Unfinished Hardwood Floors Vs Prefinished

Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring about 2 per square foot for a good grade of red oak.

Unfinished hardwood floors vs prefinished. Engineered hardwood flooring is almost always sold pre finished and there is a narrower range of available colors and species than with solid hardwood. Installation of prefinished solid hardwood flooring planks is similar to that for unfinished hardwood which means it requires special tools such as a power floor nailer or pneumatic stapler. Prefinished flooring is factory finished and thus each board has been finished individually with sprayed on coats of polyurethane. After the unfinished hardwood flooring is installed it is then finished and stained with a protective coat.

This flooring material is generally nailed down to the subfloor with finishing nails or staples driven at an angle along the tongues or the edges of the planks. The finish applied to the flooring at the factory is completely different than the finish applied on site. The boards are then oven baked with aluminum oxide to create an extremely hard acrylic finish. Unfinished wood flooring will also give a greater range of overall options.

However one more characteristic of prefinished flooring can be a deal breaker and that s the beveled edges. Solid hardwood vs engineered hardwood consider the best type of hardwood flooring depending on where you are using it. This helps seal the flooring to protect it from water damage. Prefinished flooring often costs more than unfinished flooring about 2 per square foot more for the same wood species but you generally save that by not having to sand and finish the floor during installation.

Likewise installing hardwood flooring throughout the home is usually best with unfinished flooring to provide a uniform color and finish. Unfinished hardwood flooring is initially cheaper than prefinished hardwood flooring when you compare just the cost of the flooring itself. It must be installed sanded and refinished on site. With that said we thought we would give you a closer look at what you need to know when deciding between prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring.

Solid pre finished hardwood flooring lasts longer than unfinished flooring and here s why. Some pre finished engineered hardwood flooring has slightly beveled edges which creates slight grooves between boards while solid hardwood flooring generally has very tight seams between boards. Prefinished floors come at a lower cost. Factory finish is usually 7 10 coats of an aluminum oxide finish.

If you are considering unfinished hardwood flooring for your home or business here are some of the notable pros and cons associated with this type of flooring. If hardwood flooring is unfinished it means that it is raw hardwood. Unfinished wood is the way to go to create the closest possible match. First let s make the distinction between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood solid hardwood is exactly what it says it is a solid plank of wood whilst engineered hardwood is a composite product consisting of an upper layer of hardwood that is adhered onto layers of.

Unfinished flooring is raw hardwood that must first be installed and then sanded and refinished on site. If your home has historical significance or unique architectural style this versatility may be critical in creating the.