchens are easier to clean, they also need to be cleaned more often as those dirty marks and fingerprints will show up more easily. Another downside, particularly with acrylic gloss units, is that they're quite easy to scratch.
Since a gloss finish reflects light and can accentuate blemishes, avoid using it on areas that are not completely smooth.