Are you considering hardwood floors for your home but not sure where to start? Prefinished hardwood flooring is a great option for busy homeowners who want beautiful, durable floors with minimal hassle.
According to Statista “hardwood flooring sales in the United States amounted to 3.45 billion U.S. dollars.”
Prefinished hardwood flooring is a type of flooring that comes with a protective finish already applied. This means that once the flooring is installed, there is no need for additional sanding, staining, or sealing.
Prefinished hardwood flooring is available in a wide variety of colors and styles, making it a popular choice for many homeowners. Keep reading to learn more about prefinished hardwood flooring and its benefits!
What is Prefinished Hardwood Flooring?
Prefinished hardwood floors come with a factory-applied finish, which means they’re ready to install as soon as they’re delivered. This is in contrast to unfinished hardwood floors, which require on-site sanding, staining, and finishing after installation.
Because the finish is applied in a controlled factory environment, prefinished hardwood floors tend to be more durable and have fewer imperfections than their unfinished counterparts.
Pros of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
There are several benefits of choosing prefinished hardwood flooring for your home:
1. Durability: Prefinished hardwood floors are extremely durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic. The factory-applied finish also protects the floors from scratches, spills, and other damage.
2. Easy Installation: Because the finish is already applied, prefinished hardwood floors are easier to install than unfinished hardwood floors. You can usually install prefinished hardwood floors yourself in a weekend or two.
3. Low Maintenance: Prefinished hardwood floors are very low maintenance. You don’t have to worry about refinishing them every few years like you would with unfinished hardwood floors. A little sweeping and mopping are all it takes to keep them looking like new.
4. Value: Prefinished hardwood floors add value to your home and can make it easier to sell if you ever decide to put it on the market.
5. Aesthetics: Prefinished hardwood floors are available in a wide variety of colors and styles to match any decorating style.
6. Environmentally Friendly: If you choose certified sustainable wood flooring, you can feel good knowing that your prefinished hardwood floor is environmentally friendly. Sustainable wood flooring is sourced from responsibly managed forests that are not being harmed by logging practices.
7. Warranty: Most manufacturers offer a warranty on prefinished hardwood floors, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your investment is protected.
8. Healthier Indoor Air Quality: Unlike carpeting, which can trap dust mites, pollen, and other allergens, prefinished hardwoods allow these contaminants to be vacuumed or swept away easily for improved indoor air quality.
9. Long Lifespan: With proper care, prefinished hardwoods can last for decades.
Cons of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
There are a few potential disadvantages to prefinished hardwood flooring that you should be aware of before making a purchase.
First of all, because the finishing process is done at the factory, there is less control over the quality of the finished product. This can sometimes result in an uneven finish or flaws in the wood.
Additionally, prefinished hardwood is more expensive than unfinished hardwood, and it can be more difficult to repair if it becomes damaged.
Prefinished hardwood can be more difficult to match to existing floors if you ever need to do repairs or add to your home.
However, prefinished hardwood floors also have many advantages, such as being easier to install and requiring less maintenance than unfinished hardwood floors.
Ultimately, whether or not prefinished hardwood is the right choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.
Cost of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
Prefinished hardwood floors have come a long way in recent years. Thanks to advances in technology, they are now more durable and realistic looking than ever before. They are also more expensive than traditional hardwood floors.
The cost of prefinished hardwood flooring can vary depending on the type of wood, the quality of the finish, and the supplier.
However, it is usually more expensive than unfinished hardwood flooring. The installation process is also generally more complicated and time-consuming.
The cost of prefinished hardwood flooring varies depending on the type of wood, the thickness of the planks, and the finishes that are applied. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4 to $12 per square foot for prefinished hardwood flooring.
While this may seem like a lot, it is important to remember that prefinished hardwood flooring will last longer than traditional hardwood flooring, making it a wise investment in the long run.
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Cleaning of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
If you have prefinished hardwood flooring in your home, you know how beautiful and easy to care for it is. However, over time, your floors can start to show their age. Here are some tips on how to clean and maintain your prefinished hardwood flooring so that it will last for years to come.
