Thinking about upgrading your floors and stuck choosing between prefinished vs unfinished hardwood? It’s a big decision, and we’re here to make it simple. Both prefinished hardwood flooring and unfinished hardwood flooring have their perks, so let’s break it all down in the easiest way possible.
Hardwood floors can completely transform a space. Whether you want the convenience of prefinished floors or the flexibility of unfinished wood flooring, we’ll help you figure out what works best for your home. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly what type of hardwood flooring fits your needs.
What is Prefinished Hardwood?
Prefinished hardwood is exactly what it sounds like—wood floors that are finished in a factory before they’re even delivered to your home. They’re ready to go right out of the box. The stain, sealer, and protective layers are already applied, so you don’t have to deal with any sanding, staining, or finishing after installation.
If you’re looking for something quick and easy, prefinished hardwood flooring might be your best bet. It’s faster to install and creates less mess compared to unfinished hardwood flooring. You can walk on it almost immediately after it’s installed, which is a huge bonus for busy households.
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What is Unfinished Hardwood?
On the other hand, unfinished hardwood comes raw and natural. It’s installed first and then sanded, stained, and sealed on-site. This gives you full control over the look of your hardwood flooring, especially if you want a custom stain or specific finish.
Unfinished wood flooring is popular for homeowners who want a unique look or need to match existing wood flooring. It does take more time and effort, though. Since the sanding and finishing happen in your home, you’ll need to deal with dust and drying time.
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Pros of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
Let’s start with the good stuff about prefinished hardwood flooring:
1. Faster Installation
Because prefinished wood floors are already treated, they can be installed quickly. You won’t have to wait for finishes to dry or deal with strong odors.
2. No Mess
Sanding and finishing unfinished hardwood flooring can be messy, but with prefinished flooring, everything is already done before it even reaches your home.
3. Durable Finish
Factory-applied finishes tend to be tougher and longer-lasting than those applied on-site. Prefinished hardwood often has multiple layers of sealant, which means it’s extra resistant to scratches and stains.
4. Ready to Use Immediately
You can move furniture in and start enjoying your hardwood flooring as soon as the prefinished floors are installed.
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Cons of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
While prefinished hardwood flooring is great, it’s not perfect for everyone.
1. Limited Customization
Since the floors are already finished, you can’t change the stain color or finish style. What you see is what you get.
2. Visible Seams
The edges of prefinished wood floors often have slight bevels. These tiny grooves can sometimes collect dust or dirt.
3. Harder to Refinish
If your prefinished hardwood gets damaged, it’s harder to sand and refinish compared to unfinished wood flooring.
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Pros of Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
Now let’s talk about the good stuff with unfinished hardwood.
1. Full Customization
With unfinished wood flooring, you can pick any stain color or finish you like. This is perfect if you want a specific look or need to match existing wood flooring.
2. Smooth Finish
Because the finishing happens after the installation, there are no gaps or bevels. It’s completely smooth from wall to wall.
3. Easier Repairs
If your floors get scratched or damaged, you can easily sand them down and refinish them without worrying about matching factory finishes.
4. Better for Large Projects
Installing unfinished hardwood is often the go-to choice for bigger spaces or entire home remodels because it offers flexibility and customization.
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Cons of Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
1. Longer Installation Time
Since unfinished flooring needs to be sanded, stained, and sealed on-site, it takes longer to complete the job.
2. More Mess and Odors
Sanding creates dust, and finishes often have strong smells while drying. Be prepared for a bit of a hassle during the process.
3. Needs More Maintenance
Because the finish is applied on-site, it may not be as tough as factory finishes. This means you might need to refinish it sooner than prefinished floors.
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Which One is Easier to Install?
If speed is your priority, prefinished flooring is the winner. It’s ready to go as soon as it’s installed, whereas unfinished hardwood flooring requires extra steps. But if you’re working on a bigger project or need to match existing floors, unfinished hardwood might be worth the wait.
What About Durability?
Both options are durable, but prefinished hardwood flooring typically has a tougher surface because factory-applied finishes are baked on for extra strength. However, unfinished wood flooring can be refinished multiple times, making it easier to repair over the years.
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Costs of Prefinished vs Unfinished Hardwood
The total cost depends on materials, labor, and size. Prefinished hardwood might cost more upfront, but it saves on labor costs since it’s faster to install. Unfinished wood flooring can sometimes be cheaper initially, but the added finishing work may even things out.
What’s Better for Resale Value?
If you’re thinking about selling your home someday, both prefinished and unfinished hardwood can boost your home’s value. Hardwood flooring is always a popular choice for buyers.
Prefinished hardwood flooring can be a big selling point because it’s durable and looks great right away. Buyers like that it doesn’t need extra work. It’s also easy to clean, which is a big plus for families.
Unfinished hardwood flooring, though, gives you more options to match the style of your home. If your house already has wood flooring in other areas, unfinished wood flooring makes it easier to match colors and finishes. That can make the space look more seamless, which buyers often love.
In the end, both types of hardwood flooring can increase resale value. It really depends on what buyers in your area prefer.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Let’s talk about keeping your floors looking good. Both prefinished and unfinished hardwood need regular cleaning, but there are a few differences.
