Trying to decide between prefinished hardwood flooring and unfinished hardwood flooring? All of that to say: engineered woods disadvantages are small potatoes when considering its upsides. If you can refinish the material, youre good to go. Pine flooring? You must apply an agent to the floor to protect against having dirt and grime caught between the planks because of this disadvantage. This is due to the fact that the sanding finishing process is already completely, therefore, you can skip that entire process, as well as the waiting time for it to cure. If you are deciding between the two or have made your decision and need your flooring professionally installed, give us a call today for a free, in-home estimate! You have access to fewer installation options with a prefinished hardwood floor. And again, engineered hardwood can come pre-finished or unfinished. It might be better to look for straight-edge options instead, even if that means using an unfinished product at the end of the day. Alternately, you could always go with a fake wood flooring optionsomething like wood-look tile, for instance. Are you considering prefinished hardwood for your upcoming project? If you are using engineered hardwood flooring, laminate products, or something similar, then these pros and cons do not apply to the options you are considering today. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. There are fewer choices available to you with prefinished hardwood flooring. Finally, you will also have to wait for the flooring to cure before putting furniture back into place. Carpet: Whats Best for Your Home, Find Your Style: 4 Iconic Looks and How to Make Them Your Own, The Best Flooring Options for Texas Homes, Marble Look Porcelain Tile That Will Take Your Countertops to the Next Level. If you choose to use the traditional installation processes for unfinished planks, then there is a risk of coloring, sealing, and staining not being consistent. Installing hardwood floors is in an investment in your home, not an expense. Its a more convenient option for some renovation or improvement projects. However, before you dive in, its essential to look at the advantages and disadvantages of prefinished hardwood to determine whether its the best flooring for your project. It just depends on the product. In fact, Tarkett is a rather obscure brand, at least in terms of residential flooring. 1. And really, at the end of the day, the best hardwood floors are the ones you like. If so, youre not alone. One of the top advantages of vinyl is that its water-resistant, and even waterproof in some cases. And if that has you wondering whats the difference between an underlayment vs. a subfloorwell, just click on that link to read about it. Thats why these days, most people opt for prefinished hardwood flooringhardwood planks that come with stain and sealant already applied. Whatever the case, the average cost to install engineered hardwood floorsor solid wood floors, for that matterranges between $3 and $8 per square foot with prefinished planks. Here are the advantages of buying your hardwood floors pre-finished. 3. Generally, the most significant con related to unfinished hardwood flooring is the time the installation process takes. Because the manufacturer is sealing the prefinished hardwood floor at the factory, there is no way for the planks to have their edges sealed after the installation process is completed. Any flaws in your subfloor will become immediately evident with this product. If you are installing a hardwood floor and want your contractor to perform inlays or other unique elements with the design of your planks, then you almost always need to purchase an unfinished product instead of using something that was finished at the factory. You can avoid many of the uncomfortable sights and smells of finishing the traditional hardwood floor, receive a durable surface that can last for decades, and enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle with this product. While solid hardwood is one piece of wood throughout, engineered wood combines a high-strength plywood base and a solid wood veneer. Were sorry to say, but you may have to forget about your Pinterest folder of intricate wood floor patterns if you choose prefinished hardwood flooring. Tarkett laminate flooring probably isnt the first choice that pops up when you look for the best laminate flooring brands. There are fewer style choices to consider with prefinished hardwood flooring when compared to an unfinished plank. Laminate vs. Hardwood Floors: Which are Better? Theyre relatively comparable materials in terms of cost, appearance, and durability. Installing prefinished hardwood is very similar to installing regular hardwood. No matter your tastes or budget, you can probably find a prefinished hardwood product that makes sense for you. If youre looking for info on nylon carpet pros and cons, allow us to paraphrase Lady Gaga at the Oscars: We got you. There are so many types of carpet to choose from that it can be incredibly overwhelming to know whats what. Engineered Wood Is a Type of Wood FlooringNot a Type of Finish, Engineered Wood Flooring Has a Lot Going For It, And Remember: Most Engineered Wood Flooring Options Come Prefinished, Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons, The Advantages of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring, Installing Prefinished Hardwood Flooring is Quick and Clean, Prefinished Hardwood Can Be Safer for Your Home, Because the VOCs Off-Gas in the FactoryNot Your House, Plus, its Way More Durable and Wear-Resistant, Which Means You Dont Have to Refinish It as Often (Or At All), And If You Opt for Engineered Wood, It Also Means You Dont Need as Thick of a