it's like stepping on that small piece of rock (no big disturbance) but it's there and you feel it and 1st thing you do is scruff your foot to knock it free. If you didn't get it off you pick your foot up to look and see. A small thing but it's there. You remove it and you're happy. That is probably where I'm at. It's just enough to irritate me. It is quite noticable to my wife also. I have a couple of boxes of flooring left. I think I will see what it looks like to coat it with poly. Maybe do the light steel wool to ruff up the surface a little then as well maybe between coats. 2 or 3 medium coats with plenty of dry time between them. I do fear it will shine to much. I;ll try all this on some of the extra material I have. Thank you for your help.