Prefinished hardwood is easier to clean because the surface is smooth and sealed. You can just sweep, mop with a damp cloth, or use a hardwood cleaner. The tough finish also protects it from stains and spills, so it’s a good option for busy homes.
Unfinished hardwood takes a little more care. Since the finish is done on-site, it’s not always as tough as factory finishes. You might need to refinish it sooner, especially if it’s in a high-traffic area. It’s also important to clean up spills quickly to avoid stains.
Both types of wood flooring can last a long time if you take care of them. Using rugs in busy areas and furniture pads to prevent scratches can help keep your floors looking new.
Matching Existing Wood Flooring
If you’re adding new flooring to a space that already has wood flooring, unfinished hardwood is often the better choice. It’s easier to sand and stain it to match the color and finish of your existing floors.
Prefinished hardwood flooring comes in a lot of styles, but it can be harder to match exactly. If the existing wood has a custom stain or finish, you may notice a difference between the new and old floors.
This doesn’t mean prefinished wood floors can’t work in these cases. If the difference isn’t too noticeable, or if you’re okay with a slight contrast, prefinished hardwood might still be a great option.
Water and Moisture Resistance
Neither type of hardwood flooring is completely waterproof, but prefinished floors often handle moisture a little better. The factory finish creates a strong seal that helps keep water out.
Unfinished wood flooring can also be sealed to protect it from moisture, but the process depends on how well the finish is applied during installation. If water seeps into unfinished wood, it can cause warping or damage.
For areas like kitchens, prefinished hardwood flooring is usually the safer bet. If you’re installing hardwood in a space where spills are common, prefinished flooring might give you more peace of mind.
Customization Options
Customization is one area where unfinished hardwood really stands out. Since it’s finished on-site, you can choose any stain color, sheen level, or finish type you want. This is great if you’re looking for something unique or need to match other wood flooring in your home.
Prefinished hardwood flooring doesn’t offer as many options for customization. What you see in the store is what you get. That’s fine for most people, but if you’re very particular about colors or finishes, unfinished wood might give you more flexibility.
If you like the idea of a one-of-a-kind look, unfinished wood flooring might be worth the extra work. But if you want something quick and ready to go, prefinished flooring is hard to beat.
Installation Process
The installation process is another big difference between prefinished and unfinished hardwood.
Prefinished hardwood flooring is much faster to install. Since the finish is already applied, it’s basically a matter of laying down the boards, securing them, and you’re done. This is perfect for people who don’t want to deal with sanding or waiting for finishes to dry.
Unfinished hardwood takes longer because it needs to be sanded, stained, and sealed after it’s installed. This process can take several days, especially if the finish needs time to dry between coats. It also creates more dust and fumes, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
If you’re in a hurry or want to avoid a mess, prefinished hardwood flooring is the better choice. But if you’re not in a rush and want a fully customized look, installing unfinished hardwood might be worth the wait.
Repair and Refinishing
One big advantage of unfinished hardwood flooring is how easy it is to repair and refinish. Since it’s sanded and finished on-site, you can sand it down and refinish it multiple times without worrying about matching the factory finish.
Prefinished hardwood flooring is more challenging to refinish. The factory finish is tough, which is great for durability, but it also means you’ll need professional equipment to sand it down. In some cases, you might need to replace damaged boards instead of refinishing them.
If you expect a lot of wear and tear or think you’ll want to change the color or finish later, unfinished wood flooring might be a better option. But if durability is your main concern, prefinished floors are a great low-maintenance choice.
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FAQs About Prefinished vs Unfinished Hardwood
1. Which is more durable, prefinished or unfinished hardwood?
Prefinished hardwood flooring is generally more durable because it has a factory-applied finish that’s stronger than most on-site finishes. However, unfinished hardwood can be refinished more times, making it great for long-term use.
2. Is prefinished hardwood flooring easier to install?
Yes, prefinished hardwood flooring is faster and easier to install since it’s already sanded and sealed. Unfinished hardwood takes more time because it requires sanding, staining, and finishing after installation.
3. Can unfinished hardwood be customized more than prefinished?
Absolutely. Unfinished wood flooring allows for custom stains, finishes, and sheens, making it ideal for matching existing wood flooring or creating a unique look.
4. Which option is better for moisture-prone areas?
Prefinished floors handle moisture better due to their sealed surface. Unfinished hardwood can also be sealed effectively but may need extra care to avoid water damage.
5. Is it easier to repair prefinished or unfinished hardwood?
Unfinished hardwood is easier to repair because you can sand and refinish the entire surface. Prefinished hardwood flooring may require replacing individual boards if the damage is severe.
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Final Thoughts
Choosing between prefinished vs unfinished hardwood comes down to your priorities. If you want something quick, easy, and low-maintenance, prefinished hardwood flooring is probably the way to go. But if you’re looking for customization and don’t mind a longer installation, unfinished hardwood flooring might be a better fit.
No matter which option you choose, hardwood flooring is always a great investment. Both prefinished floors and unfinished wood floors can add beauty, value, and durability to your home.
If you’re ready to make the switch, Home Matters Construction can help. We offer expert advice and professional installation to ensure your new hardwood floors look amazing and last for years. Call us today at (402) 661-0910 to get started on your hardwood flooring project!
You can also get in touch today, and let’s upgrade your space!