Veneer, Prefinished Wood is Usually More Widely-Available Than Unfinished Wood, And There Are Endless Options to Choose From, The Disadvantages of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring, Prefinished Hardwood Cant Be Used for Some Custom Designs, Unfinished Hardwood is Much More Customizable, Including The Way Your Edges Look (Beveled vs. Unbeveled, etc. Thats a good question! This disadvantage can drive up the cost of the project significantly, so older homes can sometimes benefit from a thorough inspection and evaluation before installing your first planks. You can save some money by using a softwood product like pine, but then you will be sacrificing durability to reduce the initial capital expense. There are more uniformity and consistency with the coloring and staining in the boards. Now that weve talked about prices, lets answer some frequently asked questions about prefinished hardwood flooring. Your maintenance chores are easier with prefinished hardwood flooring. Furthermore, the durability of the finish on prefinished flooring can make it difficult to remove these surface layers if you ever want to refinish your flooring in the future. You may discover that the look of your prefinished hardwood flooring planks does not match your other floors at home if you are repairing, upgrading, or installing a new floor in a different room. Because youre the one whos in charge of finishing it! The only difference is that when you purchase unfinished wood, you have to finish it on-site. 7. This is due to the fact that after it is installed, it has to be manually sanded and finished, and often, there is a staining step between these processes. Its no surprise that its such a popular flooring material. Some products even come with an anti-scratch coating that helps to make the final floor more resistant to the minor surface damage that tends to accumulate in the average home. PS: beware of the cork flooring Lowes or Home Depot sells. Sometimes, manufacturers add an anti-scratch coating that makes the floor more resistant to minor surface damage. But prefinished hardwood flooring can be walked on immediately after installationmeaning you dont have to wait for stains to dry or for sealants to cure! While you can buy prefinished or unfinished engineered wood, the majority of your options are going to be pre-finished. How Much Does it Cost to Replace Carpet With Hardwood? June 03, 2021 | 4 min read | BuildDirect. However, this of course comes down to what is right for your home or business and will be determined by factors beyond consumer popularity. Well talk about its pros and cons, answer some frequently asked questions, compare prices to unfinished hardwood, and more. 5. Thats all about the material, not the finish. This is an easy one. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its also much thicker than what you could apply manually. So if you can refinish the flooring material, thats the only thing that matters. There are also some specific styles and shapes that only come when you choose an option that requires on-site finishing. And theres really no point in looking for low-VOC flooring if youre going to be breathing in fumes from all the stains and finishes that go on top of them! By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies for the collection of traffic statistics and to improve the quality of our website. Of course, there are some disadvantages of prefinished hardwood. Dont worry thoughthats not a bad thing! Prefinished flooring also has the following benefits: The biggest con with prefinished hardwood flooring is the limitation of widths, lengths, colors, grain, and other common customer preferences. If you want an expert opinion, theyre the ones to go to! Thats because its neither a pro nor a con of prefinished hardwood flooring. There is no need to wait for the finish to dry, and you do not need to relocate out of your home because of the fumes of the finishing products. Thanks to this unique advantage, manufacturers are now offering prefinished hardwood flooring that comes with a warranty of 25 years or more. Plus, if you go with a domestic and renewable wood species like pine or maple, your prefinished hardwood can be environmentally-friendly flooring too! But: because refinishing is so much less of an issue with prefinished hardwood flooring (for the reasons we just mentioned), you can opt for a thinner veneer without worry. Trust us on that one. Then you can apply your preferred stain and seal to give each room the visual impact that you want it to have. We know, we knowits one of the big disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring. This choice also works well if you have dogs or cats at home, and you want to enjoy all of the benefits that come with owning a hardwood floor. These days, many (if not all) of the best hardwood floor brands offer prefinished hardwood in a wide range of stains, finishes, and sizes. Hickory Flooring Pros and Cons: The Guide. Sure, you could look into non-toxic laminate flooring or low-VOC vinyl flooring. Prefinished hardwood flooring goes against the rules of tradition since the typical installation process involves staining and finishing the wood after the planks are in place. If you want to refinish your engineered wood, you usually have to make sure to buy a product with a thick veneer layeroften 3mm or more. Douglas fir flooring? If you buy unfinished hardwood and finish it on-site, you can literally make it look like anything. Sustainable wood flooring? Most of the warranties come with protection against defects in the materials and the finishing processes used to create the planks in the first place. The Best Flooring for Extreme Temperatures, 14 Vinyl Kitchen Flooring Trends for 2022. You can sand down beneath the coating that the factory applied to the product to reveal the natural wood of the planks. Heres How. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The manufacturing processes give you more durability in return, but it takes away the idea of a custom product. These days you may find that its easier to purchase prefinished wood than unfinished planks, especially at big-box retailers. That means the slightly rounded edges tend to offer a look that is more finished when the work is complete, but it also gives your floor a look that speaks of it being manufactured. The real question you should be asking is whats the difference between prefinished hardwood and unfinished hardwood? Vinyl Plank vs. Laminate Comparison: Which is Better? Unless you decide to seal the edges of your planks, you can walk on your new floor as soon as they are in place. Either way, hardwood isnt the worlds easiest flooring to install (that dubious honor goes to peel-and-stick carpet tiles), so make sure to find a top-rated flooring store near you to get some expert help and expert installation. We would love to be a part of your home improvement journey! Ebony flooring? Are prefinished hardwood floors better than finished-on-site hardwood floors? Vinyl flooring is a cost-effective, long-lasting, and durable flooring option that is suitable for both dry and wet areas. Looking for eco-friendly flooring? Thats not the case with prefinished hardwood. Often, if theres an issue with prefinished hardwood, its best to replace the entire floorboard. If your preference is to have a custom look that requires a higher level of craftsmanship to complete, then an unfinished flooring option is the better choice. Does Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Resist Water Better? This also gives you the ability to have a variety of flooring styles throughout your house if that is what you would prefer. Unlike prefinished hardwood, some vinyl planks are DIY-friendly, although professional application is usually still advised. While prefinished hardwood is resistant to scuffs and dents, its just as vulnerable to water damage as any other hardwood floor. The finish has nothing to do with the wood being engineered or solid. Alright! 14 Pros and Cons of Acid Stained Concrete Floors, 13 Pros and Cons of Owning a Basset Hound, 500 Cutest Dachshund Names for a Girl or Boy Puppy Dog, Top 500 Golden Retriever Names for a Female or Male Puppy, 301 Great Pyrenees Dog Names for a Female or Male Puppy, 500 Cutest Yorkie Names for a Girl or Boy Puppy Dog, Golden Pyrenees Guide: 26 Facts About the Great Pyrenees Golden Retriever Mix, German Shepherd Great Pyrenees Mix Guide: 27 Things to Know About the Germanees, German Shepherd Akita Corgi Mix: 26 Things Every Owner Should Know, Chihuahua German Shepherd Mix Guide: 25 Things to Know About a Chihuahua Shepherd, Alaskan Shepherd Guide: 29 Things Every Owner Should Know, Blue Heeler German Shepherd Mix: 26 Things Every Owner Should Know. After installation, the only thing left to do is sweep it up and call it a day. So a better question would be what are the best unfinished hardwood flooring brands?. To that end, the need to refinish these floors (aka to sand them down to the bare wood) is greatly reducedmeaning you can save on cost to refinish hardwood flooring by doing a simple resurfacing, which makes the floors look brand new without compromising the integrity of the factory finish. These cookies do not store any personal information. Remember, a floor coming prefinished or unfinished has nothing to do with the actual type of flooring it is. ), Prefinished Hardwood Wont Hide Subflooring Troubles (but Unfinished Hardwood Will), The Cost of Prefinished vs. The installation of prefinished hardwood flooring follows the same processes that a contractor or DIY specialist would use to install unfinished planks. For access to exclusive deals, unlimited samples, and on-site delivery for all of your high-quality flooring, consider becoming a PRO Rewards member. Think of prefinished hardwood flooring as the option you want when a fast installation that still looks good is your top priority. There are no simple ways to restore the value of your installation if something unexpected happens. Thats not a hard-and-fast rule, its just the reality of buying hardwood floors. They can tell you about everything from the disadvantages of hickory vs. oak flooring to the common grain patterns ash flooring and everything in between. In fact, you may even have a lot more options, since most wide-plank wood flooring is made of engineered wood. Example: you can refinish bamboo flooring, but you cant refinish vinyl flooring like Pergo Extreme because its made of plastic. Thats exactly what were here to find out! Like prefinished wood, laminate doesnt require sanding or sealing. In fact, experts warn against sealing laminate because it can destroy the protective coat that it is made with. The big difference is that prefinished wood is actually hardwood, whereas engineered wood is a composite material. 2. For prefinished hardwood, you simply install and sweep it up. Bamboo Flooring vs. Laminate: Which to Buy? Now, the roles have reversed, and prefinished hardwood flooring is the go-to option. If a prefinished floor gets dented, dinged, or scratched, it can be complicated (if not impossible) to repair. Yes! 