There are advantages and disadvantages to both prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors. These are all options you can discuss with your Wood Floors By Design specialist. They will help you decide what is important for you and your home. Below is a guide that will help you learn more about prefinished vs unfinished hardwood flooring.
Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
Prefinished flooring arrives onsite with 5-7 layers of factory applied finish. This makes the floor very hard a durable. Because it’s applied in the factory, you skip the mess of refinishing them onsite. This eliminates risks of toxic fumes in your home.
This sounds great, right? Well… if you’re looking for decorative borders and in-lays this might not be the best choice. Installers charge extra, because prefinished flooring makes it very difficult to do.
You may also find that the plank heights vary, leaving you with a less than flawless floor. This is because the factory cuts the boards. Designers make Prefinished floors with micro-beveled edges that “catch dirt”. This design can help prevent scratches, but they also make it difficult to clean.
Keep in mind, many companies hesitate to refinish prefinished floors down the road. The companies who will refinish typically charge more.
Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished flooring provides you with the most versatility. Unlimited refinishing capabilities is the biggest advantage. Refinishing services are a fraction of the cost compared to refinishing prefinished flooring. In addition to refinishing, you can change the color of your floors by applying stain. Unfinished flooring provides homeowners with countless options and variable plank width.
Your unfinished floors will look flawless and smooth. In-lays and borders are much easier to apply. However, they show wear faster than prefinished flooring.
Keep in mind that unfinished floors takes longer to install and finish. Depending on the finish you choose, fumes could remain in your home for a while.
Having a hard time deciding? Give us a call and we will drop off samples of each type to help you decide which option fits your home and lifestyle.
Questions or concerns about dust or fumes from unfinished wood? We use a Dustless Sanding System to minimize dust particles and allergens. We can have Eco-Friendly, low odor/low VOC, less toxic water based finish option!
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