Prefinished hardwood flooring is more common and in recent years, becoming more popular in both residential and commercial applications. Previously, unfinished hardwood flooring was the mainstream option in the industry. Now, many homeowners are caught up with what might be the better option, especially since both prefinished and unfinished wood flooring has its pros and cons. With that in mind, we at Mike’s Custom Flooring would like to share those pros and cons so you can better decide which option is better for your home.
Prefinished Hardwood Floors
Prefinished wood flooring is factory-finished hardwood flooring; meaning that each board is coated with polyurethane before it is stocked on the shelf.
Pros of Prefinished Wood Flooring: Installing prefinished hardwood is fairly quick in comparison, as the sanding and finishing process is already complete. Since the curing process is done beforehand, after it is installed there is little concern about needing to be overly-cautious. In this case, after it is installed, floors can be immediately walked on. Other benefits are:
– The boards coloring and staining is more uniformed and consistent.
– You can invest in resisting minor surface damage with specialized pre-treatments such as anti-scratch coating.
– Prefinished is the most convenient and easiest option.
– They have exceptionally high durability.
Cons of Pre-finished Wood Floors: Customer preferences are limited when it comes to grains, colors, widths and lengths, among others. The durability of the finish can make it a challenge to remove from these surface layers in the event you decide down the road you want refinish the flooring.
Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished flooring is raw wood, requiring the buyer to be responsible for sanding and finishing the floor on site during the installation process. Most agree that there are more cons than pros with unfinished.
Pros of Unfinished Wood Flooring: The natural color variations available with unfinished hardwood flooring are plentiful with the vast number of different wood species. The wood floor installation requires on-site finishing, allowing you to customize the wood floor. Personalize the flooring with borders, inlays, and other features. You have more control with customizing the details whether you have a specific goal in mind for your hallway, living room, office, or kitchen. Additional benefits are as follows:
– More flexibility for refinishing and repairing the floor.
– The sealing is fresh after finishing the newly installed floor.
– You have the option to add inlays after you sand for a perfect flush with the rest of the floor.
Cons of Un-finished Wood Floors: The installation process from start to finish is considerably longer. After it is installed on the floor, it needs to manually be sanded and finished. Staining is also necessary, and you will need to allow time for it to cure before walking on it.
Hardwood Floor Installation, Replacement & More in Charles Town & Eastern Panhandle of Berkeley & Jefferson Counties in WV | Winchester & Frederick County | Round Hill & Loudoun County | Berryville & Clarke County | Herndon & Fairfax County VA
When it comes to prefinished or unfinished hardwood flooring, one option is not necessarily better than the other, it is all a matter of preference. The individual should consider the basic pros and cons as well before committing. No matter if you desire the perfectly prepared, flawless, ready-to-install flooring or the gorgeous and natural imperfections of unfinished flooring with the options to custom finish it, Mike’s Custom Flooring is readily available to help you with your installation.
