What is Gloss Finish?

Gloss is a term used to describe how much light a specific paint reflects. The reflectivity of a given paint is also known as the sheen level. There are a variety of paint finishes, and each finish reflects more or less light. Gloss finishes have the highest sheen level and, therefore, reflect the most light. On the other hand, a flat or matte finish has little to no sheen. A satin finish has more sheen and reflectivity than a flat finish, but not as much as a semi-gloss or gloss finish.

Typically, a paint finish with a higher sheen level is more stain resistant and easier to clean. As a result, it is common to find semi-gloss or gloss finishes in high traffic rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, etc. However, paints with a higher sheen do not hide imperfections well. Chips or holes in the paint will be more noticeable when contrasted against a gloss finish.