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Prefinished vs. Unfinished Wood
Flooring
Written by
Elizabeth Wood
Editor In Chief, United Home Improvement
Deciding on prefinished or unfinished wood flooring is an important
decision. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and it's a
good idea to know about them. In simple terms, prefinished wood is
unfinished wood that has been sanded and finished at the factory.
Unfinished wood flooring is sanded on the site of the job.
Prefinished wood floors are becoming a personal favorite for
homeowners. It is installed very quickly and doesn't leave behind
the mess that unfinished wood does. Typically, it is an engineered
floor, which means that it is not a solid wood product. It can be
refinished at any time.
Homeowners enjoy knowing that their prefinished floors will bring a
lifetime of beauty and durability. Factory finishes are extremely
wear resistant and often contain extra sealants for more protection.
However, they are limited to manufacturer's colors and prefinished
trims are not an exact match to the floor.
Unfinished wood flooring, on the other hand, is often the most
common and least expensive of hardwood floors. It comes in a wider
array of species and widths. This makes it easier to match exciting
wood work. It can always be found in stock. However, unfinished wood
is finished on the site of job which often leaves behind a mess and
takes several days to complete. Also, with a job-site finish, the
wood is sanded smoothly right there leaving less chances for
over-wood.
If you are planning on installing wood floors in more than one room,
consider using an unfinished wood flooring to ensure that the color
and finish is the same throughout the whole house. For basement
flooring, you are better off using engineered, prefinished wood
flooring. Basements tend to be damp and prefinished flooring resists
warping and buckling due to humidity.
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