Cleaning
The first step in cleaning your prefinished hardwood floors is to sweep or vacuum them on a weekly basis. Be sure to use a soft-bristled attachment on your vacuum cleaner so that you don’t scratch the surface of your floors.
You may also need to mop your floors from time to time. Use a damp mop with a mild soap solution. Avoid using too much water, as this can damage the finish on your floors.
You should also avoid using harsh chemicals, as these can also damage the finish. If you have any stubborn spots, you can use a small amount of white vinegar on a damp cloth to remove them.
Protecting
In addition to regular cleaning, you also need to take steps to protect your prefinished hardwood floors from damage. Place mats at all exterior doors to help reduce the amount of dirt and debris that is tracked into your home.
Place rugs in high-traffic areas to help reduce wear and tear. You should also avoid walking on your floors with shoes that have high heels or spikes, as these can dent or scratch the surface of your floors.
When moving furniture, be sure to lift it rather than drag it across the floor.
Prefinished vs Unfinished Hardwood Flooring
When it comes time to install hardwood floors in your home, you have two main choices: prefinished or unfinished. Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh your options carefully before making a decision.
The main disadvantage of prefinished hardwood floors is that they’re more expensive than unfinished floors. They also can’t be sanded as many times as unfinished floors can, so they may not last as long.
And if you ever need to repair or replace a plank, it can be difficult to find a perfect match because each batch of prefinished flooring is slightly different.
Unfinished Hardwood Floors
Unfinished hardwood floors offer a number of advantages over their prefinished counterparts. First, they’re less expensive because you’re paying for the material only—not the labor required to finish the flooring.
Second, they’re more versatile because they can be stained any color you want (within reason).
Moreover, they’re more durable because they can be sanded multiple times over the years as they begin to show wear and tear.
Also, unfinished floors add value to your home because prospective buyers will appreciate having the opportunity to choose their own stain color.
The main disadvantage of unfinished hardwood floors is that they require more work to install. The boards must be cut to size, sanded smooth, and stained on-site a process that generates a lot of dust and takes several days (or even weeks) to complete.
Unfinished floors are also more susceptible to damage during installation because the boards are unprotected until the finishing process is complete.
However, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors. It all comes down to personal preference and your budget.
If you’re looking for an easy, low-maintenance option that comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, then prefinished flooring might be right for you.
But if you’re looking for a more affordable option that you can customize to match your home’s décor, then unfinished flooring might be a better choice.
Whichever route you choose, make sure you do your research ahead of time so you know what to expect during installation and throughout the life of your new hardwood floors.
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Conclusion
Prefinished hardwoods offer many advantages over other types of flooring materials such as carpet or tile. They’re easy to install, low maintenance, durable, and environmentally friendly.
If you’re looking for new flooring for your home, consider the many benefits of prefinished hardwoods! You won’t be disappointed.
FAQs
Is prefinished hardwood real hardwood?
Some people believe that it is not truly made of hardwood, while others insist that it is the only way to get a genuine hardwood finish. The truth is that prefinished hardwood is a real hardwood product, but it comes with a few caveats.
First, the boards are already finished at the factory, so there is no need for on-site finishing. This can save time and money, but it also means that you have less control over the final look of your floor. Second, prefinished hardwood is typically made with a thinner veneer than traditional hardwood floors. As a result, it may be more susceptible to wear and tear over time.
Do prefinished hardwood floors scratch easily?
The answer to this question depends on the type of wood and finish that you have. Generally speaking, harder woods like oak and maple are more resistant to scratching than softer woods like pine. And floors with a polyurethane finish will usually show fewer scratches than those with a wax finish. Of course, no floor is completely scratch-proof, and even the hardest wood can be scratched if something sharp is dragged across them.
Is prefinished hardwood the same as engineered?
Engineered wood is a type of man-made wood product that is made by combining layers of different types of wood. The top layer of engineered wood is typically made from solid hardwood, while the lower layers are made from plywood or another type of man-made wood product.
Unlike prefinished hardwood, engineered wood is not finished with a factory-applied finish. Instead, the finish is applied after the flooring has been installed. As a result, engineered wood typically has a more consistent color and grain than prefinished hardwood.
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