Today homeowners can select between unfinished and prefinished hardwood floors in San Jose. Each type of installation has their pros and cons. With proper planning and the assistance of a professional, a homeowner can select the finish that works best for their budget, use, and installation wishes.

 

What Are The Benefits Of Prefinished Wood Floors?

Prefinished floors are best when a homeowner has a strict budget and needs their flooring installed quickly. Prefinished floors also require less cleanup after installation. There will be no sealant or stain fumes remaining in the home after the floors are done, and once they are installed, the work is completed.

 

Because the finish is applied at the manufacturer’s level, the labor costs for the floors are lower. Homeowners are not paying an installer to stain and seal their floors post-installation. The finish of prefinished floors is more durable than unfinished floors, which makes them ideal for high-traffic areas of the home.

 

Floors installed below ground level, such as in a basement, use prefinished wood floors to withstand excess moisture.

 

What Are The Advantages Of Unfinished Wood Floors?

Unfinished floors are best when a homeowner must replace segments of their existing hardwood floor. This allows the installer to refinish the entire surface and stain remaining wood the same color for a matching replacement.

 

There are more design options with unfinished wood floors. Homeowner’s select plank size and widths, historical styles, architectural finishes, and stain colors. Prefinished floors come in standardized lengths and widths as well as colors. Therefore, homeowners do not have as many customization options.

 

 

Unfinished floors add more aesthetic appeal and may add more value to the home than prefinished options as well.

 

When homeowners wish to change the color of their unfinished hardwood floors in San Jose years later, they can.

 

The Disadvantages Of Prefinished Wood Floors

Prefinished flooring is more expensive than laminate but more affordable than unfinished wood. Some have veneers too thin; therefore, prefinished wood cannot be refinished later after too much wear and tear. Some manufacturers use fiberboard in the core, which compromises the stability of the prefinished product.

 

A prefinished floor cannot change stain colors later. Therefore, a homeowner may have to tear out and replace the finished floor during a remodel.

 

The Disadvantages Of Unfinished Wood Floors

Unfinished hardwood floors San Jose will require extra labor. The process will take a day to install, but the floors cannot be walked upon until their sealant has had adequate time to dry. Therefore, a homeowner may need to remain out of their house for 48 hours. All furniture and items must be removed from rooms having wood installed; therefore, it creates an excess burden on the homeowner.

 

Unfinished wood floors may fade over time and scratch from high-traffic. Therefore, unfinished varieties are not recommended in foyers or hallways where they will receive excess foot traffic.

 

Depending on the wood type, the floor may be more susceptible to dents and dings when heavy objects are dropped on them.