Solid hardwood floors are the first option usually considered for flooring purposes. Hardwood floors are popular among homeowners due to their unique qualities, which include durability, value for money, and an attractive appearance that adds elegance to the home.
But when installing solid hardwood floors, the homeowners must decide between the two installing options, prefinished and unfinished. To help you decide which option you can consider when installing hardwood floors, here are some pros and cons of prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors.
Solid hardwood floors have been providing elegance and charm to the houses for ages. Unfinished hardwood floors are the traditional installation method, which was the only option for homeowners before the 1940s. However, the introduction of prefinished hardwood floors gave homeowners the choice between the two types of solid hardwood floors. It can be challenging for homeowners to choose between prefinished and unfinished solid hardwood flooring because each has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Here are some pros and cons of prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors that may help you decide which would be best for your home.
Prefinished hardwood floors
The prefinished hardwood floors come with ready-to-install wooden planks that don’t require sanding or coating after being installed. They are sanded, sealed, and stained at the factory level before being installed on the floor. However prefinished hardwood floors have their pros and cons that are important to determine before deciding to install them in your house.
Pros of prefinished hardwood floors
- Easy installation One of the major advantages of prefinished floors is its ready-to-install ability. Since prefinished hardwood floors come with sanding, sealing, and coating, they are ready to install. It accelerates the installation process, making it quick and easy. The pre-finishing of the hardwood floors also reduces mess and odor during the installation, typically seen with unfinished solid hardwood floors.
- Increased durability Hardwood floors are known for their durability and longevity. However, the prefinished hardwood floors have increased durability due to the finishing done in a factory-controlled environment. Due to the usage of powerful sealers and several coats of sealants, the prefinished hardwood floors become resilient to scratches or wear and tear. They may be a great choice for high-traffic areas, especially when you have pets or kids.
- Cost-effectiveness The prefinished hardwood floors may seem expensive initially, but they are cost-effective. The pre-finishing of the planks saves the finishing cost, and the factory finishing of the hardwood floors also saves labor costs, which increases the amount in the unfinished hardwood floors. Because of its greater durability and stain and scratch resistance, prefinished hardwood floors also reduce the expense of routine maintenance and sanding.
Cons of prefinished hardwood floors
- Limited customization Prefinished hardwood floors limit the customization and preferences of the customers. The width, color, length, and style of the prefinished hardwood floors depend on the manufacturers, and customers have to choose from the available options. They usually come in common colors that manufacturers wish to sell, and due to the thicker coating, the color cannot be customized. Height variations in the planks may also be seen, which cause problems during the installation of prefinished hardwood floors.
- Difficult to refinish TEven though prefinished hardwood floors have increased durability, if you plan to refinish the flooring in the future, it may be challenging. Since prefinished hardwood flooring is properly sealed with a thick topcoat, the strength of the sealant can make it difficult to remove the surface layers and reach the base for refinishing. It requires a great amount of sanding to reach the base for finishing, which increases the cost multiple times.
Unfinished hardwood floors
Traditionally solid hardwood floors used to be installed in an unfinished raw form of hardwood, and after their installation, the process of sanding and refinishing used to occur at the worksite. It may be a traditional practice, but it is still common and widely used in the flooring industry. Let’s look at the pros and cons of unfinished solid hardwood floors.
Pros of unfinished solid hardwood floors
- Easy to customize The unfinished solid hardwood floors allow the customers to customize the flooring according to their preferences. It can be stained with the color of your choice, unlike prefinished solid hardwood floors, and gives you the freedom for the type of finishing you want according to your space.
- Gives a seamless and smooth surface Unfinished solid hardwood floors are flat and give a seamless and smooth appearance without beveled edges. The unfinished solid planks are leveled down during sanding to prevent any irregularities. Since the sanding and finishing of the unfinished solid hardwood floors is performed at the work site, they do not form any seams between the planks. It also prevents dirt or debris from accumulating in the seams, which can be a struggle to clean.
- Easy to refinish and repair Unlike prefinished hardwood floors that are difficult to refinish, unfinished hardwood floors can be sanded and stained numerous times and appear brand new. Homeowners can eliminate the scratches, dents, and wear by refinishing the hardwood floors multiple times.
Cons of unfinished solid hardwood floors
- Longer installation process The major con of the unfinished solid hardwood floors is their lengthy installation process. Since the process of sanding, staining, and sealing is done at the worksite after the installation of the planks, the duration of the installation becomes lengthy. The homeowners also have to wait for the flooring to cure to put the things back in place.
- Mess and odor during installation Since the finishing process of the unfinished hardwood floors occurs at the work site, there is very much possibility for the mess to occur around the house. The dust and odor may spread during the installation process, which can be problematic if you have pets or have any respiratory conditions.
Conclusion
The prefinished and unfinished solid hardwood floors have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. You can choose any of the two options according to your preferences and priorities, such as installation timeline, budget, aesthetics of your house, or overall idea.
