When you offer a luxury home-away-from-home experience, your guests expect perfection. But traffic volume inevitably leads to wear and tear—and the wood and finish you use dramatically impact the visibility and depth of scratches.
In this article, we'll look at the best sheen for hospitality furniture and how to minimize visible damage to your wood surfaces while offering an amazing guest experience.
In this article, we'll look at the best sheen for hospitality furniture and how to minimize visible damage to your wood surfaces while offering an amazing guest experience.
What Causes Wood Scratches?
Scratches on wood floors, tables, and furniture are a common problem. They occur when sharp or abrasive objects slide along the wood surface, causing damage. Common causes include rings, keys, grit under a mug or glass, or metal sewed into luggage or clothing.
Even the most durable wood surfaces will eventually experience some scratching, but you can minimize their visibility through your choice of woods and finishes.
The Hardness of Wood Makes a Difference
The J anka test for wood measures the force needed to embed a .444-inch steel ball halfway into the wood. This is an essential consideration in hospitality furniture because softer woods allow deeper scratches. Instead of simply scratching the finish, a deeper scratch may "dent" softer wood, crushing the wood fibers and making it harder to keep it looking great.
For example, red oak is harder on the J anka scale than yellow birch, but heart pine is harder than black walnut, even though pine (not heart) is a relatively softer wood. Some very hard woods, like maple or hickory, can be susceptible to water, an additional consideration for some hospitality furnishings
The Four Wood Finish Sheens
There are many levels of gloss, with each measured by a numeric value. The types of sheen fall into four general categories:
§ Matte (flat): Very low sheen with little to no reflective qualities but also tends to be less durable.
§ Satin: Reflects a minimal amount of light.
§ Semigloss: A shiny finish that reflects more light than the satin finish. Easy to clean and more durable than matte.
§ Gloss: High-gloss sheen offers the most drama. The increased concentration of resins reflects a lot of light but can also amplify imperfections. It is also easy to clean, but damage and marks are evident
How Does Sheen Impact Scratches?
While there are advantages and disadvantages to every level of sheen, the higher light deflection of the shinier finishes makes scratches more visible. With a gleaming and reflective surface, every mark is easier to see.
A lower sheen finish already deflects light in many directions. This low reflectivity makes the scratch less obvious to the eye when a scratch occurs. At the same time, a very lowsheen surface can be less durable
Higher Sheen Wood Finishes Are More Difficult To Repair
There are advantages to using a glossy sheen on your furniture, but it's important to understand that these finishes are more difficult to repair.
Repairing higher-sheen wood finishes requires extensive sanding and finishing expertise. Additionally, repairs need to be performed in a favorable environment. Otherwise, dust or surface contamination may create imperfections during the repair
How To Choose the Right Wood Finish Sheen for Your Project
Sheen is defined as the amount of light reflected from a surface, but the finish you choose for your furnishings will also impact the visibility of damage over time. For example, lacquers tend to be more scratch-resistant than varnishes because they adhere better to the surface of the wood.
As you select the right sheen for your design, it's vital to consider its use and the amount of traffic it will experience. A high-sheen finish can be easier to clean, but it will show scratches much more quickly than a low-sheen, matte finish.
For example, a wood sconce that will be out of the way and more for decoration than use might do very well with a high gloss finish, while a table top that will see heavy use may need a beautiful and luxurious satin finish for a natural and more durable appearance. On some surfaces, clear protective layers over the finish can further deflect visible wear and tear, creating a durable wood finish that looks great for years to come
How To Choose the Right Wood Finish Sheen for Your Project
There is no single most durable wood finish for all surfaces and purposes. Selecting the best sheen for hospitality furniture requires a close look at its use and location in the hotel. Our team of experts is here to help you choose the suitable wood, finish, and sheen for your project. If you have any questions, connect with us
Scratches on wood floors, tables, and furniture are a common problem. They occur when sharp or abrasive objects slide along the wood surface, causing damage. Common causes include rings, keys, grit under a mug or glass, or metal sewed into luggage or clothing.
Even the most durable wood surfaces will eventually experience some scratching, but you can minimize their visibility through your choice of woods and finishes.
The Hardness of Wood Makes a Difference
The J anka test for wood measures the force needed to embed a .444-inch steel ball halfway into the wood. This is an essential consideration in hospitality furniture because softer woods allow deeper scratches. Instead of simply scratching the finish, a deeper scratch may "dent" softer wood, crushing the wood fibers and making it harder to keep it looking great.
For example, red oak is harder on the J anka scale than yellow birch, but heart pine is harder than black walnut, even though pine (not heart) is a relatively softer wood. Some very hard woods, like maple or hickory, can be susceptible to water, an additional consideration for some hospitality furnishings
The Four Wood Finish Sheens
There are many levels of gloss, with each measured by a numeric value. The types of sheen fall into four general categories:
§ Matte (flat): Very low sheen with little to no reflective qualities but also tends to be less durable.
§ Satin: Reflects a minimal amount of light.
§ Semigloss: A shiny finish that reflects more light than the satin finish. Easy to clean and more durable than matte.
§ Gloss: High-gloss sheen offers the most drama. The increased concentration of resins reflects a lot of light but can also amplify imperfections. It is also easy to clean, but damage and marks are evident
How Does Sheen Impact Scratches?
While there are advantages and disadvantages to every level of sheen, the higher light deflection of the shinier finishes makes scratches more visible. With a gleaming and reflective surface, every mark is easier to see.
A lower sheen finish already deflects light in many directions. This low reflectivity makes the scratch less obvious to the eye when a scratch occurs. At the same time, a very lowsheen surface can be less durable
Higher Sheen Wood Finishes Are More Difficult To Repair
There are advantages to using a glossy sheen on your furniture, but it's important to understand that these finishes are more difficult to repair.
Repairing higher-sheen wood finishes requires extensive sanding and finishing expertise. Additionally, repairs need to be performed in a favorable environment. Otherwise, dust or surface contamination may create imperfections during the repair
How To Choose the Right Wood Finish Sheen for Your Project
Sheen is defined as the amount of light reflected from a surface, but the finish you choose for your furnishings will also impact the visibility of damage over time. For example, lacquers tend to be more scratch-resistant than varnishes because they adhere better to the surface of the wood.
As you select the right sheen for your design, it's vital to consider its use and the amount of traffic it will experience. A high-sheen finish can be easier to clean, but it will show scratches much more quickly than a low-sheen, matte finish.
For example, a wood sconce that will be out of the way and more for decoration than use might do very well with a high gloss finish, while a table top that will see heavy use may need a beautiful and luxurious satin finish for a natural and more durable appearance. On some surfaces, clear protective layers over the finish can further deflect visible wear and tear, creating a durable wood finish that looks great for years to come
How To Choose the Right Wood Finish Sheen for Your Project
There is no single most durable wood finish for all surfaces and purposes. Selecting the best sheen for hospitality furniture requires a close look at its use and location in the hotel. Our team of experts is here to help you choose the suitable wood, finish, and sheen for your project. If you have any questions, connect with us