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. Below, well take you through all the basics of prefinished hardwood flooring. Unsurprisingly, this floor has plenty of advantages to win you over. That means there are aluminum oxide crystals embedded into the urethane coat of the product so that the planks have a higher resistance to wear-and-tear issues after installation. To learn more, please consult BuildDirect's, Choosing Colors: Countertops, Floors, Doors, & More, The Type of Tile You Choose Can Make or Break Your Remodeling Project, Puppies vs Floors: How to Protect Your Floors From Pets and Vice Versa, Hardwood vs. Our advice: find a top-rated local flooring store near you and ask their opinion about prefinished hardwood. There are certain wood types and plank sizes which are not available when you choose prefinished hardwood flooring. Even though engineered hardwood can come prefinished, its usually still a good idea to seal it especially since it is typically used in more moisture-rich areas. 1. So: while unfinished hardwood flooring might offer a little more customization, theres no question that prefinished hardwood flooring is the easier, more common, and quicker option. Can You Buy Prefinished Hardwood Flooring in Wide Plank Sizes? And both of these can be purchased prefinished or unfinished. The cost profile for a prefinished hardwood floor is the same as an unfinished one. Prefinished hardwood is essentially just hardwood, with less work on the installation and a little more durability. The coating is applied pre-installation, so the protective coating is uniform and evenly applied. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Prefinished hardwood floors give you an opportunity to install beautiful planks at an affordable price. Unfortunately, prefinished hardwood will make any flaws in your subfloor immediately evident. So: what is engineered hardwood and how is it different from solid hardwood? If your subfloor is uneven in spots, it can cause some of the planks to raise slightly, or even result in visible gaps between the planks. This option is the gold standard in flooring, so look for the options with the best cost profile to ensure that you can get exactly what you want. Yepprefinished flooring can save the day for health-conscious wood-lovers. And you dont have to be an expert to DIY tile floors, either. We understandhardwood is beautiful, timeless, and one of the most popular types of flooring around. Teak flooring? Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, can only be refinished a number of times (if at all) due to the thinness of the veneer layer. Carpet or Hardwood in Bedrooms: Which is Better? All you need to do is to sand down the imperfect spot to get a level floor once again. Prefinished hardwood is simply hardwood flooring that is already sanded, sealed, and ready to install. The finish could also leave a residual odor in the air that can take several weeks to dissipate, which is not an issue with prefinished planks. Classic wood floor designs like herringbone and chevron parquet flooring are easily achievable with prefinished hardwood. Lets start with the good stuff! All the best engineered wood flooring can either come pre-finished or unfinished. The point is, the prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood debate has nothing to do with the floors ability to be refinished. Were going to say it again: most flooring stores offer way more prefinished options than unfinished options. From mom-and-pop flooring stores to national home-improvement chains, youll most likely have a very good selection of prefinished hardwood flooring in different species and stain finishes near you. Engineered Bamboo Flooring: Pros and Cons. When the manufacturer applies a finish treatment to the hardwood floors, they are using a robust chemical sealer that is not available to installers who operate on-site. If you fail to add a sealing agent, then there can be issues with water penetration, eventually leading to mold or rot growing beneath the surface of the planks. Thats because flooring mills can bake in layer upon layer of super-hard acrylic finishes (generally aluminum oxide), which make your floors super durable. Absolutely! You can use the flooring right away once the installation work is complete. If youre looking for a more moisture-friendly, cost-effective option, vinyl planks, engineered hardwood, and laminate are terrific alternatives. Vinyl can look like wood, but it isnt actually wood at all. At Daves we have 40+ years of installing hardwood flooring and generally, we have noticed this decision comes down to these main factors: with unfinished, you have the ability to refinish easily, as well as enjoy the natural imperfections of the wood, and with prefinished, you appreciate the convenience of being able to choose a perfectly prepared and ready-to-install flooring. Now that weve talked about the difference between prefinished hardwood and engineered hardwood, lets talk specifically about the pros and cons of prefinished hardwood floors. So: is prefinished hardwood flooring right for you? Its not a particularly high-quality product. If you have a knowledgeable contractor or experience doing this work yourself, then the advantages typically outweigh any negative experiences you might have. Engineered and solid hardwood are the two main types of wood flooring. Easier ability to resand and refinish your floor as desired. What is subflooring?, you ask? Prefinished hardwood is simply hardwood that has been coated with a urethane finish in the factory. The best types of vinyl flooring are so water-resistant, they can even be used as outdoor flooring options. If you buy prefinished floors, your family wont spend days breathing in harmful VOCs as your new finish dries. Is Cork Flooring Usually Prefinished or Unfinished? Essentially, it boils down to this: Again, it depends on a ton of factors. 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 you love fully custom things, unfinished hardwood flooring is for you.