Unfinished or Finished Hardwood Flooring, what to go for?

Do you know the many differences between prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring? Most of us are unaware that there are numerous factors that distinguish the two, factors that can affect the longevity of your flooring. Follow our informative blog to help you determine the best type of engineered or solid hardwood flooring finish that is most suitable for your space.

Unfinished wooden flooring is composed of either solid or engineered wood planks in their raw, natural state; generally we offer unfinished engineered flooring. Once the flooring is fitted into your space, it will be sanded, stained, and sealed on site. Since the sanding process occurs after the floor is fitted, it will smooth out any uneven bumps and will unify the floor as one flat surface.

Note: Consider using unfinished engineered flooring if you are fitting a floor throughout your entire space, this is the best option to ensure an even floor.

Also, if you are interested in rustic flooring, then apply the sealer without a custom stain to your unfinished wooden floor and preserve it as natural wood flooring. Curious to see if a natural style floor is suitable for your space? Then order oak flooring samples to get a better idea of how it looks in your space. By having the capability to seal the floor as a whole, the sealer covers the joints within the floor and further protects it against moisture that damages the wood.

Pre-finished wooden flooring is composed of wooden planks that are already stained and sealed with a polyurethane finish from the factory. The sealer is more durable than a sealer applied during home fittings, which makes planks stronger but will also be more difficult to re-stain and reseal in later years. Since the process of staining and sealing is eliminated, the time and effort to fit the floor is trimmed in half.

As mentioned above, the factory sealer creates a stronger seal on the prefinished planks of wood. This strength prevents the wood from swelling during humid climate changes and therefore protects the longevity of the floor.

Note: When installing prefinished flooring, make sure the subfloor is in perfect condition without any sight of irregularities or bumps; if not corrected, the final floor will display those flaws.

Before deciding upon unfinished or finished wooden flooring, always obtain wooden flooring samples to see what the floor will appear in your space. If interested in buying oak flooring, be specific when you obtain samples online to ease your final flooring decision. As you know, we are here to cover all of your flooring needs, stop by next time for tips and tricks about your solid hardwood flooring.